The Bell Effect Seeks to Educate and Entertain those currently working in, and those who have retired, from the communications & telecommunications industry
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42 recent
October 23, 20269 min
42. The Pension Risk Transfer Trap: Edward Stone on Protecting Retirees
Attorney Edward Stone, Executive Director of Retirees for Justice and Special Legal Counsel for Your Association, delivers important legislative updates to retirees at the 2026 BellTel Annual Member Meeting. The Association of BellTel Retirees is dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System.
October 14, 2026Episode 419 min
41. Addressing Ongoing Lead Toxicity Issues - IBEW 2324 John Rowley Sr.
IBEW 2324 Business Manager John Rowley Sr. speaks at the Association of BellTel Retirees' 2026 Annual Member Meeting to discuss lead safety issues affecting current workers and retirees, and the ongoing dangers that must be addressed. The Association of BellTel Retirees is dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System.
July 30, 2026Episode 4030 min
40. BellTel Retirees' 2026 Annual Member Meeting
Listen to an abridged version of the Association of BellTel Retirees' 2026 Annual Member Meeting at the Ferguson Library located in Stamford, CT. Keynote speakers include: John Rowley Sr., Business Manager, IBEW Local 2324 , which commissioned an investigation by New York University & Boston College scientists of lead toxicity that impacts workers' and our fellow retirees' health and safety. Attorney Edward Stone, Executive Director of Retirees for Justice and legal counsel for fellow retirees in several important corporate pension spinoff lawsuits. Mr. Stone is fighting to protect retirees' earned pension benefits from the unknown investment risks when our pension assets are offloaded by former corporate employers. Watch the meeting video on the Association of BellTel Retirees' YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kerF1aK-L4
February 11, 2026Episode 3915 min
39. When Big Insurers Fail: A Cautionary Tale
Today, we are joined by Edward Stone, BellTel's Special Legal Counsel and the Executive Director of Retirees for Justice. Stone joins us to discuss PHL Variable, a large regional insurance company that recently filed for liquidation. He walks us through what policy and annuity holders should expect, what caused the issues in the first place, and what retirees and policyholders from other insurers should keep in mind moving forward. The Association of BellTel Retirees is dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. -- You can find more information on our website: https://belltelretirees.org/ You can donate to the cause here: https://forms.donorsnap.com/form?id=7181f443-1593-41d5-9979-725ff49ba02f Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretiree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees
December 11, 202518 min
38. How to Fight the Corporate Erosion of Earned Benefits
Today we are joined by Una Kelly, one of the first women in New York City to work in electronic switching. Now Treasurer of the Association of BellTel Retirees, Una tells us why she got off the sidelines in retirement and joined the fight against the corporate erosion of retiree and worker pensions, healthcare, and other earned benefits. Una explains what actions retirees and current employees alike can take to protect themselves against the growing dangers of pension risk transfers. We also look back on her 30-year career journey at Verizon. The Association of BellTel Retirees is dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. -- You can find more information on our website: https://belltelretirees.org/ You can donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretiree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees
October 1, 20258 min
37. Getting Involved: How Retirees Can Band Together to Protect Their Benefits
On this episode of The Bell Effect, we hear from Laura Whitlock, a former Executive Director of the Pioneers. Since departing the Pioneers, Laura has become an active and dynamic volunteer with the Association of BellTel Retirees, serving as a board director of our Association for the past two years and counting. Laura speaks about the rich history of the Pioneers as well as why retirees in the telecommunications community may want to support the Association with a qualified charitable distribution — an action that benefits both the retiree and the organization. The Association of BellTel Retirees is dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. -- You can find more information on our website: https://belltelretirees.org/ You can donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretiree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees
October 1, 202511 min
36. Dumping Retirees: The Fallout from Verizon’s 2024 Pension Risk Transfer Deal
Welcome to the reboot of The Bell Effect, a podcast dedicated to the generations of workers who helped build this country’s great communications infrastructure. In this episode, we will hear from leaders of the Association of BellTel Retirees about the fallout from Verizon’s massive 2024 pension risk transfer deal, a $5.9 billion transaction that offloaded the pensions of 56,000 retirees to Prudential Insurance Co. of America and Reinsurance Group of America Inc. Don Kaufmann, Board Secretary of the Association of BellTel Retirees, provides a brief refresher course on the issue, followed by legal analysis from Edward Stone, General Counsel of the Association of BellTel Retirees. We will learn about who was affected by this pension-stripping deal, the questionable motives of the corporate players involved, and where things currently stand with litigation against Verizon and its partner in the deal, State Street Global Advisors. The Association of BellTel Retirees is dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. -- You can find more information on our website: https://belltelretirees.org/ You can donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretiree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees
May 3, 20241 min
35. Association of BellTel Retirees Verizon 2024 Senior Executive Compensation Clawback Proxy
On this episode of the Bell Effect podcast, we interview Association of BellTel Retirees Chief Financial Officer, Frank Bruzek, who will speak on the non-profit Association's 2024 shareholder proxy campaign at Verizon. The second item he will address is the Senior Executive Compensation Clawback Proxy, which is Item #6 on the ballot. Please note that the Verizon annual meeting will be held virtually on May 9th at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretiree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees
May 2, 20247 min
34. Association of BellTel Retirees Verizon 2024 Lead Cable Proxy
On this episode of the Bell Effect podcast we interview Association of BellTel Retirees Chief Financial Officer, Frank Bruzek; who will speak about the non-profit association's 2024 shareholder proxy campaign at Verizon. The first item he will address is the Lead-Sheathed Cable Proxy, which is Item #9 on the ballot. Please note that the Verizon annual meeting will be held virtually on May 9th at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretiree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees
January 16, 20241 min
The Biggest Threat to Your Retirement Future
The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretiree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees
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