Pension 101

What is Happening to our Pensions?!   Speaker of the Illinois House Madigan, Minority Leader Cross, President of the Illinois Senate Cullerton and Governor Quinn are determined "to do something" about public employee pensions in Illinois. They call it "reform" but their proposed solutions are not aimed at the real problem (decades of pension underfunding by the state). Gov. Quinn's proposed "fix" to the pension crisis involve only reducing benefits.  Just so there is NO DOUBT ... the changes are aimed at active teachers and current retired teachers. Do not allow disingenuous legislators tell you different!  We are ALL fighting for our pensions -- active teachers and retired teachers!

What are some of the proposed changes ("reforms")? Teach to 67. Actives pay 3 to 5% more. Local districts handed  the pension bill. Cuts in current and future COLA for current retired and future retired. Cuts in future and current TRIP insurance. That is just the start....there are several other ideas floating around -- ALL BAD. All cutting benefits.

So is all the calling and emailing working!?  Our calls and E-mails and reaching out to legislators are working! Our actions have slowed (for the moment) the "fast tracking" of a pension bill! Many observers thought a pension bill was going to be rushed through at least the house this week. No bill has surfaced. The house has gone home for the weekend. Up to a few days ago there had not been much teacher contact with legislators. There was a feeling that the legislative leaders might just try to run a stealth or 'fast track' bill right over the IEA and IFT because it appeared to some that teachers had grown tired of the pension fight. The only reason a bill has not surfaced, that the IEA and IFT are back at the negotiations table -- is all of our contacts with legislators! The number of contacts have increased dramatically this week. That has helped the IEA and IFT fight for our pensions. The more contacts we make with the more legislators -- the less brave legislators become..... 

What can you do? You don't have to do all - pick one! or two or three!

1. Keep it up! Send another E-mail. Call again. and again and again!

2. Contact five teachers who might be clueless or uninformed or in denial . Convince them, urge them to send  an E-Mail!  Help them call their legislators.  Help them use the ..... "We Are One" ( http://www.weareoneillinois.org/) automated contact system or the IEA system ( WWW.IEANEA.ORG)!  Legislative staffs are counting the number of calls they are getting!

3. Seek out your local association president and offer to help contact members! Suggest you will help with a cell phone and lap top contact your legislator party!!

4. Make an email list of every teacher you know and forward them this Pension 101!   Play Paul or Pauline Revere -- make sure your colleagues know we are in the fight of our life! 

5. If you are retired -- talk to the retired teacher lunch group -- the Friday breakfast group -- be persistent! The pension You help save will be Your Own! URGE them to do more than shake their heads -- urge action -- Give them the websites!!

6. Get a group of teachers together and visit your local state Representative and local state Senator this weekend -- just the fact you call for an appointment is enough! Let them know Teachers vote and they care about their pensions! They will be home!

7. Write up a simple -- "Don't Cut My Pension" petition and have your grade level, your school , your retired lunch group -- sign it and ....present the petition this weekend to your local Representative's office!

8. Ask your colleagues (forward VIA E-Mail) to sign the following Quinn petition on line.....
http://signon.org/sign/governor-quinn-leave?source=s.em.cr&r_by=1424651&mailing_id=3617

9. There have been demonstrations in front of legislators offices in Naperville, Rushville, Westmont, Peru... organize one! Make your own signs! March for fair treatment. Attend the Orland Park Rally Friday night see how it is done!

10. http://www.weareoneillinois.org/  ---   WWW.IEANEA.ORG


GO to Springfield next week and lobby with the IEA!!  Pension Emergency Lobby Week !!!!
IEA is encouraging retired IEA members or members who are out of school to volunteer in a lobbying effort along with AFSCME and We Are One Illinois labor coalition partners scheduled for the week of May 21 in the state's capitol!!!  There will be kick-offs/briefings held each day in a tent behind the Illinois State Federation of Labor located at 534 S. 2nd Street.  The schedule for the week is:

Monday, May 21:  Kick-off/briefing at 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 22 through Friday, May 25:  Kick-off/briefing at 11:00 a.m.

Volunteers are invited back to the tent for an informal debrief after lobbying and box lunches will be provided Tuesday through Friday.  Please note that there are no meals provided on Monday, May 21.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide any buses, mileage, or expense reimbursement for those that attend, but we are encouraging available members to attend and support this effort to help ensure a fair solution to the pension crisis.

Please note that the capitol is still under construction and parking and traffic could still be a problem.  Please see the attached document that lists public parking garages in the downtown Springfield area.

Please email Kristi Laukhuf (Kristi.laukhuf@ieanea.org< mailto:Kristi.laukhuf@ieanea.org>) ASAP the number of members attending and on what day so that we are able to provide a lunch count.

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Friday Night -- ORLAND PARK  --  Pension Rally

Please join your colleagues!!!

Meet at:    REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES KREZWICK’S DISTRICT (McCarthy’s Replacement)

What:             Rally Supporting Teachers and Public Employees

When:              Friday, May 18 ^th from 4-6PM

 

Where:             Representative Krezwick’s District Office

                        (8951 West 151^st Street, Orland Park, IL 60462)

 

Why:               Rep. Charles Krezwick says he is supporting the Democratic Leadership’s Positions.  The Democratic leadership’s current position is contrary to IEA’s position:

 

·          Any Proposed changes must be Constitutional;

·          Any modifications must be fair to members;

·          Must maintain the stability of our system; and

·          And include the unions at the table.

 

What do I need to bring:   Signs – but please make sure they are professional! 

 

We need your help now! Remember you have a chance to do everything you can possible do now and not wake up on June 1st asking what I could have done.  Bring your spouse, children, your neighbors, and friends.  We need to show a force and help make a difference. 

 

Brought to you by:

Illinois Education Association/NEA