Thousands rally at Statehouse for elected leaders to save pensions

The passion from the crowd of thousands who traveled from all over the country was palpable as union workers descended on the Statehouse Thursday to call on their elected representatives — both in Columbus and Washington — to save their dwindling pension funds.

The massive crowd gathered for a rally ahead of a Friday hearing at the Statehouse. The hearing includes both Ohio U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, who will take part in a bipartisan joint congressional committee tasked with solving the looming pension crisis that has put at risk the pensions of about 1.3 million retirees and active workers.

But before the elected leaders take to the drawing board in hopes of crafting a bipartisan solution to protect pensions, those at risk of losing their livelihood and retirement made it a point to have their voices heard and blow off a little steam in the process.

Those in attendance said their elected officeholders have pushed this problem off for too long. Retirees spent years paying into multi-employer pension funds with the hope of having that money when they finish working. With the Wall Street collapse and subsequent recession, those funds are struggling and in need of support.

Read more: http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20180712/thousands-rally-at-statehouse-for-elected-leaders-to-save-pensions