IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Robert Roach, Jr., speaks in support of the “Keeping Our Pension Promises Act” at a press conference in Washington, DC.
IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Robert Roach, Jr., who is retiring July 31, 2015, will continue the fight to protect pensions for American workers as the newest member on the Board of Directors at the Pension Rights Center (PRC) in Washington, DC.
The PRC promotes retirement security for American workers, retirees and their families through advocacy, public awareness, legal training and advice. Roach recently worked closely with the PRC to secure the introduction of the Keep Our Pension Promises Act, which would prevent cuts to pensions of current retirees.
Current members of the Board include some of the country’s foremost experts in retirement income security.
“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I want to say how delighted we are that Robert Roach, Jr. has agreed to serve as a member of the Board,” said Nancy Altman, Chair of the PRC Board of Directors. “Robert’s expertise and dedication to protecting and strengthening the retirement security of America’s working families will be invaluable assets to the extremely important work of the Center.”
Roach has years of experience dealing with employer pension plans for the IAM and has prior service as a co-chair and trustee for the IAM National Pension Fund.
“I look forward to playing a strong supportive role on the Board to assist in advancing the mission of the Pension Rights Center and the working families it fights for,” said Roach. “I’ve been involved in protecting the pensions of hard-working Americans for four decades and I look forward to continuing those efforts to ensure a secure retirement for America’s working families.”
Before becoming the IAM’s chief financial officer, Roach regularly testified before Congress on issues surrounding employee pensions as the IAM’s Transportation General Vice President. Roach has served as a member of the International Transport Workers’ Federation Executive Board and Management Committees for over 12 years and held executive positions on the AFL-CIO’s Transportation and Maritime trades departments. He holds a B.S. in Labor and Management Relations from SUNY Empire State College’s Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center for Labor Studies and is a graduate of the Labor Liberal Arts Program at Cornell University.