Though the nation’s attention has been on Wisconsin over the past few weeks, the challenges to proposed limits to collective bargaining, reductions to public employee pensions and education reform are sweeping the country. In fact, proposals that would drastically reduce pension benefits are being discussed in 28 states; challenges to collective bargaining are being fought in 18 states; in 17 states, unions are to maintain the voice of their members and fight payroll deduction propositions.
Those numbers don’t include the education reform, health care and voucher initiatives.
Pensions
Here in Illinois, we are facing many of the same challenges, most significantly reductions to current member benefits. IEA is opposed to any changes to current member benefits and believe that the Illinois constitution supports our position. (Fact sheet<http://msg4svc.net/ctiay/324361/65/157179/1681/0/S/0/0/xjvt.pdf>)
In the past few weeks a number of pension proposals have surfaced, ranging from increased member contributions to shifting the normal cost of pensions to local school districts.
We encourage you to contact your legislators now to see where they stand on the “Pension Protection Clause” of the Illinois Constitution.<http://msg4svc.net/ctiay/324361/70/157179/1686/0/S/0/0/xjvt.pdf>
Please stay engaged. There may be additional courses of action to be taken soon regarding the issue of legislative changes to our current active members pension benefits. Please follow the Capitol Report and check the IEA website<http://msg4svc.net/ctiay/324361/66/157179/1682/0/S/0/0/xjvt.html> to be certain that you are informed on what is happening and when you need to take action. It is crucial that IEA members are prepared to call their legislators on short notice!
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Harper College Adjunct Faculty Association 
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