(http://www.prettygoodlutherans.com/): Augsburg Fortress Publishers has told its employees and retired workers that it is ending its pension fund. Seems it has been underfunded for the past nine years. And the ELCA leadership sees no qualms with deciding that there is no legal obligation to help AF provide for its retirees.
"Gift and Trust" anyone?
Please, keep the workers, current and retired, of the publishing ministry of the ELCA in your prayers. This winter blast just got a whole lot colder, and crueler, for them.
And how about letting someone know what you think about this? A bishop, Church Council member, or the folks in Chicago? There has to be a better way to deal with this. Someone, please, come up with a better way, and convince the folks in charge that we can take care of those who have worked for the mission and ministry of the ELCA in its publishing ministry.
Otherwise, don't ANYONE in the ELCA talk about "justice" or "social statement" ever again.
2 comments:
Not really surprising from AF. No store employees could file for unemployment after the stores were closed at the end of 2008. Why not? AF had chosen to exercise its church status and was not required to pay Workers Unemployment Insurance. The offered severance packages were almost as cheap.
Thanks for blogging about this, Erma. If anyone is interested in following this story, please see the public Facebook group, Augsburg Fortress Pension—Speak Out! And if you do write the bishop, the AF board of trustees, or your pastor about this issue, let us know!
--Beth Wright, former AF employee (1998-2004)
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