. . .He now believes he is the only one of two hundred thousand teamsters to discover the fine print. . .
Actually, Tie, he is doing the rest of us a service. Those of us not in Central States didn't get the details of the new pension plan. We only got what little is in the National Master. We're voting on it, but we don't know what we're voting on! Maybe someone could scan and post whatever mailings you folks are getting?
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Incidently, the Contract says, "There shall be no reduction or change in the level of benefits described herein unless negotiated and agreed to by the Union." This means everything else is subject to change by vote of the Trustees. Trustees can do just about anything, so long as it's legal. Trustees run the Fund. It's true that the fine print disclaimer is in every legal document, but it's there for a reason. The parties may have no current plans to invoke it now, but wait until a few years from now. Things may change. It's like asking newlyweds about their legal right to divorce. They'll be hurt and insulted that you even brought it up. But wait a few years. Things may change.
I"m not making any dire predictions here. Just shocked at the attitudes I'm reading. Haven't you all been paying attention to all the drastic Trustee actions taken in all the existing pension plans in recent years?