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.

COGFA VOTE

The COGFA commission will meet tomorrow morning at 10:30 am, May 1st in Room 212 of the Capital. Please generate calls to the following legislators and ask them to vote "No" on the Tamms CC, Dwight CC and IYC - Joliet facility closures:

SenatorSyverson            815987 7555

Senator Schoenberg       847492 1200

SenatorSchmidt              224 372 7465

SenatorMurphy              847 776 1490

Rep.Bellock                   630 852 8633

Rep. Riley                      708 799 4364

Rep.Tryon                      815 459 6453

Although this vote is only advisory, it will carry a lot of weight.

Thanks

Mike Stout

COGFA: New Facility Closure Decision Dates

COGFA has changed the dates for issuing their decisions regarding facility closures. Here is the new schedule:

Tamms C.C.: 5/11/12
IYC Joliet: 5/5/12
Dwight C.C.: 5/5/12

If you would like any other information you can visit COGFA on their website.

Governor Quinn's Proposal on Budget Changes

Governor Quinn has officially released a statement of his intended Pension Reform proposal. You can read a copy of his press release by clicking on this link- Governor Quinn Pension Reform Press Release

His proposal would do the following:

* 3% increase in employee contributions
* Reduce COLA (cost of living adjustment) to lesser of 3% or 1/2% of CPI, simple interest
* Delay COLA to earlier of age 67 or 5 years after retirement
* Increase retirement age to 67 (to be phased in over several years)
* Establish 30-year closed ARC (actuarially required contribution) funding schedule
* Public sector pensions limited to public sector employment

We will fight his changes on all fronts! We have been and will continue to work behind the scenes and on the front lines to safe guard your future!

Stay tuned for more information!