Back Pay Update

We wanted to touch base with you to let you know where we are with the back pay situation and what to expect in the next few months.

 

First and foremost, most employees have, at this point, received some backpay owed to them by the State. However, these amounts are just a fraction of what you are owed and we are still in the middle of the fight. Fortunately, in the current collective bargaining agreement we were able to secure language that requires the Employer to pay. So, the issue of whether or not the Employer will pay is no longer a part of the battle- we have won that fight. But there is still much to be done in the next few months to ensure that we get every single member- current and retired- paid all monies owed to them.

 

We have had many questions from employees regarding how the State has figured the back pay owed and what percentage of that amount has been paid to each individual. Due to increasing pressure from the Unions, the Governor has instructed the Agencies to put together a detailed document which will reflect what is owed to each individual employee and what amount has been distributed. Once we have received that information we will be able to share with each individual what you are specifically owed and what has been paid. We will notify the group as soon as we have that information in hand. It is due to the Unions by September 30th.

 

Next, and very important to the fight, the State and the Unions have banded together to seek legislation that would appropriate the funds necessary to make all employees whole with regards to the 2011 wage freeze. There was a bill introduced in the last sessio but Legislators were concerned about pension changes and did not pass the appropriations bill. Over the Summer, the Legislature held a special session and set up a committee to work on possible new pension legislation. Business Manager Mike Stout has been actively involve in meetings with Legislators as part of the We Are One coalition to both advocate for our members as well as to monitor the conversations that are happening regarding what new pension legislation proposals may look like. We expect the pension issue to be resolved sooner rather than later.

 

As such, we have continued to lobby our fight for the funds to be appropriated so that you can all be made whole. The Legislature is set to return on October 22, 2013 and we will be putting out to the membership in the following weeks talking points and other information necessary for you to contact your local legislators while we continue the fight at the Capitol and lobbying for our members. Be watching your emails in the upcoming weeks leading up to the new session.

 

Lastly, it has been brought to our attention by our Retiree members that the SERS website states that AFSCME employees will be receiving credit for the backpay at SERS once it is received. However, AFSCME members are not the only employees who will receive said credit as that applies to all affected Union members, including ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 members. We have contacted SERS and they are going to be updating the website by the end of the week to include and reflect all affected Unions.

 

We must continue the fight united! We will not stop until we have won!

VR-704 Back Pay Update

On July 31, 2013, you will receive a paycheck that should reflect all of the wage increases you were owed under the previous Agreement. If you were owed a step during FY12 (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012) then that step should also be on your paycheck. There is also an additional 2%  increase that is effective July 1^st that will be reflected on your paycheck. Please refer to the new Agreement for your correct base pay.

Note: There will NOT be backpay on this check.

FY13 (July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013): Any back pay you are owed from FY13 will be paid in a separate check in August 2013. It will NOT be added to your regular paycheck. This backpay will include the difference between what you were paid during FY13 and what you should have been paid during FY13. It will include the difference in the rate you were paid for overtime and/or temporary assignment pay and the rate you should have earned for overtime and/or temporary assignment pay.

Note: DOC/DJJ will pay as much as they can from existing funds. If there are not sufficient funds to cover all backpay, you will receive a portion of what you are owed. This check will issue in August 2013 as a check separate from your paychecks.

FY12 (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012: Any back pay you are owed from FY12 will be paid in a separate check in August 2013. It will NOT be added to your regular paycheck. This backpay will include the difference between what you were paid during FY12 and what you should have been paid during FY12. It will include the difference in the rate you were paid for overtime and/or temporary assignment pay and the rate you should have earned for overtime and/or temporary assignment pay.

Note: DOC/DJJ will pay as much as they can from existing funds. If there are not sufficient funds to cover all backpay, you will receive a portion of what you are owed. This check will issue in August 2013 as a check separate from your paycheck.

Also, please remember that state and federal taxes will be applied to any back pay as it is legally subject to such taxes. All payments are also subject to involuntary withholding of State-owed payments currently on file with the Illinois Comptroller’s Office.

Contact Information: If you wish to inquire with the Employer regarding this information, they have asked that you contact the payroll department at your facility. Please do not call the Illinois Office of the Comptroller. As always, you can contact us at any time with any questions you may have as well.

Finally, a list of step increases and wage ranges can be found on the Illinois Department of Central Management Services website under the “Personnel” tab/Bureau of Personnel/State job Titles and Class Specifications/Alphabetic Index.

Thanks,

ISEA Staff

SB 1910 Signed Into Law

As you may recall, earlier this year a bill was passed that exposed approximately 50 members and many more positions to potentially being removed from our bargaining unit. It exposed groups that were certified on or after December 2, 2008. In the last session we were able to get SB 1910 passed which protected nearly all of the titles exposed. Today, the Governor signed that bill into law. CMS has told us that we will meet soon to reclassify titles that were not included in SB 1910 so that they will not be removed from our bargaining units! This is a great victory for ISEA Laborer's Local  2002 and our VR-704 bargaining unit.

 

Thanks to the hard work of all by campaigning, making calls to legislators, and making our voices heard we are proud to say that we have saved our members.

Step Increase Update- DOC

We just received word from DOC Labor that they have confirmed that we will see one step increase in this pay period.

The remaining steps and COLA's owed under the previous agreement, as well as the 2% COLA for 7/1/13 will come on as of July 1, 2013.

 

We've had many inquiries about this and wanted to let you know as quickly as possible.

VR-704 Wage Increase & Backwages Update

We have received many inquiries regarding the 2008-2012 frozen wages increases and steps implemention as well as the backwages owed and the subsequent payment of those wages.

We were notified by CMS that they would seek to implement one step increase as quickly as possible as they have done with other Unions who have settled their contracts.

On July 1, 2013, all wage increases (COLAs) and step increases due will be reinstated as well as an additional 2% increase per the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement.

Regarding backpay, both the Union and the State jointly sought and pushed for legislation that would appropriate funding for all backwages owed in conjunction with the wage increase freeze implemented by the State under the 2008-2012 agreement. Unfortunately, the legislature did not pass the funding during this session.

Nevertheless, we still have our grievances, lawsuit, and unfair labor practice before the Illinois Labor Relations Board pending which protects your rights to the backwages owed. Furthermore, both the Unions and the State continue to lobby the legislators, even during their time away from session, for the backwages funding. We have also received word that CMS will attempt to utilitze any surplus in funding from this Fiscal Year to pay out some of the backwages owed to offset the sum required that will be requested to be appropriated by the Legislature when they return to session.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Pension Update

An agreement concerning pension legislation has been reached with Senate President Cullerton. Attached is a summary of what was agreed upon by Senate President Cullerton and the We Are One Coalition.

As you are aware, the House passed Senate Bill 1, now called the Madigan bill, which we feel is both unfair and unconstitutional. The details of the Madigan plan have been well documented, but are also included on the attachment. The Governor has stated he will sign Senate Bill 1 if it passes the Senate. Earlier a bill similar to Senate Bill 1 received 23 votes in the Senate. It takes 30 votes for a bill to pass the Senate. If Senate Bill 1 were the only option, we fear it might attract 6 more votes and then we have disaster. We do believe the Madigan bill is unconstitutional, but don’t want to gamble on a law suit, too much is at stake.

We all agree something must be done to salvage Illinois’pension plans. Yes, our members did not create this problem, but to believe the legislature would pass a bill that solely raised taxes enough to reduce the unfunded pension liability would be foolish. The Madigan Plan goes too far! Although not included on the attachment, the Cullerton bill guarantees state funding of the pension systems.

This afternoon, Cullerton will meet with his caucus to discuss this plan, He will endorse the bill. We have also demanded Senate Bill 1 be killed. We wanted to share a copy of the agreement at the same time it was released to Senate members.

If you have questions, please feel free to reply to this message. Please understand we are sending this email to every member of the local union that we have an email address for. If you do have questions, we will respond as quickly as possible. If there are a lot of questions, we may send out a blanket response to the entire membership, please be patient.

The new legislation will be Senate Bill 2404.

 

Below is the information. We have also sent you the following in a document over email.

 

Choice A:

·         3 percent simple COLA

·         Two year delay in receiving COLA for active state employees upon retirement

·         Receive retiree healthcare

·         Enrollment in optional cash balance plan on a pre-tax basis by making irrevocable election to join plan after choosing Choice A

·         Eligible for ERO (TRS only not SERS)

·         All future salary increases offered as pensionable

 

Choice B

Option 1:

·         3 percent compounded COLA

·         Three year delay in receiving COLA for active state employees upon retirement

·         Agree to  2 percent contribution increase

·         Receive retiree healthcare

·         All future salary increases offered as pensionable

 

Choice B

Option 2:

·         3 percent compounded COLA

·         No retiree healthcare

·         Future salary increases offered as non-pensionable

 

Choice for Retirees

·         Choose two year freeze on compounded COLA in non-consecutive years and continue to receive retiree healthcare

·         Choose to keep 3 percent compounded COLA without freeze and forego access to retiree healthcare

·          

Senate Bill 1 (Madigan Plan)

·         Increase retirement age from 1 to 5 years for employees under 45 years of age

·         5 year or age 67, whichever comes first wait to receive COLA upon retirement

·         New formula to determine amount COLA to be based on, $1,000 per year of state service multiplied by 3 percent simple for most employees

·         Wage cap of $109,971 for determining retirement benefit.

 

Negotiations Update

We wanted to take a moment to update you on the current economic negotiations status. Monday and Tuesday we spent negotiating with the State regarding the financial aspects of the new agreement.

We do have some good news- It is agreed that we will essentially get what the other Unions are receiving in the way of wage increases during the new agreement, a small longevity pay increase, a small shift differential increase, as well as other issues including the step and COLA increases from the previous agreement.

There are, however, issues specific to our Union that we are still negotiating over and we have another date scheduled next week at which we hope to wrap up the agreement. We are pleased to tell you that they have responded positively regarding some of those issues. But, there are still details to work out. As soon as we have additional information to share we will be sure to send out an update to you.

HB1154- Pension Bill- UPDATE

Today, amendments to HB1154 were voted on and here are the results:

Amendment 6 to freeze COLA's for ten years failed 2-67.

Amendment 7 to cap pensionable salary at $113,000 passes 65-7-1.

Amendment 8 to increase employee contributions by 4% fails 11-58-2.

This is great news for our members and for all State employees!!

Keep checking back for more updates on legislative issues and if anyone at your workplace reports that they are not receiving our emails, please have them get in touch with us immediately so that we can get their email address added or updated.

Office Move

Effective March 1, 2013, the local union office will be relocated to:

534 South Second Street

Springfield, IL 62701

The new telephone number will be 217-523-2002, new fax number will be 217-523-2006. Our toll free number will remain the same.

Please keep in mind, staff will be moving on February 28th & March 1st, the best means of communications those days will be via email.

Mike Stout - mstout2002@att.net

Ron Rohlfs - local2002oc@aol.com

Kendra Best - liunalaw@hotmail.com

Michele Rohlfs - michele.rohlfs@att.net

Sincerely,

ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Staff

Pay Case Update

There has been a new development in the pay case. When AFSCME appealed Circuit Court Judge Billik's ruling, they obtained a stay of the order issued by Judge Bilik. That means, as long as the appeal is pending the State does not have to obey the order from the Circuit Court. However, Judge Bilik retired, being replaced and the new Judge in the Circuit Court presiding over Judge Bilik's ruling has removed the stay. That means, the money the State set aside in accordance with a pre-ruling order by Judge Bilik must be used to pay out to the employees monies owed. Now, there is a hitch. Some of the money set aside is from special grants and is designate for particular programs which means that only employees within those programs would be able to be paid from those grants. However, there is still other money set aside that can be paid out to employees in the State. This is a great development in the matter. We hope to have more news to come. As we learn about the State's compliance with the lifted stay we will keep you informed.

ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Staff

PENSION UPDATE: PENSION BILLS STOPPED!!

WE WANT TO THANK YOU!!!!  OUR MEMBERSHIP'S VOICE HAS BEEN HEARD!!

 

IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOUSE WILL NOT VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT. THEY HAVE RECESSED UNTIL NOON TOMORROW.

 

THE PENSION BILLS ARE DEAD FOR NOW!!!

 

WE KNOW THAT OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD! THANK YOU FOR MAKING PHONE CALLS AND GETTING THE LEGISLATORS TO STOP THE PENSION BILLS!!

PENSION UPDATE, PART 2- URGENT!!!!

WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED WORD THAT AMENDMENT 15 TO SB1673 HAS BEEN PASSED OUT OF THE PENSION AND PERSONNEL COMMISSION!! IT WILL NOW GO BEFORE THE HOUSE!!

WHAT THAT BILL DOES IS REPLACES THE ENTIRETY OF SB1673 AND WOULD SERVE TO ESTABLISH A PENSION COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HAVE UNTIL APRIL 30, 2013 TO RECOMMEND A PENSION PLAN. WE ARE GREATLY OPPOSED TO THIS AMENDMENT!!!

UNDER THIS AMENDMENT, IF EITHER THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE FAILS TO RESPOND OR REJECT THE PLAN, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME LAW!!! THAT WILL ALLOW ONE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TO ULTIMATELY MAKE IT LAW BY NOT REJECTING THE PLAN!!

PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS IMMEDIATELY AND TELL THEM TO VOTE "NO" TO SB1673, AMENDMENT 15!!!!!!

PENSION LEGISLATION UPDATE!!!

AN AMENDMENT TO A BILL HAS BEEN FILED AND PENSION/PERSONNEL ARE MEETING NOW!!

THE AMENDMENT WOULD ESTABLISH A PENSION COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HAVE, WE BELIEVE, UNTIL APRIL TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON PENSION CHANGES AND IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FAILS TO ACT OR REJECT THE RECOMMENDATION IT WILL BECOME LAW!!!

WE ARE OPPOSED TO SUCH A CHANGE AS IT REVERSES THE WAY THAT LAWS ARE PASSED. THERE WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE A VOTE BY THE GA FOR IT TO BECOME A LAW!!

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ASAP AND TELL THEM TO VOTE AGAINST SUCH AN AMENDMENT!!!

PENSION LEGISLATION UPDATE!!!

A pension bill was passed out of committee today. We have no word yet on whether or not it will be picked up for a vote, but we have to keep up the pressure on the Legislaors to VOTE "NO" AGAINST House Amendment 10 to SB1673!!!

Here is a summary of what the bill would do:

Unilaterally reduces benefits for current workers and retirees in all State retirement systems except judges. No back up of offer and consideration.

• Does NOT contain any cost shift to local school districts or colleges.

• Freezes (pauses) ALL COLAs for current or future retirees for almost 7 years (from the immediate effective date of the bill until January 1, 2020).

• Once the freeze is over, no COLA until age 67, and then a 3% compounded COLA only on the first $25,000 in benefits for those without Social Security (teachers, university staff, legislators and some State employees) or the first $20,000 for those with Social Security (some State employees). No minimum on years of service. The maximum COLA payable would become a simple $750.

• Raises employee contributions by 2% of salary, phased in over two years. Does not allow the contribution increase to be used for the Money Purchase Benefit.

• Caps benefits at final average salary (“pensionable” salary) at higher of (1) current salary for past 365 days or per union contract or (2) the indexed Social Security wage cap (currently $113,700).

• No defined contribution plan on salary above the Social Security cap. No cash balance plan for new hires and no change in Tier 2 benefits except makes Tier 2 legislators’ COLA match others at lesser of 3% or half CPI (legislators had been at lesser of 3% or full CPI).

• Prohibits the use of sick leave to be used for service credit for new hires.

• Strengthens funding formula to reach 100% funded in 30 years. Even with this improvement, benefit reductions should mean net annual savings to the State.

• Adds a PERMISSABLE funding guarantee: Allows systems to sue the State to enforce annual payment of normal cost plus payments on the unfunded over a “reasonable” period of time according to “accepted actuarial standards.” Tries to make this guarantee a constitutionally protected contract obligation. Additionally, the language provides for payment deviations if there is a hardship.

• Requires the State to contribute an extra $1 billion year to the systems beginning in FY20 when FY11 pension bonds are paid off and current pension bond payments decline by $600 million from FY19. This extra payment continues through FY45 or until the systems are 100% funded.

KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR UPDATES ON THIS AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE ISSUES!!! WE CONTINUE THE FIGHT!!!

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL UPDATE

WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AND WE  WILL KEEP UP THE FIGHT!!

 

Tonight an amendment to SB3681 was filed in the House which would serve to exclude certain titles from the potential elimination from a collective bargaining unit under SB1556. What that means is that the ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 collective bargaining unit titles that could be impacted by SB1556 would be safeguarded from removal, as proposed in the SB3681 amendment.

 

While there is no guarantee that the SB3681 amendment that would safeguard our positions will be passed, it is definitely an iron in the fire!

 

WE ARE WORKING HARD TO PROTECT OUR MEMBERS!!

Pension Update: 1/6/2013

The Governor met with legislative leadership yesterday, no agreement was made on pensions. The Speaker believes agreement can be reached before the new legislators are sworn in at noon on Wednesday. Please get your friends, family and anyone else possible to call their state representative and ask them to oppose pension legislation that reduces benefits guaranteed by the constitution. Call 1-888-412-6570 for more information.

ISEA, Laborers Local 2002 Staff

Pension Update

The State House of Representatives will be in session beginning tomorrow and will be considering pension changes that will reduce future benefits for current and future retirees. We are not sure at this time what specifically will be included in the bill or bills. Please be prepared to make calls to your state representative asking them to oppose any such legislation. We will keep the membership informed throughout the weekend. Remember, the 'We Are One' toll free number of 1-888-412-6570 is your direct link.

 

ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Staff

SB 1556 Update

Yesterday the State Journal Register reported that Senator Harmon, AFSCME and other unions were meeting in an effort to determine which state employees would no longer have bargaining rights. We want to assure you that our local union is doing the same. We are working with the Senator to justify the exclusion of our membership. Please keep in mind that Senate Bill 1556 has passed and only affects positions certified after December 2, 2008. It does not matter what date an individual hires into a position but only the date on which the position gained union representation. An overwhelming majority of our members are NOT affected by Senate Bill 1556, regardless we are working in an attempt to exclude as many people as possible from being affected. Please continue to watch your e-mail, blog & Facebook; we will keep you posted on any new developments.

ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Staff

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/local2002

ISEA Local 2002 Blog: http://isealaborerslocal2002.blogspot.com/

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL PASSES

UPDATE: AFTER FAILING TO PASS THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, THE SENATE RECALLED AND PASSED THE BILL

You may already know this but we are sorry to say that the Senate recalled SB1556 late last evening and that the Senate passed the Collective Bargaining Bill. We are reviewing every option available to us in order to stop this bill from going to the Governor's office. Please monitor your emails over the next several days as we will keep you informed of any changes or updates on the bill status.

THE FIGHT IS STILL ON!!

CLARIFICATION ON TITLES IMPACTED:

If your title was certified before December 2, 2008, this legislation will not impact you. This is NOT based on when YOU took the position but WHEN THE POSITION WAS CERTIFIED.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL US AND WE WILL GET YOU A RESPONSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!!

 

EMAIL MIKE AT mstout2002@att.net

EMAIL KENDRA AT liunalaw@hotmail.com

 

WE WILL BE AT THE CAPITOL TODAY WORKING ON THIS BUT WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN AND EMAILING US WILL GET YOU THE QUICKEST RESPONSE.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL FAILS!!

WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED WORD THAT THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL WAS CALLED AND HAS FAILED!!!

THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT CANNOT BE CALLED UP AGAIN BEFORE THE SESSION IS OVER, BUT FOR NOW WE HAVE PREVAILED!!!

IT IS VITAL THAT WE KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON ALL OF THE STATE REPS AND SENATORS THROUGH THE END OF THIS SESSION!!!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO MAKE CALLS AND LOBBY AGAINST ANY CHANGES TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LAWS AND SPECIFICALLY- SB1556!!!

THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY A VICTORY!!! KEEP UP THE FIGHT!! STAND UNITED!!

URGENT- LIST OF SENATORS TO CALL

WE ARE ASKING OUR MEMBERS TO CALL SENATORS IMMEDIATELY!!!

SB1556- WHICH IS THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL THAT WILL AFFECT EMPLOYEES UNION RIGHTS AND OPEN UP THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE STATE TO REMOVE SOME EMPLOYEES/TITLES FROM UNIONS- WILL BE VOTED TODAY!!!!!!!

HERE IS A LIST OF SENATORS TO CALL IMMEDIATELY AND ASK THEM TO VOTE NO ON SB1556!!!!!!

REMEMBER- BE POLITE BUT BE PERSUASIVE!!!

SENATOR HAINE- (217) 782-5247

SENATOR HARMON- (217) 782-8176

SENATOR LAHOOD- (217) 782-1942

SENATOR LUCHETEFELD- (217) 782-8137

VOTE "NO!!!" ON SB1556 STAND UNITED!! STAND NOW!!!