News

• Early in the year, CORRE developed a means for calculating the cost of its requested pension adjustment and provided it to the managing contractors.  This was in response to their position that they could not calculate the cost because they did not have sufficient data.

• CORRE’s 2008 Position Paper is approved April 16, 2008.

• Close communication began and continued with Senator Alexander’s senior staff to make them fully aware of CORRE issues. 

• Close communication was maintained with legislative staff of Representatives Lincoln Davis, John Duncan, and Zach Wamp; met personally with Congressman Wamp.

• CORRE brought attention to the inequities in the way that the Medicare Part D incentive is being administered within DOE, and worked to have that incentive paid to the contractors and shared with their retirees.

• CORRE brought attention to the need to increase the cap on benefits paid by United Health Care and proposed that the cap be increased.

• CORRE’s requests were personally discussed with managers of all four major DOE contractors in Oak Ridge. 

• Secured the support of Anderson and Roane County Executives who, with the Oak Ridge Mayor, wrote personally to Senator Alexander on behalf of retirees.

• CORRE was able to have several articles published in local newspapers regarding the proposed pension adjustment. 

• The message of retirees was spread to area organizations:  Oak Ridge Lions, area Rotary Clubs, Anderson County Commission, Carbide Retirees (Silvertops), and others. 

• A CORRE Strategic Planning Meeting was held in February and another in June.

• CORRE developed an extensive and current e-mail address list of its membership, with the express intention of improving communication within the organization and sending periodic electronic newsletters. 

• A paper newsletter was published in February showing effects of inflation.

• An excellent CORRE brochure was developed. 

• A meeting was held with Oak Ridge City Council’s Legislative Affairs Committee to explore whether the City’s lobbyist might assist CORRE. 

• CORRE had a booth at the Oak Ridge Secret City Festival in June.
• CORRE’s Eighth Annual membership meeting planned for September 24, 2008.

• CORRE’s membership grows to more than 3,100. 

• Work had begun in December 2006 on a DVD which fully describes our Pension issues. This DVD was produced by Judy Kibbe, with assistance from Keith Kibbe and Pete Lotts.  CORRE ordered 1,000 of the DVD sets, which were widely distributed to members of our Tennessee Delegation and their staffs, to area city and county officials, to newspapers and TV stations in the area, and to DOE and DOE Contractor heads.  

• In April, CORRE formally submitted to DOE-HQ our comments on DOE Notice N 351.1 for the 3rd time and sent copies to members of the TN delegation, as well as to ORO and heads of DOE contractors.  DOE later announced that the notice will not be implemented.

• In April, CORRE secured the services of an attorney to advise us as to how the Pension Protection Act (PPA) will impact the surplus in our Pension Trust fund when the Act goes into effect January 1, 2008.

• CORRE’s 2007 Position Paper was approved in May, with essentially the same two goals as in the two previous years – plus the Medicare D issue.

• In July, CORRE developed a 10-page paper entitled “DOE’s Disinformation Regarding Oak Ridge Contractor Pensions,” and posted it on our website.

• CORRE continues to meet with all the local contract managers and top DOE and NNSA managers in Oak Ridge.

• Regular contacts continue with staff of Congressmen Davis, Duncan, and Wamp, all of whom have been supportive of our efforts.

• A number of contacts were made with Senator Corker’s staff, and we were able to meet with him personally in June.

• Several contacts were made with Senator Alexander’s staff, but we have not been able to schedule a meeting with him personally.

• CORRE Board members have been busy meeting with Roane and Anderson County commissioners, City councils, and many civic groups.

• CORRE’s Seventh Annual Meeting was held September 26, 2007.

• CORRE’s membership grew to approximately 2,900.

• CORRE’s Bylaws were revised December 15, 2007, to provide for nomination by petition rather than nomination from the floor at the Annual Meeting.

• Sent CORRE Officers to D. C. to meet with Staff members of Senators and Representatives.  Met with high-level NNSA representative.

• In January, paid for Second Ad in Knoxville News Sentinel, The Oak Ridger, Oak Ridge Observer, and Roane County News, Setting the Record Straight on Pension Issues.

• Issued CORRE’s 2006 Position Paper, again outlining needed adjustment and spousal option benefit improvements. 

• Met in May with Deputy Directors at ORNL. 

• Board Members and many Retirees attended a DOE Public Meeting held on June 22 in Auditorium on Pellissippi State Campus at Congressman Wamp’s Request.

• Held Annual Meeting/Rally July 19 at Oak Ridge Mall.

• Met in August with Congressman Harold Ford, candidate for U. S. Senate, and briefed him on CORRE issues.  Attempted unsuccessfully to meet with Bob Corker.

• Obtained in October position statements on CORRE from both Senate candidates Bob Corker and Harold Ford, and placed the statements on CORRE’s website. 

• In December, Keith and Judy Kibbe began production of a DVD containing background information on CORRE and our current issues.

• Issued CORRE’s 2005 Position Paper, outlining needed adjustment and spousal option benefit improvements.

• Added representatives to the CORRE Board from Wackenhut and Bechtel Jacobs.

• Discussed pension benefit concerns with the DOE-OR Manager, who agreed to make DOE Secretary Bodman aware of the issues raised by CORRE.

• Corresponded and met with chief UT-Battelle, BWXT, and Wackenhut managers to explain CORRE’s request for pension benefit improvements.

• Briefed representatives from the entire East TN Congressional Delegation on the inaction to date on CORRE’s pension requests by either DOE or the Contractors.

• In October, paid for First Ad in Knoxville News Sentinel, The Oak Ridger, Oak Ridge Observer, and Roane County News, Setting the Record Straight on Pension Issues.

• Held Annual Meeting/Rally in October at ORHS Auditorium. 

• Met with Congressman Wamp and his Chief of Staff, Helen Harden. 

• Minimum pension benefit of $600/month for retirees and $400/month for surviving spouses begins in January.

• CORRE issues 2004 Position Paper, requesting a pension adjustment to recover 75% of inflationary losses, averaging 17% based upon years since retirement.

• CORRE presents adjustment request to BWXT and ORNL management.
• CORRE meets with DOE-ORO and NNSA Y-12.

• Petition with 5,684 signatures supporting CORRE’s goals presented to DOE-ORO, contractors and congressional representatives.

• CORRE asks that new employee benefit of 2% pension reduction for spousal reduction option be extended to retirees. 

• CORRE briefs Congressional representatives and writes to local and regional elected officials, explaining goals and seeking their support.

• CORRE representative invited to participate on ORNL Benefits Advisory Committee.

• CORRE holds 4th Annual Meeting and Rally at ORHS Auditorium on October 20. 

• Roane County Commission issues resolutioh in support of CORRE’s objectives.

• CORRE Membership grows to 2,250. 

• CORRE continues to urgently make the case with company representatives and legislators for the benefits changes requested in the 2002/2003 Position Paper.  These included a minimum monthly pension of $600 for retirees with at least 20 years of service; $400 monthly for eligible surviving spouses; and a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees averaging 15%. 

• CORRE is approved as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization by the IRS.

• CORRE encourages the Tennessee Congressional Delegation representing East Tennessee counties to write to DOE Secretary Abraham about the inequity in pension adjustments across the DOE system and the need for equitable treatment for Oak Ridge retirees. Both Tennessee Senators wrote separately to the Secretary expressing their concerns.

• CORRE Board votes to expand the organization’s coverage to all retirees from local DOE contractors (such as Wackenhut and Bechtel Jacobs), who are under the same pension plan.
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• Rep. Zach Wamp’s office coordinates a July meeting between CORRE and the DOE Operations Office Managers to discuss our requests for improvements in retiree pension benefits.

• CORRE meets in August with M&O Contractor Managers and TN Congressional Staff representatives to discuss our pension benefit requests. 

• CORRE continues to carefully watch the value of Pension Fund Assets, the present value of Liabilities, and the Surplus against which any proposed increase will be judged.

• CORRE continues to meet periodically with Contractor, DOE, and Congressional representatives.

• The third annual membership meting is held October 8. 

• CORRE “Active Membership” grows to nearly 2,000. 

• Formal Bylaws to govern CORRE organization and functioning are developed and are approved by the Board.

• CORRE receives Charter from the State of Tennessee.

• Annual goals and objectives are developed for 2002/2003, including minimum pensions for retirees, an annual cost-of-living increase for retirees, and CORRE representation on the Pension Fund Advisory Board of the prime contractors.

• CORRE develops a 2002/2003 Position Paper, urging and justifying the package of improvements needed, together with a listing of longer-range goals.

• CORRE initiates its website, where pertinent information about CORRE activities is posted.

• CORRE writes to DOE Secretary Abraham concerning inequity in Oak Ridge retirees’ pensions compared with others in the DOE system.

• CORRE corresponds with the Department of Labor and the IRS about discriminatory practices in administration of the Oak Ridge Pension Fund.

• Regular meetings are held between CORRE and Contractor representatives.

• CORRE holds second annual membership meeting. 

• CORRE Board members begin regular monthly meetings in Oak ridge to discuss issues. 

• CORRE executive officers hold their initial meetings with prime contractor managers.

• Annual goals and objectives are developed for 2001.

• CORRE develops 2001 Position Paper, urging and justifying a package of improvements needed in pension benefits for retirees, the primary one being the need for an ad hoc increase to partly offset the loss in pension values due to inflation.

• CORRE enlists the aid of federal legislators in blocking any proposed “420 Transfer,” and their support in obtaining a much-needed pension increase for retirees.

• The attempt to remove money from the Pension Fund via a “420 Transfer” is vetoed at the Washington DOE-HQ level.

• Open dialog is established by CORRE with  DOE Oak Ridge Operations Office, BWXT and UT-Battelle management, and the Tennessee Congressional Representatives.

• Subcommittees are established to handle political actions and retiree Legislative contacts, strategic planning, and other functions.

• In June, retirees receive the first pension adjustment since 1989 (valued at $130 million on an actuarial basis).  Individual increases ranged from 4% to 23%, depending on when a person retired.

• In response to CORRE’s request, the “pop-up” benefit (restoration of a retiree’s pension to full amount upon death of a spouse) is given to retirees.

• At BWXT’s invitation, publication of the “CORRE Corner” (news about CORRE) begins in the BWXT Y-12 Retiree Newsletter. 

• CORRE hosts the first annual meeting for members, reporting the year’s accomplishments and future plans. 

• CORRE is organized in September 2000 by a small group of concerned retirees, who were distressed over the erosion of everyone’s pensions due to inflation and also by reports that the new prime contractors for Y-12 and ORNL may attempt to extract money from the Retiree Pension Fund via a “420 Transfer.”  (The previous contractor had attempted to extract money from the Fund, but had been halted by extreme political pressure from Oak Ridge union members and a number of retirees.) 

• CORRE initiates discussions with ATLC and the DOE-ORO Manager.

• CORRE holds press conference/rally at DOE/ORO Federal Building on October 20, 2000.

• CORRE names officers and Board members, defines its purpose, and establishes a list of objectives.

• CORRE enlists the aid of the Knoxville News Sentinel and The Oak Ridger to help with their objectives.