Episode Details

Five years ago, the American retirement system faced a "cascading collapse" that threatened to wipe out the hard-earned security of union households nationwide. Today, the Butch Lewis Act stands as a landmark victory for organized labor.

On this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, host Ed “Flash” Ferenc sits down with Austin Keyser, International Vice President for the IBEW 4th District. Keyser provides an insider’s look at the high-stakes battle to pass the Act and why it was about much more than just a "bailout."

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Breaking Point: Why the shift in the trucking and industrial sectors created "orphaned" pension obligations.

• The Firewall Effect: How the Butch Lewis Act prevented a downward spiral that would have bankrupted the PBGC and healthy pension plans alike.

• Restoring Dignity: The story of retirees who saw their previous benefit cuts reversed and were made whole again.

• The Legislative Fight: The role of former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and the coordinated union pressure that finally broke years of Washington gridlock.

• The Future of Retirement: Why the Butch Lewis Act provides a blueprint for expanding and strengthening defined benefit plans for the next generation of workers.

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