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Anti-Romney steel worker was offered a buyout
Washington Examiner ^ | 05/14/2012 | Charlie Spiering

Posted on 08/09/2012 6:58:49 AM PDT by scooby321

Former steel worker Joe Soptic, who was prominently featured in President Obama's new anti-Romney ad, is actually a familiar face on the anti-Bain beat.

In January, Soptic complained to Democracy Now, a liberal non-profit TV station, that when the steel company he worked fo "In my case in my department, they actually offered to buy our jobs out from underneath us," Soptic said.r was bought out, they tried to buy him out.

Why is Soptic upset? Primarily, its because his pension was cut. In this interview, Soptic clarified that his 401k was not affected but he lost $400 a month from his pension.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: soptic; teamobama
Union
1 posted on 08/09/2012 6:58:56 AM PDT by scooby321
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To: scooby321

he lost $400 a month from his pension.

Not a good Union. 400 dollars a month for the many years he worked? Wow. That is awful especially if he paid years and years worth of union dues.


2 posted on 08/09/2012 7:06:08 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Attention Republican National Convention voters....Santorum/Bachmann 2012! Dump liberal Romney NOW!)
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To: napscoordinator

Sopic and everyone else in the steel industry.

Since virtually all of these companies went bankrupt at some point all of the pensions got taken over by the Pension Guarantee Benefit Corp, which is less generous. Tens of thousands here in Western PA could tell the same tale. But they aren’t all on TV whining.


3 posted on 08/09/2012 7:11:15 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: napscoordinator

I read that as REDUCing his pension by $400.


4 posted on 08/09/2012 7:11:25 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: scooby321
I said in another thread last night that there might be some holes in Mr. Soptic’s story. Looks like I was right.

People I know who have taken buyouts tell me there is usually a generous settlement of the pension. Many also receive some sort of health care coverage. Often, the offer includes the opportunity to stay on the company's group plan. Sure, the employee has to pay the premium, but the group premium would be less than any individual policy.

My brother told me that if an employee of his company doesn't take the buyout, sooner or later, that employee could be out of a job. So when my brother became eligible, he took the buyout.

Life is about choices, and every choice has consequences. Seems to me Mr. Soptic made a bad choice, and now he wants to blame the consequences on others. I can't feel any sympathy for him.

5 posted on 08/09/2012 7:11:50 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
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To: Izzy Dunne
Read yesterday that his wife went into the hospital, was diagnosed with cancer and died 22 days later.....

so this isn't about health insurance....SHE WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND DIAGNOSED ETC, ETC."

6 posted on 08/09/2012 7:17:31 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: scooby321

It has been reported that this guy also told his story on a Democrat Party confeence call. Apparently the Rats were fishing for stories and this guy told a whopper! So they enhanced the details for major emotional effects, to try and damage Ronmey, knowing the MSM would never investigate the story and find out the truth.

But CNN did investigate and that is where we are at today.


7 posted on 08/09/2012 7:18:46 AM PDT by rawhide
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To: scooby321
Yes, Ole Joe, proud member United Steel Workers of America!

His union's contract overburdend his plant with underfunded longterm liabilities, Pensions!

You know, sorta like General Motors.

Here is a biased Rueters report that does a good job of chronicling the history of ole Joe's union and his steel plant. Lots of info.

Special report: Romney's steel skeleton in the Bain closet

8 posted on 08/09/2012 7:26:48 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: scooby321

From 2008 ‘Joe the Plumber’ to 2012 ‘Joe the Plum Liar’.............


9 posted on 08/09/2012 7:40:27 AM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
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To: scooby321

All hail the communists empire. Nice, huh? Democrats are communists and will destroy America if left intact. The party must be destroyed and that will never happen in my lifetime.


10 posted on 08/09/2012 7:45:24 AM PDT by Logical me
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To: Buckeye McFrog

Joe Btfsplk, from the Lil' Abner comic strip. World's worst jinx and magnet for misfortune.........

11 posted on 08/09/2012 7:48:18 AM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
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To: Izzy Dunne
I read that as REDUCing his pension by $400.

Wasn't even that: (From the Reuters story/link in my previous post)

For Joe Soptic, who worked at the plant for 28 years, that meant a loss of $283 per month, about 22 percent of his pension. Others lost up to $400 per month, according to documents supplied by the union.

12 posted on 08/09/2012 7:52:15 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Izzy Dunne
Actually, $283 per month, if you read the article.

IOW, this guy's wife wasn't worth $283 per month to him.

Either that, or the opportunity to bitch was worth more.

Maybe both.

13 posted on 08/09/2012 8:07:18 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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