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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 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. 


Unions, board differ on approach to Decatur school cuts

Decatur, Illinois
from herald-review.com
March 16, 2010

     Decatur's public school budget faces some major cuts in the next few weeks.    
     Members of four unions, including SEIU Local 73, held a news conference on Monday to offer suggestions for trimming costs without costing jobs.
     "Our guiding principles were what we considered the best interests of the students with no impact on services," said Jim Forrester, president of the Decatur Education Association.

Read the entire article at herald-review.com

Unions' suggestions for budget cuts go unheard by
Decatur Public Schools administration and board leadership

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NEWS RELEASE

Decatur, Illinois
March 12, 2010

    While many surrounding districts continue to ask for public input about budget cuts, Decatur Public Schools have limited their discussions to board work sessions rather than their regular board meetings.  Those work sessions do not allow public participation nor are they televised.  The next work session is on Monday, March 15th, 2010 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.  
     “We understand that the majority of the work session will be conducted in closed session, meaning no members of the public are allowed behind their closed door meeting. We are disheartened that the District and the Board of Education continue to limit their discussions with the public that will impact all students in the district” says Jim Forrester, DEA President.
     “This district has kept the community in the dark about the 8 million dollar budget cuts they want to make” says Paula Busboom, DFTA President. 

» Read more

U of I students, teachers, workers
stand in solidarity on national Day of Action

0304urbana242

Urbana-Champaign
March 4, 2010

      About 300 U of I students, teachers and campus workers, including SEIU members, banded together to protest against tuition increases, budget cuts, layoffs and furlough days in front of the Alma Mater at noon on Thursday.
     The protest was in coordination with a national Day of Action to Defend Public Education and the second “common” furlough day taken by some members of the faculty.

SEIU Local 73 photos (picasawebgoogle.com)
Read more at dailyillini.com and ireport.com
VIDEO: March 4th Day of Action at UIUC (youtube.com)

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Local 73, union allies question
Decatur School District's finances

February 24, 2010

     Members of four unions who work in the Decatur School District, including SEIU Local 73, held a news conference Tuesday prior to the school board meeting to raise questions about the district's financial stability.
     Local 73 and the other unons also sent a letter to Decatur School Superintendent Gloria Davis, demanding to bargain any decision for a reduction in force.  
     Jim Forrester, president of the Decatur Education Association, said the financial health of the district is a priority for all of the employee groups.
     Chief Steward Mike Wetzel spoke for Local 73 at the news conference, raising questions about projections that show a steep and alarming drop in the education fund balance.
     Local 73 represents maintenance and custodial workers in the district.

Read more about the news conference at herald-review.com

Click below to read our letter to Decatur School Superintendent Gloria Davis:
Decatur letter Decatur letter
Click below to read the news release issued by SEIU Local 73 and its union allies:
Decatur news release Decatur news release

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Protesters flood Springfield
to push for fair, sustainable budget

Springfield
February 17, 2010

     Today, SEIU members and staff were among the more than 1,000 members of the Responsible Budget Coalition who traveled to the state capitol in Springfield to remind lawmakers that they must pass a sustainable budget this year.
     At large rally in the rotunda -- followed by individual office visits -- the protesters reminded their representatives that no part of their job is more important than passing a budget that protects the health, education, and well-being of Illinois' citizens. And doing so will require new revenue.

Click here for coverage at progressillinois.com
VIDEO:  RBC members rally in Springfield (progressillinois.com)

 

Downstate Division Quarterly Newsletter

(July 6, 2009)

FIRST STUDENT WORKERS NEWEST UNITS TO JOIN THE SEIU LOCAL 73 FAMILY:

Brand new units negotiating their first contracts, First Student bus drivers, attendants and a mechanic are looking forward to the protections that come with a labor agreement.  First contracts are harder than later contracts, because there is so much ground to be covered.  The best contracts are those that have been in existence for many years, gone through many negotiations.  But the negotiating teams from Galesburg and Farmington are focused on the things that matter the most to their units and look forward to ratification by the new school term.

» Read more

State Division Annual Report 2008

Click here to read the State Division Annual Report for 2008.

» Read more