SB 1556

As reported earlier, Senate Bill 1556 will be voted on the floor today. If passed, the bill has the potential to impact tiltes certified on or after December 2, 2008.

Here is a listing of those possibly impacted:

PSA 8Ks (mental health admins):
PSA 8Ls (attorneys) + Nuclear Safety Staff Attorneys:
SPSA 7s (DNR- captains):
SPSA 7s (ISP-Forensics- Sections Chiefs, Asst. Lab Dir., Deputy Lab Dir.):
SPSA 7s (ISP-additional titles):
SPSA 7s (ISP- Inspectors):
DHS OIG Investigators:
PSA 7s (DOC additional titles):
PSA 7 (ISP Narcotics Sup):
PSA 7 (ISP Sex Offender Registry):

Those titles not listed above cannot be impacted.

We have no reason to believe all of the titles will be targeted by the Governor's Office, but wanted to share this with our members.

We are working to defeat this bill in the Senate, please call your Senator at 888 412 6570 and ask them to vote NO!

Final Regular Day for General Assembly

Good Morning,

Today is the final day of regular session for the General Assembly, here is a summary of the major issues:

Pension benefit reduction - yesterday the Republican House Leadership withdrew its  support for pension changes due to the shifting of pension funding burden to local school districts. Late last night, Speaker Madigan changed his position on the issue and turned the lead on pension reform to House Minority Leader Cross. It is expected that the bill will be amended to take out local funding of teacher pensions. We fully expect the new legislation which impacts state employees and retirees to pass, but will continue to fight. This will call for both state employees and retirees to choose between a new COLA that significantly reduces benefits or maintaining the current COLA and retirees losing healthcare benefits. Pension bills are as following: House Bill (HB) 1447 (Senate Amendment 2), HB 3076 (Senate Bill 2) and HB 3865 (Senate Amendment 3).

Budget - both the House and Senate budgets contain the funding to keep open Tamms, Dwight, Joliet and Murphysboro, unless something happens today, the facilities will be funded. The bad news, the Governor will be able to control which facilities stay open and which close. We will continue to fight to keep all facilities open.

Collective bargaining - the bill to remove the rights of certain state employees to be covered by a union contract resurfaced yesterday. We are analzing the bill and its impact on our membersd.  Last night Senate Executive Committee  passed the bill moving it to the floor. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL MEMBERS CALL THEIR STATE SENATOR AND ASK THEM TO VOTE "NO" ON SB1556.

Please make one last call to your legislators and ask them to vote "NO" on all three issues!

Call them at  1 888 412 6570

ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Board & Staff

Call To Action!!!

ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Members,

Call To Action!

Do you and your family have cable television?

- Cable Television & Communications Association of Illinois support the Governor in his attempt to cut pension benefits. Call your local cable provider and express your opposition to their support.

Do you drive a Ford vehicle?

- Ford supports the Governor in his attempt to cut pension benefits. Call your Ford Dealership and express your opposition to their support.

Do you drive a Mitsubishi vehicle?

- Mitsubishi supports the Governor in his attempt to cut pension benefits. Call your Mitsubishi Dealership and express your opposition to ther support.

These corporations and many more are supporting the Governor in his attempt to cut your pension benefits. For a complete list of all companies and organizations supporting this legislation please click on the link provided below. Please contact these companies and organizations and express your opposition to their support of Governor Quinn's pension reform.

Pension Reform Support List

Thanks For Your Support,

ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Board & Staff

Illinois Farm Bureau

ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Members,

It has been reported that the Illinois Farm Bureau supports Governor Quinn’s effort to cut state employee pension benefits.

Please call your local Illinois Farm Bureau and/or insurance agency and ask if this is true. If it is, please voice your opposition!

The phone number to the main office is: (309) 557 2111

Thanks,

Mike Stout

ATTN: Call To Action!

Several members will be coming to Springfield this week to lobby their legislators concerning pension, healthcare benefits and facility closings. It is not too late to sign up! We are asking members to meet at our office (2945 Stanton Springfield, IL 217 585 0802) at 11:00 am each day so that they can pick up their local union t-shirts and discuss the planned activity. After lunch, the members will travel to the Capitol and talk to their legislators about these important issues. If you are unable to meet at 11:00 am, let us know and we will accomodate you. 

These issues impact all of us, we must do everything possible to preserve our benefits. If you are unable to come to Springfield, please call your legislator and voice your opinion. Call your legislator at 888-912-5959.

Thanks,

ISEA Laborers' Local 2002 Board & Staff

Pension Update

As you know, Gov. Quinn and legislative leaders are, once again, trying to balance the budget on the backs of state employees.  Laborers’ Local 2002, represented through our Regional Office, is part of organized labor’s “We Are One Illinois” coalition negotiating team which has met with representatives of the Governor’s office and the General Assembly numerous times.

The Governor released his “framework” of pension cuts and is actively courting support for them.  The cuts include:

·         Cuts to pension Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) for future (and, possibly, current) retirees;

·         Increasing the retirement age to 67; and
·         Contribution increases for current state employees.

These proposals have more support among some legislators than past proposals have.   Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel essentially echoed them this week as potential changes he’d like the legislature make for Chicago workers and retirees.  We need to increase our phone calls to our legislators immediately voicing our opposition to these changes.

Call your state representatives and senators at 888/412-6570 or just click here today http://www.weareoneillinois.org/click-to-call!  Tell them that:

1)      Labor is willing to a negotiate fair and constitutional solution to the pension problem;

2)      Proposals to cut benefits are unconstitutional; and
3)      Passing unconstitutional cuts are a political game that the public will easily see through.  Voter want real solutions, not games.

Also, the Illinois House passed a bill yesterday (SB 1313) that eliminates the 5%/year of service State pick-up for retiree health care premiums, essentially leaving the State’s contribution up in the air every year (and, you know, it won’t be increased).  Here is the link to how the state representatives voted:

 http://ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/97/house/09700SB1313_05092012_012000T.pdf

Please ask your state senators to vote ‘no’ on SB 1313 and thank your representatives if they voted ‘no’ or ‘present’ and (politely) indicate your displeasure with those who voted ‘yes’ on SB 1313. 

COGFA Vote Is In

7 - NO, 3 - YES
In favor of closing Tamms CC

7 - NO, 3 - YES
In favor of closing Dwight CC

This vote is advisory to the Governor but as members of the COGFA committee have said, the Governor has never gone against their reccomendations.

Still awaiting IYC Joliet vote.