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!!!