Your Daily Horoscopes for Saturday, October 10th

 

Aries

There can be some defensiveness to deal with today, dear Aries, and people around you could be a little too wrapped up in their own problems for interactions to be especially growth-oriented. Others may be talking and not listening, or possibly criticizing and nitpicking. Work can involve some restrictions or possible critical reviews, but it’s a great time for seeing important errors or areas that need to be improved before moving forward. People may not be inspiring your confidence or faith, but you might consider putting your faith in the universe that things will straighten out and fall into place.

Taurus

This may not be the warmest of days, dear Taurus, with both the Sun and Venus in challenging aspect with Saturn. However, it’s a good time to get things done. You might be feeling excluded or not very appreciated temporarily. Financial worries may also be an issue now. Recently you may have the desire to splurge, but you tend to be a little more worried about your bottom line. This is helpful, even if it’s not especially fun! Problems won’t be resolved by worry alone. In fact, if you consciously pull yourself away from any stress you may be feeling, a solution may arrive more naturally when you come back around to the problem later. Much can be accomplished today, and focusing on this fact can help you to make a winner out of the day.

Gemini

While generally speaking this is a strong period for family relationships and home affairs, dear Gemini, there can be some tension today with others either vying for your attention or a sense that people are not appreciating your efforts. You may need more time to yourself, but this can be difficult to obtain right now. You are made aware of your responsibilities today, and a partner or good friend may be seen as too serious or critical. You may want to steer clear of sensitive topics of discussion. Continue to keep decision making on a shelf until after this Saturnine hump. Be good to yourself and avoid looking for happiness outside of yourself.

Cancer

There can be a stronger focus on practical matters today, dear Cancer, like it or not! Circumstances may seem to be conspiring to bring your attention to realistic factors and details now. It may not be the best day for getting a message across on a social level, possibly because you may be sensing some negativity around you, or feeling that others are a little distant emotionally. You could also be feeling somewhat burdened with responsibilities. Days like these are in fact good for finding your own way, making yourself happy instead of relying on others or circumstances, and getting things done. Look for ways to improve your daily life and routines, work, and projects.

Leo

Practical concerns are in strong focus today, dear Leo, with Saturn challenging the Sun and Venus and reminding you of your responsibilities or limits. Generally speaking, though, if we avoid trying to rock the boat, we can use Saturn’s energies to our advantage. If there are ways to penny pinch or improve your business, work, or creative projects, you’re likely to see them now. Money worries or concerns can prompt you to spend less or find ways to cut back or deal with redundancies. When it comes to romantic feelings and relationships today, insecurities could arise, and the need to be shown that you’re respected and valued is strong. If you need to nurse your feelings, do so. If you experience a temporary dip in confidence, this is temporary and can lead to important edits and adjustments, and the energy to get things done is building.

Virgo

We can be a little more self-protective or even defensive with one another today, dear Virgo. With the Moon in your sign all day, you’re more inclined to take things personally, but you’re also perfectly capable of bouncing back. Responsibilities, particularly related to family or the home, can weigh you down or seem more overwhelming as you’d much prefer to tend to personal goals. Pulling yourself back or cooling off may do you good right now. If you find yourself questioning what you truly value or even who you truly love, then it may very well be a useful process. Take that extra time for self-understanding. Remind yourself that letting the dust settle before coming to conclusions is best. In fact, the coming days are especially strong for motivation and courage levels.

Libra

You can be in need of more relaxation today with so much activity in your privacy zone, dear Libra, but responsibilities can challenge your ability to unwind. You could be feeling a little off, out of sync, and quite possibly misunderstood now with your ruler, Venus, in hard aspect to Saturn. This is a temporary thing, and can in fact motivate you to make important changes to your life. You may also decide that you need to work on strengthening your body and spirit so that you feel less vulnerable and more able to bounce back from disappointments or criticism. Introspection is very appropriate at this point, and you can really benefit from some emotional space now.

Scorpio

Avoid adding too much to your plate today, dear Scorpio, as this is a day that favors careful attention to your responsibilities. Socially, there may be some awkwardness or missteps, largely due to off timing or misunderstandings, and quite possibly people’s insecurities. You could feel that whatever position you take, it seems blocked or criticized. While this can be frustrating, if you really think about things, you could find some room for improvement. Responsibilities can also get in the way of pursuing social or personal goals now, but special attention to practical affairs can go a long way towards improved well-being. With finances and possibly pleasures or indulgences, you might feel better if you take steps to cut back. It’s in fact a good time for making edits, small changes, and improvements. Fortunately, the days ahead are powerful for motivation and enthusiasm.

Sagittarius

There has been a real push towards realizing your potential recently, dear Sagittarius, and this will continue for some time. While you’re often feeling quite pumped about your goals, today there could be some self-doubt creeping in, or you could experience a sudden awareness of certain limits or restrictions. This is not something that should stop you in your tracks, but rather a temporary feeling that motivates you to handle some of the finer details in order to get them right before moving forward. Feelings can be up and down or hot and cold just for now. This is a time for finding ways to make improvements, and also to bolster your sense of security. Remind yourself that while there are some limits to consider, you can have your feet on the ground and still reach for the stars.

Capricorn

This is a day for pulling back a little in order to reassess goals, dear Capricorn, with your ruler, Saturn, strong and challenging the Sun and Venus. Find ways to relax and to take some emotional space if you feel the need for it. You might find that people around you are a little self-absorbed and not so interested in showing their appreciation for all that you do. It’s important to look within for motivation and inspiration, as you’re in charge of your own happiness, and fully equipped to self-amuse! Those projects and relationships that truly matter in the long run may require a bit of work right now, but are worth the effort. Unfinished business needs attention, and this will help free you up for some exciting, motivating days ahead.

Aquarius

Sometimes a bit of emotional space can help you to see things more clearly, dear Aquarius, and with Saturn in difficult aspect with the Sun and Venus today, this can be one of those times. You could be craving closeness, but others are not on the same page, or you are not totally sure of your needs and mixed signals are the result. You may in fact learn a lot about what you do need, want, or desire through opposition or from spending time to yourself. Take a step back and observe. Plans may in fact need some refinement. Rethink goals and needs today for best results, and tend to responsibilities that need your attention.

Pisces

People may not be as receptive as you’d hope today, dear Pisces, and while this is a good time for relationships in general, the day’s energies favor independent work. There could be some criticism to deal with, or a disappointment with someone in a position of authority could occur now. While it’s appropriate to rethink things to some degree today, over-analyzing emotions and especially what others might be feeling can only lead to unnecessary stress. If others are blocking or opposing you, you may very well come to a better understanding of your own values, needs, and wants.

Weekend Love Horoscope

October 9 – 11: Discernment

Tarot.com is a Daily Insight Group Site

 

 

The Balance of the Signs & the Elements for October 10th

 

VIRGO STRONG
Meticulous, discriminating, pure, practical, health conscious, hard working. Can be hyper-critical, petty and perfectionistic.
LIBRA STRONG
Even-handed, harmonious, artistic, diplomatic, balancing, strong sense of fairness. Can be over- compromising, appeasing, judgmental.

BALANCE OF ELEMENTS

FIRE WEAK
We are not very goal-oriented right now, or motivation to pursue our goals may be waning/lacking. Changes feel overwhelming. Enthusiasm may be low, we argue less, and we think more than we take action.
EARTH STRONG
We are especially in touch with the physical world. We consider what we’ve learned and experienced in the past in order to make the most of the present. We can be cautious, practical, and possibly unimaginative. We are deliberate and can pace ourselves well. We need hands-on experience and are not impressed with theory as much as we are with results. Routines are tolerable and comforting.
WATER WEAK
There may be some insensitivity or lack of empathy now. We may be out of touch with what we’re feeling or with our emotional needs. We may be tougher than usual now, and more inclined to follow mental or practical considerations than we are to listen to our intuition.

BALANCE OF MODES

FIXED WEAK
We may be open to change but may not have much follow-through.
MUTABLE STRONG
We are flexible, adaptable, willing, open to change, and possibly flighty or nervous.

Astrology of Today – October 10, 2015

Summary:

•The Moon is in Virgo all day (until Sunday, October 11th, at 4:45 AM).
•The Moon is void all day (since yesterday at 6:12 PM until tomorrow at 4:45 AM).
•The Moon is waning and in its Waning Crescent phase.
•A Last Quarter Moon occurred on the 4th and a New Moon will occur on the 12th.
•Mean Moon’s Node enters Virgo today.

Weekly LightBlast: Seeing the Potentials

The Role of Prayer in Paganism

 

Call of the Ancients

Our ancestors prayed to their gods, long ago. Their pleas and offerings are documented in the hieroglyphs that adorn the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, in the carvings and inscriptions left for us to read by the philosophers and teachers of ancient Greece and Rome. Later on, as Christianity moved in and replaced many of the old Pagan cultures, Irish monks wrote down stories, illuminating their manuscripts with vivid and colorful artwork.

Information about man’s need to connect with the Divine comes to us from China, India, and all over the globe.

Some prayers survive to the present day because they have lived on not in written documentation but in the oral traditions of the area — via folktales, songs, legends, etc. Although we don’t know how much of the existing wording is really “ancient” and how much was added through the ages, the message remains essentially the same.

A prayer is our way of saying to the gods, “I can’t do this alone, and I could sure use some help.”

Offerings and Altars

In many Pagan traditions, both modern and ancient, it is customary to make an offering to a divine being. An offering is simply a gift, and it is given not as a trade-off (“Yo, here’s some pretty sparkly stuff, so now can you please grant my wishes?”) but as a way of showing honor and respect, no matter what the answers to your prayers may ultimately be. In some forms of Wicca, the offering of time and dedication is as important as an offering of tangible items.

Many times offerings are left on an altar or shrine to the gods, and this is common in many faiths. How many times have you driven past a Catholic church and seen flowers or candles left in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary?

So What’s the Point, Really?

Some people may argue that prayer is a waste of time — after all, if the gods are so divine, don’t they already know what we need and want? Why should we have to go to the trouble of asking?
If you’re married, there have probably been times where you’ve gotten frustrated with your spouse, because they didn’t know what you wanted.

You didn’t TELL them what you wanted, because after all, as your spouse who loves you, they should just KNOW, right?

Well, not necessarily. Eventually, you probably talked to your significant other, found out he or she had NO idea you were annoyed at him because he didn’t want to go with you to that romantic comedy you’ve been looking forward to for months. Then you forgave him because once the lines of communication were opened up, it turned out that your honey doesn’t hate Drew Barrymore after all, he just wanted to go see something with guns and explosions instead.

The gods are the same way (no, they don’t hate Drew Barrymore either). They don’t always know what we want — and sometimes, what they think we want and what WE think we want are two completely different things.

That’s why it’s up to you to make it known. If you want divine intervention, you should ask. If you don’t, the answer will ALWAYS be “no”.

Prayers vs. Spells

A prayer is a request. It’s where you go directly to the Universe, the Goddess, Allah, Yahweh, Herne, Apollo, or whoever you may be hoping will help out, and you ask them point blank, “Please help me with _______________.”

A spell, on the other hand, is a command. It’s the redirection of energy, causing a change, to conform with your will. While you may ask a god or goddess for a little extra mojo in your spellwork, it’s not always necessary. In a spell, the power comes from within the caster. In a prayer, the power comes from the gods.

Who Should I Pray To, Anyway?

You can pray to anyone you like. You can pray to a god, a goddess, or the Grand High Poobah of the Toaster Oven. Pray to whoever — or whatever — is most likely to take an interest in your dilemma. If you’re working on protection of your home, for example, you may wish to call upon Vesta or Brighid, both guardians of the hearth. If you’re about to enter into a nasty conflict, perhaps Mars, the god of war, would be willing to step in for a bit of fun.

Some people pray simply to spirits — spirits of the earth, of the sky, of the sea, etc.
In addition to praying to gods or spirits, some Pagans and Wiccans pray to their ancestors, and that’s perfectly acceptable too. You may see your ancestors as a specific individual (dear Uncle Bob who died in Vietnam, or your great great great grandpa who settled the frontier, etc.) or you may see them as archetypes. Either way, go with what works best for your tradition.

Putting it All Together

Ultimately, prayer is a very personal thing. You can do it out loud or silently, in a church or backyard or forest or at a kitchen table. Pray when you need to, and say what you wish to say. Chances are good that someone is listening.

 

 

By Patti Wigington,Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article found on and owned by About.com

Saturday Is Ruled By Saturn

 

This day of the week got it’s name from the god of karma and time, Saturn. This day is obviously associated with the planet Saturn and is our last day of the week. Traditionally Saturdays are great days for protection, banishing a negative situation, and generally a good time to clean up any magical messes that you have been ignoring. Some suggestions for Saturday enchantments would include:

◦Wearing the colors of the day, black and deep purple. Here’s your perfect excuse to be dramatic and witchy. Empower these dramatic pieces of your wardrobe for protection and strength.

◦Burning black candles to absorb negativity and burning purple ones to increase your magical wisdom and boost your spirituality

◦Adding a touch of garden witchery to your Saturday spells by working with the pansy (in black or purple of course), the morning glory flowering vine, or the cypress tree.

◦Carrying an obsidian, hematite, or jet tumbled stone in your pocket to reinforce your personal protection and to ward off bad vibes and sour feelings. You can also add these crystals to a candle spell on a Saturday night to really increase the punch of your spellcasting.

◦Cleaning your house and cleansing it while you are at it. Tap into those obstacle-removing vibes and the positive, concluding energies.

◦Closing up the final day of the bewitching week with a bang by calling on Hecate for protection and guidance.

The Witches Correspondences for Saturday, October 10th

 

Magickal Intentions: Spirit Communications, Meditation, Psychic Attack or Defense, Locating Lost Things and Missing Persons, Building, Life, Doctrine, Protection, Knowledge, Authority, Limitations, Boundaries, Time and Death

Incense: Black Poppy Seed and Myrrh

Planet: Saturn

Sign: Capricorn and Aquarius

Angel: Cassel

Colors: Black, Grey and Indigo

Herbs/Plants: Myrrh, Moss, Hemlock, Wolfsbane, Coltsfoot, Nightshade and Fir

Stones: Jet, Smokey Quartz, Amethyst, Black Onyx, Snowflake Obsidian, Lava, Pumice

Oil: (Saturn) Cypress, Mimosa, Myrrh, Patchouli

Saturn lends its energies to the last day of the week. Because Saturn is the planet of karma, this day is an excellent time for spellwork involving reincarnation, karmic lessons, the Mysteries, wisdom, and long-term projects. It is also a good time to being efforts that deal with the elderly, death, or the eradication of pests and disease.

The Witches Almanac for Saturday, October 10th

Saturday (Saturn): Longevity, exorcism, endings, homes and houses.

Health Day (Japanese)

 

Waning Moon

The Waning Moon is a time for study, meditation, and little magickal work (except magick designed to banish harmful energies).

Moon phase: Fourth Quarter

Moon Sign: Virgo

Virgo: Favors accomplishment of details and commands from higher up. Focuses on health, hygiene, and daily schedules.

Incense: Ivy

Color: Black

 

Saturday Must Dos

 

Feel the need for a psychic cleansing in the house? Light up some patchouli- or myrrh-scented incense, and wave the smoke around your house or apartment. It will help to break up any lingering negativity or bad feelings. Crumble up a few dried mullein leaves and create a circle around your home, or scatter it across the thresholds, to keep prowlers away.

Burn a few black candles to repel manipulative intentions or unwanted advances. Add a few protective herbs to your dinner such as thyme or basil. Try growing a blooming cyclamen plant in your kitchen to ward the family and to encourage Hecate’s blessings. Grow deep purple and black pansies in window boxes to encourage the planetary vibrations of Saturn. Let ivy grow up the walls of your home for even more bewitching security.

Saturdays are the particular day of the week for protection and for dealing with more serious magickal matters. Go back over the at-a-glance list and see what components you can add to your spells for today for a little more oomph.

Meditate on Hecate to learn her lessons and include some dark goddess wisdom into your Craft. As a Witch, you already know that you have power-the power to effect real change in your life. Working with Hecate can teach you how and when to best use this power for the greater good.

If you want to expand your magickal skills, then start learning how to incorporate all of this information on the days of witchery in a whole new way. This includes the knowledge you already have and the new day-by-day correspondences and witchcraft that were presented in this Book of Shadows. Put your own unique spin on things. Decide what your enchanting specialties are, then apply them to your Craft each and every day with wisdom and style.

Book of Witchery
Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

 

Saturday’s Witchery

Saturday is a day filled with opportunities to clean up and clear out. So if you are wondering why Hecate is assigned to this day, take another look at what she symbolizes and the magick that is associated with her. That should answer the question.

Hecate was the oldest form of the Greek Triple Goddess, as she presided over heaven, the underworld, and earth. Crossroads where three roads met were especially sacred to Hecate, earning her the title of Hekate of the Three Ways. It’s interesting to note that even after the worship of other goddesses waned, ancient people still worshiped Hecate as the Queen of the Underworld and the Guardian of the Three-Way Crossroad. It was also believed that if you left her an offering of food there, she would grant you her favors. As Hecate Trivia, her triple images were often displayed at these crossroads, where she was petitioned on the full moon for positive magick and on the dark of the moon for cursing and dark magick.

While this last bit of information sounds a little ominous, keep in mind that Hecate/Hekate was known by many titles and is a shapeshifter. Her appearance could and did change often. As a dark moon goddess, her faces are many. To some she may appear as a old crone, hunched over a smoking cauldron and draped in a midnight cape. To others she may appear as a dark beautiful, mysterious, and mature woman wearing a shimmering crown. To some she may be perceived as a maiden priestess. She was called the “most lovely one,” the Great Goddess of Nature, and the Queen of the World of Spirits. This dark goddess knows her way around the earth and the underworld. All the powers of nature, life, and death are at her command.
 

Book of Witchery
Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

Saturday

 

The planetary correspondence for Saturday is Saturn. Matters dealing with the public, farming, family ties, legal matters (such as wills and estates), taking care of debts, dealing with lawyers, financing, joint money matters, real estate, older people, banishing or binding negativity, and getting rid of bad habits all fall under the charge of Saturn. It’s easy to see why “Saturday’s child works hard for his living.”

Saturday’s angels are Cassiel, Machatan, Uriel, and Orifiel. Cassiel is the angel of solitudes and tears. He is one of the rulers of the planet Saturn and occasionally appears as the angel of patience. Cassiel links himself to dragon energy. Regarding Machatan, the only information we get is that he works well with Cassiel and is also a power of Saturn. Orifiel is an angel of the wilderness, a ruler of the second hour of the day, and also associated with Saturn.

On Saturday, the hour of sunrise and every eight hours after that are also ruled by Saturn, and that makes these times of the day doubly blessed. These four hours are the strongest four hours for conducting ritual. Check the local newspaper, astrological calendar, or almanac to determine your local sunrise.

Source:
Gypsy Magic

 

We have been fortunate enough to have made several contacts that are well informed on what our elected officials in this country are really doing in Washington. The WOTC and myself have also tried every way we could to stay out of the running of our country and the government. Due to certain events that are now unfolding, we will no longer take that stand. When we are informed of any activities that are going on in our government that will effect your will being and the well being of the ones that you love, we are going to let you know. It is of our own opinion that you have more of a right to say how your life is run and lived than the government does.

We have spent the day researching our sources to make sure all the facts are correct and they are. It is a rather lengthy article but I hope you will take time to read it. It concerns the end of all pensions and retirement plans in this country. It is trying to start with one Pension Plan, if they succeed with this one, we will never stop them. Then we will all wonder, whose is next? The “golden years” you once planned and dreamed about, won’t exist. Instead, the threat and horror of being too old to work, no pension coming in, losing your home you have worked all your life for and being put out on the street, the choice between buying your medicine or eating dog food for supper….I think I have painted a gloomy enough picture for you, unfortunately it is a picture that could come true for the majority of us.  Think about it as you read this article.

At the end of the article, you will find a link to a site that tell you how you can get involved, contact your Congressman/woman and let your voice be heard. If you plan on ever retiring in this country, I would advise you read it and then take action…..

Let’s start at the beginning….

It has recently came to light that one of the biggest labor unions that ever existed in this country is seeking permission to cut benefits for participants, including retirees, as part of a proposed rescue plan that is now awaiting approval from the Treasury Department. The union is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters(which will be referred to Central States Pension Fund hereafter), who had assets of $17.8 billion as of Dec 31, 2014 and is now projected to become insolvent in 2026.

According to a statement released by Executive Director Thomas Nyhan,”the plan is painful but “the only realistic way possible to save the fund.” He also went on to add despite a recovering economy and investment returns comparable to similar-size pension funds, “there is simply no way to make up for the lost employer contributions” from the hundred of employers that have closed their doors or gone bankrupt.

The Mutliemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 allows trustees of deeply underfunded pension funds that would be insolvent within 15 years to reduce benefits, even for current retirees, after they have tried all other means. Those cuts can be no lower than 110% of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s guarantee. It is stated that disabled or older retirees have further protection but did not offer any recourse that might be available to those individiuals.

Under this proposed Central States rescue plan, terminated participants with less than 20 years of service would get the largest cuts, this compared to retirees, active participants and terminated participants with 20 or more years of service. Active participants whose continued participation in the pension fund is “vital,” they can continue to earn pension credits of 0.75% of the contributions they paid in, down from the current 1%, and re-employment restrictions on retirees are then lifted, according to Mr. Nyhan.

Mr. Nyhan stated that action was needed now. “The longer we wait to act, the larger that benefit reductions will have to be. And if we wait too long, the Central States pension fund will run out of money and won’t be able to be saved.”

The rescue plan application was submitted September 25, 2015 to the Treasury Department, which will post it shortly and allow for public comments. Treasury officials have up to 225 day to review an application, and once approved, 30 days to administer a participant vote on the proposed benefit reductions. The law requires the Treasury Department to approve an application if a plan’s potential claims would cost the PBGC $1 billion or more.

Source:

Pensions & Investments

http://www.pionline.com/article/20151002/ONLINE/151009957/central-states-teamsters-pension-fund-seeks-permission-to-cut-benefits

– Contact Hazel Bradford at hbradford@pionline.com | @Bradford_PI

What Effect Will This Pension Reduction Have on the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Retirees, Their Widows and Children?

Retired truck driver Jerry Deaton, 69, states that every time he gets a pension check he gets chills and worry how much money he could lose in the future given all the rumors about the Central States proposal bill before the Treasury Department.

On Monday, Mr Deaton got his answer. His pension could be slashed by roughly half. His $2700 a month pension is targeted to be cut to around $1317 a month as of July 1, 2016, as part of the proprosed rescue package now before the Treasury Department.

Mr. Deaton when on to add, “It doesn’t leave you with much options.” “I’ll be 70 years old in December. Who’s going to hire a 70-year-old truck driver?”

The giant Central States Pension Fund — which has $17.3 billion in net assets — covers more than 240 union locals with more than 400,000 participants who live in 37 states. Currently the fund said it pays a pension benefit to more than 220,000 retirees nationwide and about 115,000 retires across the U. S. face reductions now.

In Michigan alone, the fund is said to cover 24,205 current retirees — and 13, 179 now face benefit reductions. The proposed pension rescue package before the Treasury Department would save the pension fund but it would destroy a majority of this country’s hard working men and women’s future. Those that worked all their lives and only wanted to retire with the guarantee of a comfortable life after they retired.

“People are absolutely furious. People can’t believe it — 50%? Fifty?” said Maurice Curran, 71, of LIvonia, Michigan. Curran, who retired 10 years ago, used to drive a truck for Spartan Stores in Plymouth, Michigan. His pension now is $3000 a month but is set to be cut July 1st. Mr. Curan stated, “I’ll lose $1500 a month — $18,000 a year,” he went on to add, “This is draconian. The Teamsters are not bankrupt.”

Fred Bora, 69, who lives in Comins in northern Michigan, said his potential cut would be about 60% and drive his monthly pension down to about $1288 a month. His pension could face a deeper cut because the company where he worked went out of business in the Great Recession. Bora added, “I worked 30 years and they promised me a pension. How can they take it away?” Right now, Bora and his wife, Katherine, 80, have two mortgages. They pay about $800 a month on their home. “$800 — that’s almost my full pension check” after the cuts, Bora stated.

We have talked and have had access to several of the Teamster retirees in the Kentucky area. Those that we interviewed, stated that they also received the notification of their benefits being potential cut by the start of July 1, 2016. On average of these retirees that we talked to, a retiree drawing a pension check of $1424.00 first cut would be to $1080.00. A second cut would occur the following year which would further reduce the retiree’s check to $984.00. The majority of the retirees that we interviewed have house payments, car payments, utilities, groceries and not to mention extremely high medicial bills. A few even went as far as to say that the $984.00 wouldn’t even cover their retirement home mortgages. If this reduction takes place, most of them will be forced to sell their homes and make other drastic decisions as to whether purchase their much needed medicine or to eat.

Source:

Detroit Free Press

http://www.freep.com/story/money/personal-finance/susan-tompor/2015/10/07/teamsters-pension-cuts-central-states/73515432/

Retiree Interviews conducted in Kentucky courtesy of

K. Steel, Witches Of The Craft, witches_of_the_craft@outlook.com

KEEP OUR PENSION PROMISES ACT of 2015

Bill Number: S. 1631 and H. R. 2844

Date Introduced: Thursday, June 18, 2015 – 12:00

The Keep Our Pension Promises Act of 2015 repeals the “benefit suspension” provisions of the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (MPRA) enacted at the end of the last Congress. Those provisions allow the trustees of certain financially-troubled multiemployer pension plans to reduce the benefits of retirees and their widows and widowers. The Keep Our Pension Promises Act would ensure that pensioners will continue to get their full benefits.

Instead of permitting ongoing multiemployer plans to cut retiree benefits, S. 1631 and H.R. 2844 ensure that plans will have enough money to continue to pay promised pensions. The bills do this by modifying the “partition” sections of MPRA. They keep all other MPRA provisions intact, including provisions that authorize the federal pension insurance agency (the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or PBGC) to assist plans interested in merging with each other. The legislation is revenue neutral, thanks to the elimination of two unnecessary tax breaks for wealthy individuals and estates.

How partitioning would work under the Keep Our Pension Promises Act

Trustees of a financially-troubled multiemployer plan that is likely to run out of money within 10 to 20 years will be able to apply to the PBGC for a partition order.

If the partition order is issued, the plan will not have to pay the full benefits of its “orphaned” pensioners who are retired as of the date of the partition order. (Orphaned retirees are those whose former employers went bankrupt or withdrew from the plan without fully paying what they owed.)

The PBGC will transfer money to the plan each year in an amount equal to the “guaranteed benefits” the PBGC would have had to pay to these orphaned retirees if the plan were “insolvent” without enough money to pay promised benefits in that year.

A new Legacy Fund will be created at the PBGC supported by general revenue from the U.S. Treasury. The revenue cost will be offset by money raised from closing two tax loopholes that primarily benefit high-income individuals and their estates, the “like-kind exchange” and “minority valuation discount” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

The money that the PBGC transfers to the partitioned plan will come from both its current multiemployer pension insurance fund and the new Legacy Fund.

The plan that has been partitioned will pay the difference between the guaranteed benefit amounts funded by the PBGC and the retirees’ full benefits, up to specified limits.

Plans will continue to pay full benefits for non-orphaned retirees.

Sponsors: Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio)

You can obtain further information in regards to tracking this bill and also contacting your Congress man or woman at Govtrack.us.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1631

A Quick Look At The History of the Teamsters & Why We Should Act

The news that we have provided you with today has been researched and is accurate. It does involve one of the most controversial unions in our country, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Here is a look at the Teamster History

For more than a century, the Teamsters Union has helped millions of workers achieve the American Dream. Our success is a testament to those who came before us, who stood together to form a union and a labor movement. These workers fought for the rights and privileges that today most Americans take for granted. Without the solidarity of unions, there would be no weekends, no pensions and no health insurance.

The best way to celebrate Teamster History is to highlight the actions and events that improved working and living standards for American families and communities.

Learning about the struggles and victories of the past will help union leaders, members and nonmembers alike appreciate the contributions Teamsters made not only to labor history but to American history. Review the real story of the Teamsters in the 20th century. https://teamster.org/content/real-story-20th-century

To get the visual concept of what makes the Teamsters Union so great, check out the Teamster history visual timeline. https://teamster.org/content/teamster-history-visual-timeline

The founding members of the union foresaw the growth and promise of the Teamsters as a model for workers everywhere. And they developed a philosophy that is as true and vital today as it was in 1903:

“Let each member do his duty as he sees fit. Let each put his shoulder to the wheel and work together to bring about better results. Let no member sow seeds of discord within our ranks, and let our enemies see that the Teamsters of this country are determined to get their just rewards and to make their organization as it should be — one of the largest and strongest trade unions in the country now and beyond.”

Source:

Teamsters, North America’s Strongest Union

https://teamster.org/about/teamster-history

What we have presented to you is articles and legislation that tell of nothing but what a disgrace our country has become. The legislation that was passed gave huge Pension Funds the right to attempt this to their retirees was put into law to stop the last Congressional shut down. No one was made aware of this fact. No one knew that the Congress was trying to play God with our future and the future of our Elderly Americans. So that begs the question do you really know what your Congressmen/women and Senators are up too? Are they doing the job that you elected them to do?

We focused on the Teamsters because this is the first of many Pension Funds that will try to use this corrupt piece of legislation. The Teamsters have a checkered pass but if it was not for them most of us would still be working for $1.00 an hour a day. They got out in the streets, picketed, striked and even fought for your right to a decent wage for a hard day work. Many unions followed after the Teamsters. The other unions saw what the Teamsters were trying to do and accomplishing, they wanted it for the individuals they represented. The unions joined forces and we a formitable force until Ronald Reagan became President of the United States in the ’80’s. He made the statement that it was his intent to bust the unions in this country. He did bust the Air Traffic Controllers Unions in this country. After that, he tried to bust other unions in this country but those left stood strong. They stood strong for us, where we would maintain a way of life we had come a custom too, expected and deserved. Without those surviving unions, most of us wouldn’t be able to put food on the table at night, have a place to live or a car to drive. We owe these unions, whether it is the Teamsters or not, a great deal. We owe them our way of live.

Are we going to idly sit by and watch these great men and women, who fought to give us what rights we have in this country be put out on the streets, loss their pension that they worked for and were promised? When you work all your life, you look forward to retirement. Will you even have a retirement?

You spend most of your life at work. You work long, over-time hours, you pay into a pension plan or a 401K plan, you think your golden years will be just that, “golden.” You reach the age of retirement, then there is nothing, no pension, no 401K, and you are too old and tired to work anymore, then what?

The majority of this article has been about the Teamsters. It is because this is the first of any of the Pension Plans that are trying to impliment this new piece of legislation before the Treasury Department. If Central States gets this approved by the Treasury Department then there will be more to follow. Your pension plan or a family member’s pension plan could be next. The companies today do not want to pay pensions or retirement plans to any of their retirees. If they are allowed a loophole to avoid paying these well deserved pensions and retirement plans, they will find it and they will use it. It this bill before the Treasury Department is allowed to pass, every American in this country will never know what retirement is. We will all be forced to work till our last dying breathe.

The Keep Our Pension Promises Act introduced by Democratic Presidential Candidate and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) will prevent any company or pension fund from ever denying their participants a pension check and a comfortable retirement after long years of dedication and service to the company they worked for.

This effects all of us whether you think so or not, it might be the Teamsters now but if it is allowed to pass before the Treasury, are you so certain your retirement is secure?

We have provided a link below that will direct you to a site that tells you how you can take action, get involved, and who to contact to let your voice be heard.

Pension Rights Center

http://www.pensionrights.org/issues/legislation/keep-our-pension-promises-act-2015

*Footnote: It should be noted that Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., is against the cutting of the Teamster retirees benefit package. Mr. Hoffa strongly believes that these men and women worked and deserve their pensions and the benefits promised them.