Chapter 119

SEIU Local 73: Quinn should 'step up to the plate and meet with Labor' on pension bill

March 26, 2010
from www.ilafl-cio.org

     In what could have been the worst week in recent legislative history for public employees, Governor Quinn, Speaker Madigan and President Cullerton collectively threw state and municipal workers under the bus in a hasty political move that cut pensions, upped the retirement age, reduced COLAs and capped retirement earnings.
     “Labor has been denied a seat at the table on this critical issue of pensions and the future livelihoods of public employees,” said Christine Boardman, president of SEIU Local 73. “The Governor should step up to the plate and meet with Labor on an amendatory veto process for this legislation.”
    "This legislation was introduced and passed out of committee before anyone had a chance to review it, " said Michael T. Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO. "That’s not the way you treat your employees. And that’s not the way you treat your friends who worked so hard to get you elected.”

Click below to read the complete article:

0326legislativeupdate

Illinois' 'all-out-offensive' on union pensions

By Adam Doster
progressillinois.com
March 25, 2010

     In the blink of an eye yesterday, the General Assembly passed (by a wide margin) a historic overhaul of Illinois' public employee pension system.
     It's important to remember that these cuts do not effect current employees.
     Still, organized labor is furious over the legislation -- and with good reason.
     Illinois' current level of benefits is modest and in line with other states in the region.
     The primary reason the state’s pension system is so out of whack is that state lawmakers -- instead of reforming the tax system to raise revenue sustainable and fairly -- have skimped on payments for decades, using money designated for the pension system to cover core services.
     In short, lawmakers misrepresented the problem instead of owning up to their own failures. And in devising a political solution, they threw their key allies under the bus.

Read the full article at progressillinois.com

Two-tiered pension system passed by state lawmakers; Quinn to sign measure into law

Springfield
March 25, 2010

     A pension reform bill to create a two-tiered benefits system for Illinois state retirement systems moved swiftly through both legislative chambers Wednesday with bipartisan support, propelled partly by a potential threat to Illinois' bond rating.
     The changes to the pension systems would only apply to newly hired employees and would not affect the benefits of anyone currently working for state and local government entities.
     Employees hired after the bill takes effect would have to wait until age 67 to get full benefits. They could start receiving benefits at age 62 with a 6 percent reduction for each year they draw their pension before 67.
     The amount benefits can be based on would be capped at $106,800, the threshold for Social Security benefits.
     An alternative formula, which lets employees retire at 60 after working for 20 years, would be limited only to Department of Corrections security workers, Illinois state police officers and state firefighters.
     The changes would affect the State Employees Retirement System, the Teachers Retirement System and the State Universities Retirement System
     The bill also exempts Chicago Public Schools from “ramp-up” of payments for the next three years, saving CPS an estimated $400 million over that period.
     Supporters contend the pension changes could save the state billions over the coming decades.
     Governor Pat Quinn is expected to sign the measure into law almost immediately.

Read more about the bill's provision at the Illinois Issues blog
Analysis: llinois' 'all-out-offfensive' on union pensions (progressillinois.com)
More coverage: chicagotribune.com, sj-r.com
Pensions story gallery (progressillinois.com)

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Some of the pension changes in Senate Bill 1946:

--- Apply only to people hired after the bill goes into effect in January.
--- Require an employee to be 67 years old with 10 years of service in order to qualify for unreduced benefits. A person could retire at age 62 with 10 years of service, but with a reduction in benefits of 6 percent per year.
--- Cap the salary used to determine benefits at $106,800.
--- Limit participation in the “alternative formula,” which provides enhanced benefits for high-risk state jobs, to correctional officers, state police and state firefighters.
--- Do not allow a person to draw a pension from one system while working a full-time job covered by another pension system. Pension payments would be suspended during such a period.

Membership meetings for 2010

All union meetings will be held at the Willow Springs Club House located at 1201 Dean Drive, which is just north of the union office. There will be no July and August meetings.

Sunday: January 24, 2010
Advisory Board   1:00 P.M.
Steward Meeting   2:00 P.M.
Membership Meeting  3:00 P.M
Agenda – Members input on contract language for BSW’s

Saturday: February 20, 2010
Advisory Board   2:00 P.M.
Membership Meeting   3:00 P.M.
Agenda – Members input on contract language for FSW’s

Sunday: March 21, 2010
Advisory Board   1:00 P.M.
Steward Meeting   2:00 P.M.
Membership Meeting  3:00 P.M
Agenda – Members input on contract language for BSW’s

Saturday: April 24, 2010
Advisory Board 2:00 P.M.
Membership Meeting 3:00 P.M.
Agenda – Members input on contract language for FSW’s

Sunday: May 23, 2010
Advisory Board   1:00 P.M.
Steward Meeting   2:00 P.M.
Membership Meeting  3:00 P.M.
Agenda – Members input on contract language for BSW’s

Saturday: June 12, 2010
Advisory Board 2:00 P.M.
Membership Meeting 3:00 P.M.
Agenda – Members input on contract language for FSW’s

July & August – No Meetings

Sunday: September 19, 2010
Advisory Board   1:00 P.M.
Steward Meeting   2:00 P.M.
Membership Meeting  3:00 P.M

Saturday: October 23, 2010
Advisory Board 2:00 P.M.
Membership Meeting 3:00 P.M.

Sunday: November 14, 2010
Advisory Board   1:00 P.M.
Steward Meeting   2:00 P.M.
Membership Meeting  3:00 P.M

Saturday: December 18, 2010
Advisory Board 1:00 P.M.
Membership Meeting 4:00 P.M.
Chapter 119 Holiday Party

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