December 20, 2005

 

 

To All My Fellow Retirees and Friends,

 

I have worked closely with the staff of Congressman George Miller’s (D-CA) staff for quite some time and I can not tell you how wonderful they have been to work with.  They are the ones who have kept me motivated to do what I do.  They have motivated me by believing in our cause, which is saving the pensions at United Airlines and therefore the entire airline industry and hopefully beyond.

 

At times when it looked as though our campaign was over, Congressman Miller’s staff would explain to me what they were planning next.  They would help me formulate a strategic message and identify our key targets so our list would be effective and make an impact on Washington.

 

I would in turn take this information, format it into my Request Letters and do my best to motivate this group.  Everyone involved is very impressed with the power this group has obtained.  The development of the Fax4Word faxing capability has multiplied our efforts tremendously; those using it know what an effective tool this is.

 

I have done my best to tell you how effective you have been, but those were only my words.  Today, I sat down at my computer to begin my day and I found a letter that says it all.  Please read the following letter sent to me personally from Congressman George Miller.  He is the real champion of our cause.  This letter was written to you, it was only addressed to me.

 

I want you to know that this is not my list, it is your list.  Your participation has transformed a list of email addresses into a very powerful political tool.  You should be very proud of your efforts.  Our strength is in our numbers, but those numbers only become effective if each and every one of us takes part in every request letter sent out.

 

Please watch for my next Request Letter coming out later today.  This letter will ask all of you to take another very important step toward saving our pensions.  Please, I am asking everyone to participate upon receipt of this letter.

 

Jim Hosking

Pension Preservation Network

j.hosking@verizon.net

 

From:   Miller, George 
Sent:   Friday, December 16, 2005 4:56 PM
To:     'j.hosking@verizon.net'
Subject:        Pension reform

Dear Jim:
I want to personally thank you for all of your incredible work fighting for the pension rights of United Airlines employees and retirees. And if you would, please consider passing along this note of appreciation to the members of your email list whose tireless work made a real difference in events on Capitol Hill this past week. I have been overwhelmed by their support. I very much appreciate what you've done to keep your group together and informed and ready for action as events unfold in Washington.

You know that I have been fighting to give United Airlines employees and retirees a fair shot at saving their pensions. Joined by Rep. Jan Schakowsky from Illinois, I set up the first-ever congressional e-hearing this past May to make your voices heard and have been circulating your stories to the offices of my colleagues. I've been pushing bills and amendments at every turn to deal with the unfair terminations of your pensions.

My latest effort was the Miller-Rangel substitute to HR 2830, which would have restored your pensions and would have forced the company to exhaust every alternative to termination and finally prove to a court whether your plan is unaffordable. Unfortunately, the Rules Committee, controlled by Speaker Hastert, decided to deny the House the opportunity to debate and vote on our alternative. You can watch my speech on the House floor about it here (12/15/2005 -- Pensions <http://recap.fednet.net/archive/Buildasx.asp?sProxy=80_hflr121505_052.wmv,80_hflr121505_053.wmv&sTime=00:01:04.0&eTime=00:00:36&duration=00:04:32.0&UserName=repmillca&sLocation=&sExpire=1>). We tried another procedural route to get the measure considered, but it was defeated along party lines.

It was a hard-fought vote and difficult to lose. I want you to know that your emails, faxes, and calls made a real difference. I read from them on the House floor. Thanks to you, Members are well-aware of the need to do something to save your pensions. Thanks to your work, Members should know that, when people suffer such devastating losses to their retirement, they won't be quiet. They will speak out. And these voices will only grow louder.

While this week's pension vote was disappointing, the battle is not over. I will continue to fight for justice for United Airlines employees and retirees. I will continue to fight for real reform to the defined benefit system - especially when it comes to companies abusing the bankruptcy process to 'dump and run' on their pension promises. The working people of this country deserve better than that. You deserve better than that. And if we work together, we can do better than that.

Again, thank you for all of your hard work. Your email list members have been doing a tremendous job, keeping this issue front and center. Without you and your colleagues, we couldn't have gotten as far as we have. Let's keep fighting.

Sincerely,
George Miller, M.C.
Senior Democrat, House Education
And the Workforce Committee
www.house.gov/georgemiller <http://www.house.gov/georgemiller>