Steven Baker's Pension Appeal

CORRECTION: Steven's email address is stevenbaker.pension@gmail.com. Please note the "dot" in the address. It is incorrect in the video.

Steven Baker of Minneapolis, MN is a US Air Force Veteran and a member of the International United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), Millwright Local Union 548 for 18 years. On October 5, 2001 he was
Injured in an industrial accident that damaged his dominant arm (right arm) from the elbow to the shoulder. After multiple surgeries and attempts to return to his job, on December 2, 2007 the Claim Appeals Committee of the Twin City Carpenters Pension Plan denied his appeal for a Total and Permanent Disability Benefit. The denial letter is signed by Richard J. Lemke, Administrator, representing Wilson-McShane Corporation.

Steven Baker would like to share this information with his Union brothers.

The Union officials do not provide a forum for this to be discussed.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• steven
• baker
• pension
• appeal
• union
• wilson
• mcshane
• benefits
• disabled
• veteran
• social
• security
• denial
• denied
• deny
• industrial

[stevenbakerpension]

Demand that the U.S. Department of Labor investigate Steven Baker's pension appeal: 1/16/2008 Mark Magler(Local 548) and Wilson McShane represented by Richard Lemke did not provide Steven Baker a forum. He was allowed in the room and given just 5 minutes to present. Steven Baker was disabled on the job in 2001 and has yet to see benefit of his Union membership or his(&employers) contributions to his pension fund. Some "brotherhood"!

[stevenbakerpension]

Notice: Millwright Local Union 548 has arranged for a spokesperson(Richard Lemke or Cullen Garety) to speak this Wednesday (Jan. 16, 2008) at 6:30 PM before the union meeting at 710 Olive Street, Suite 100, St. Paul MN. Steven Baker will be present and would appreciate all support.  The language in The Plan has been written restrictively so that it protects the insurer, not the insured. Come and help us rewrite the future of your family should you become disabled! THIS CAN BE MADE RIGHT!!!

[stevenbakerpension]

Colleen Louise Rieck, employed as a Claims Payer at

Wilson McShane was accused and convicted on October 23, 2006 in Hennepin County District Court of six counts of felony theft of more than $885,000. She is accused of writing 415 checks between 1/2005-4/2006 using SS #'s. The Department of Labor that certifies the fund administrator should investigate and provide assurances that this does not put anyone's union benefits in jeopardy.

[stevenbakerpension]

Steven Baker's story is just the tip of the iceberg. Read Richard Gosselin's LA Times article  8/21/2005 "The Safety Net She Believed in Was Pulled Away When She Fell"

[stevenbakerpension]

Does anyone qualify for a disability pension with Wilson McShane?  If so, are they administrators or rank and file?

[rlk53]

steve how do you think i feel.the 1980 12500 volts of elect.did tons of damage i got screwed by lovegreen now i'm finally going to get paid in may of 2008 to have my shoulder fixed.only after 38 yrs they agreed to fix me.

[rbnrng]

Steve,

Have you tried contacting your union local's board of trustees...since they say you are not qualified to collect the disability pension... they should find you a job for a one armed millwright ( impossible) if they refuse- you could try to envoke the american's with disabilities act(labor dept) for discrimination...become a pain in the butt...and make it easier just to grant you your deserved pension..