May 12, 1972 Dear Senator Javits, I am a constant voter for you everytime you ran for office as far back as when you were even Attorney General of New York and you lived in Washington Heights and was going to join your political club at one time, but you moved out of the district, etc. at I am a member of the Union, Local of New York City New York City for 21 years now, previous being a member of other mother or sister locals in New York City, Local Local who were to transfer our pension and Welfare Be efits to the Local Union who absorbed the members in an affiliation of said Locals. I have worked and worked many times being out of work due to sickness, closing of business etc, buildings being demolished and etc. Paid in from the employers fund towards the Pension Fund at one I am told by the Administrator of Local union being in Cincinnati, Ohio called the AFL the mother to and they never answer me and the other old timers like myself who and am without a dime in pensions to me. Can't get any work as I am 82-079 - 72 - pt. 3 - 12 Best wishes, The Honorable Jacob Javits Washington, D.C. Sir: January 18, 1972 Sometime ago, you introduced a resolution regarding "PENSION PORTABILITY". That was last year in around January, 1971. I was wondering If you have backers to pass that into LAW soon! Is there a possibility to have that Law passed this year of 1972? I am writing this not only for myself but thousands of others who are in the same category as myself who lost pension rights due to the break in service thus losing over 13 years of pension rights which I have earned from 1943 to 1956. During the break I had to retire my book for 15 months under advise by my family Physician to stay ashore to take care of my ailing wife and children and after my wife and children got well, I went back to sea to work again from 1958 up to now but from 1958 to 1972 I have to my credit only 14 years which is still 6 more years to make the 20 years as required by our union. If the law that you are now trying to pass is approved by congress, and add my sea time, I could have to my credit for pension now 27 years which is more than the 20 years requirement. Do you think Sir that your sponsored resolution has a chance to become a LAW before the end of 1972? I would appreciate very heartily if you could advise me at your convenience the possibility of passing that "PENSION PORTABILITY" which you sponsored last Year. I know that you have been doing your best to help us poor people and I hope that you will try hard to protect us from the unlawful abuses of Unions and other companies who denied us pensions after several years of service. Thanking you very much for this request or inquiry and hoping to hear from you at your earliest convenience about the possibility of passing your sponos red Pension Portability, I remain Yours very respectfully, (Received 2-25-72) Dear Senator Javits, I have been in the Union Local New York since 1935. Leaving the factory to go into business for myself until 1963 I returned to work in a shop covered by the Union plan requiring 20 years coverage at the present moment I am 62 years of age. impossible for me to meet this requirement. It may be physical I wonder if it is possible There are many workers for me to receive something on a pro rate basis. in my trade in the same situation. Respectfully yours, May 3, 1972 Dear Senator Javits, through. I am trying and praying that your vesting pension fund bill goes My husband is seventy-one years old and has thirteen years in with his Union, Local pension after fifteen years of service. in Manhattan. They give a partial However, this year the Union officials have informed my husband that only those years count toward a pension in which the worker has been employed a minimum of 1200 hours annually. My husband earned less than $2000 last year through them and by this scale has missed out a few other years. As things look now, he could pay union dues until he is ninety and still not collect a penny in pension benefits. As my husband was previously self employed and lost his business due to family illnesses, he is not collecting any other pension funds, only social security. As we are poor people, even this small amount due him would be a welcomed relief. Please do all you can to push this bill through. Thank you. Respectfully yours, (Received 1-24-72) Dear Sir and Hon. Senator Javits: I am writing to you as a former resident of New York City, and I am asking your help in this hopeless case with my Union. As a member of for 30 years, I was taken sick in 1937, I moved to Florida for my health, and it got worse. I transferred to a Union here but I could not work. I had arthritis and a heart condition, so I applied for a disability pension and I was turned down twice. I was informed by the Union to apply for Social Security disability, that I would be considered if and when I received it. On receiving social security disability I applied for a Union pension again, and this is the answer I have received. I ask you in all fairness, is this the way we old folks are to be repaid for our long hard years at work paying our dues and doing what we are told to do by Our Union and that we are to be rewarded in this fashion, when we are sick or too old. I don't know what I can do at 61 years of age, after 30 years the Union tells me that I don't have the qualification or the pay in time, after 4 years of application and run arounds. The reward we old people get is not the American way, we are ignored in our appeals, we can't protest, or who can we protest to. Mr. Javits, I know you are a busy man, but for the sake of justice and humanity will you please help me. I just don't know where to turn for help. It is hard to live on social security and pay doctor bills. hope you can find some time to help me and may God bless you. Thank you. I am respectfully yours, April 1, 1971 Dear Senator Javits: I have read with great interest an article in today's News pertaining to an investigation on pension plans and the unjust by-laws used by the unions to retain this pension money when one leaves the union before retiring. I am in such a predicament at the present time. I have been with Local for the past 18 years and have been paying pension to the local union. I have decided to move to Florida for my wife's health I belong to an International Union and have requested a transfer. A transfer card will be given to me to work in Florida, but I was told by Mr. of Local that all of my pension money will remain with the Local. I am told it cannot be carried over to any other local. I am 49 years of age and have given my best years of work while in this union. It hardly seems fair to start all over again, especially since the dues and assessments paid to my local by both me and my employer supported this international union. Since I have no other alternative and the union refuses to give me any of these funds or transfer them, I am asking you to help me in this matter, if possible or refer me to who ever can assist me. I stopped working 5 years ago, and cannot get one cent of pension. Respectfully yours, |