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Labor Coalition Blasts Pension Proposal

4/20/2012

WE ARE ONE ILLINOIS STATEMENT ON PENSIONS

Responding to Gov. Pat Quinn’s news conference on pensions held Friday, April 20, Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan issued this statement for the We Are One Illinois coalition of unions that represent public employees:

“The unions representing public employees are committed to working with Gov. Quinn and the members of the General Assembly to find a solution to the pension funding crisis caused by the state’s failure to pay its share.

“It is crucial that the pension problem not be compounded by an unconstitutional solution that is unfair to public employees who have always paid their share. The average public employee pension is just $32,000. Because most public employees do not receive Social Security, this modest pension is their life savings.

“Despite the willingness of the unions to engage in substantive discussions, our organizations were not asked to be part of Governor Quinn’s pension working group. We were invited to just four meetings and only a few days ago received any data by which to judge its proposals.

“We strongly disagree with the proposals made today. Considering that the subject at hand is the ability of hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans to support themselves in retirement, we believe the proposals are insensitive and irresponsible.

“By appearing to endorse these unfair and unconstitutional cuts, the governor has made the process of finding common ground much more difficult.

“Forcing public servants to choose between two sharply diminished pension plans is no choice at all. It is a clearly illegal attempt to solve the problem caused by past governors and the legislature solely on the backs of teachers, caregivers and other public workers.

“Public employees must be treated and heard as full partners in any substantive discussions. No one has a greater stake in solving the problem than we do. A serious problem deserves a serious effort at a solution. The unions are ready.”

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www.WeAreOneIllinois.org

TELL LAWMAKERS TO OPPOSE ALL UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNFAIR PENSION PROPOSALS

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Comments 15

  1. Jodi Birdwell 20 Apr

    This issue has not been thought through fairly and logically for state workers.  We deserve to have input in the issue that lies in the fault of state government and not state workers. 

  2. Henry 21 Apr

    What the Governor has proposed is not only unconstitutional, it is immoral.

  3. mary ann Reynolds 21 Apr

    Stop trying to take away teacher's pension money.  It is not our fault the money in the state of Illinois has been mismanaged.  We worked hard and contributed to our pension and now you want to take some of it away.  If all of the legislators have the same thing done to them it might not be so unfair.  Will that happen?  Of course not...

    Also what about the superintendents?  They make a huge amount.   You always want to take it away from the ones who make the least.
    STOP!!!

    You are wrong!!!!!
    This is unconstitutional!!!

  4. P. J. Foley 21 Apr

    Illinois is ranked 49th out of 52 States for funding education. It is sad we can not enhance our future leaders. Teachers have education loans to pay back and they are the lowest paid white collar worker in the country. Gov. Quinn robes my family of $200.00 a month in taxes which started in January. I will lose my home when he goes after my families income this time. I am not sure I want to be a homeless teacher of 26 years of dedication here in Illinois. If we lose our homes now, and can not buy food when we retire what's the point. Illinois is also the most expensive state to retire in.

  5. Jacquelyn Kaufmann 21 Apr

    Please allow union leadership to participate in any meeting that will impact retirement benefits for past and present public workers .  Only then will there be full disclosure and a serious attempt to solve the problems created by past state administrators. 

  6. Shawn Vavouleas 21 Apr

    It's time to put the people who have given their blood, sweat, and tears to educate you and your families to be taken care of. Start by slashing pensions of those governors that helped cause this mess. If your pensions would become under fire I am sure that there would be some type of resolution that would not include making a choice between options that were both paltry in nature. 

    Please do not allow teachers to have to make that decision. Tell Gov. Quinn that this is not acceptable. Take care of those that taught you to be what you are today. Thank the teachers by supporting them ! 
    Respectfully,
    Shawn Vavouleas

  7. Sean Noonan 21 Apr

    Stonewall, Stonewall, Stonewall. Our pensions will only be defended in the courts (which will be harder if IFT agrees to anything) and with old school CIO methods. It is time to start being unions again. Business agency is over. Strike, slowdown, work-to-rule, sickout, street actions: these are the tools that will ultimate defend our pensions. It is how we got them, it will be how we keep them.

  8. Chuck 21 Apr

    Seriously? The State of Illinois mismanaged OUR money, but its all of our fault? Although I'm a loyal Democrat, I will NEVER vote for Quinn if this thing goes through!

    The worst part is the 67 retirement age. Have you lost your collective minds????????  Do you really want a bunch of old, warn out, teachers staying in the profession, just to live long enough to hopefully collect some of what is rightfully theirs? 

    BAD IDEA! 

    Chuck Stevens  

  9. Michele Anders 21 Apr

    I am a widow and cannot live on my pension if it's reduced or cut. I do not get a pension from my late husband as he was on social security which stopped when he passed away. Please do not cut my pension as I will still have a mortgage and other bills when I retire.I beg you please don't cut our pensions.

  10. Karen Walsh 21 Apr

    Ditto

  11. Klamiot 22 Apr

    Can "We Are One" get this information out to the public? Can you get some information into the Tribune or on the radio? It seems as though more of the conversation centers around a broken education system instead of a corrupt and irresponsible government system. 

    I'm beginning to sometimes wonder if  I chose the right profession. It's not working with students, administrators or parents, or the rigorous education environment, it's the constant lifelong worry and stress of never having enough money to live. I used to be so proud to announce to anyone that I was a teacher, now I hold my tongue, in fear of judgement from a society that has come to devalue a profession that used to be held in high esteem. 

    Who will choose this profession in the future? Where are the voices of students who have benefitted from all the reforms that have been taking place in the classroom over the last 20 years? There must be some out there whose lives have improved and who have felt a positive impact from their experience in public education. Let's call on some of them to begin a dialogue about what is valued and what is working in our schools today.

  12. Andy 24 Apr

    People like Rahm Emmanuel and Governer Quinn have no problem pointing their fingers at teachers and increasing the amount of hours that we work, but when it comes time to give us what we have earned, they fail us miserably.  Emmanuel and Quinn are failures to the State of Illinois and to The City of Chicago.

  13. Dennis Gunter 02 May

    After Over 28 yrs of service the State wants to change the playing field. I have just a few years before I retire now they want us to live at poverty level. I understand changes need to be made but it shoud not start with the states senior employees.

    They used our retirement money as an open credit card to do as they want tax free now this, what next?

  14. Dr. T. 03 May

    A shameful shambles brought about by inept and corrupt people elected to positions of responsibility that they have no buisness serving in. Morally bankrupt and devoid of even the most rudimentary understanding of ethical behavior and duty. The only reasonable recourse is to vote them out of office at every opportunity. And tie teachers pensions to the state legislators pension and benefits. Then maybe there would be some measure of stability and sanity with this mess.

  15. Lloyd 05 May

    What I would like to know is the Ill congress going to decline their health care which they are eligible for after only serving two terms? Just think of DOC officers who have worked over twenty years in this lousy system. Is the Illinois congress going to get their wages frozen for over 7 years?

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