The fight to save TRS/SURS
This week, Gov. Quinn and the members of the General Assembly have received a loud and clear message from thousands of IEA members who have told them:
- Don’t “fast track” pension legislation.
- Only support constitutional proposals.
- We need a fair solution that doesn’t make employees bear the brunt of the cost of fixing a mess they did not create.
As of Friday morning, more than 62,000 emails have been sent to lawmakers and Gov. Quinn. In fact, the governor has received more than 20,000 emails himself! In addition, we’ve seen record traffic on the IEA website, where tens of thousands of members are getting information daily.
We are making a difference.
Influencing the process
The labor coalition is having a big impact in the continuing pension discussions with top state officials.
Just a few weeks ago, it appeared a bad pension bill might be quickly rammed through the General Assembly. By participating in pension discussions, the members of the coalition have slowed down the process. By offering input and suggestions about solutions, the coalition is forcing those proposing terrible ideas about pension changes to consider the consequences of their actions, as this Daily Herald editorial points out:
But pitting teachers against taxpayers and schools against their communities won’t lead to an equitable solution. It could irreparably harm one of the suburbs’ most alluring attractions – the reputation for great public schools.
The coalition is making a difference.
Status report
No pension bill has been called. We still expect a bill to surface, perhaps this week.
What needs to be done
We need to increase contacts with legislators.
- If you haven’t done so, please call your senator and state representative. If you get voicemail, please leave a message and call back later.
- Lawmakers are in their home districts all weekend. Call them at their district offices. See if you can make an appointment for an in-person meeting. More information is here.
Activities next week
- Take your cell phone to work and call a legislator.
- Retired members and members whose school year has ended are encouraged to participate in Springfield lobbying with members of other coalition members. Contact your regional offices for more information.
- There is a good chance you will soon be receiving another automated phone call at home. This one will ask you to immediately contact your legislator about pensions.
Pension talks/Talking points
As stated above, the coalition, by participating in good faith in discussions with state officials, has slowed the “fast track” assault on pensions.
Throughout the process, the IEA representatives have adhered to core principles that pension proposals must:
- Be constitutional.
- Be fair to employees.
- Have the effect of strengthening the pension systems.
In our messaging about the ongoing talks, we have made clear that the coalition opposes ideas that would seek to make the employees bear the entire burden of fixing the pension crisis. That is a very important message for both policymakers and the public to hear.
The message itself is, in part, a reaction to the governor’s pension proposal, which tried to make employees wholly responsible for fixing the crisis.
IEA and the other coalition members know that there is nothing more important to so many of our members than making sure that they receive the pensions they have been promised.
Given the condition of our state’s finances and the Illinois economy as a whole, the coalition believes that the employees, though they are blameless for the pension crisis, should be participants in the solution because participation will help bring about the best outcome for the members.
We believe participation in discussions enhances the chances we will be successful in saving the pension systems. We believe the members of the General Assembly and the general public will be more supportive of our ideas for fixing the crisis if we are active participants in the discussions.
IEA member research shows our members agree with this approach; there is significant support for members doing more IF the result is that they get the pension they have been promised.
In a scientific poll of 600 IEA members in February:
- 63 percent said IEA should try to negotiate changes in pensions to make sure that the worst proposals are avoided.
- 71 percent said they would support benefit changes if there were a new legal requirement that would ensure state government paid its share for pensions.
Because of the irresponsible decisions of past governors and legislatures, Illinois’ budget is being consumed by pension costs, imperiling education, human services programs and other necessary state services. We believe that, if left to their own devices, policymakers will come up with terrible ideas for fixing the mess that will damage our members and the profession of teaching. Gov. Quinn’s proposal is proof of this as is the fact that some policymakers want to cut benefits for current retirees.
The coalition is offering ideas in order to find out if a constitutional and fair pension solution can be found that satisfies the need to get Illinois and the pension systems on better fiscal footing. The goal is to make sure every member gets the pension that has been promised.
It’s important to understand that, of this writing, no agreements have been made that would affect member pensions. The coalition has offered proposals but, again, no agreements have been made.
We’re making a difference. Thank you for everything you’ve done. Please keep it going and recruit your colleagues to get involved.
The future for all of us is at stake.
Illinois Education Association is an association of more than 130,000 members composed of Illinois elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty and staff, educational support professionals, retired educators and college students preparing to become teachers.
Hey JJ you are a right wing jerk and to say beyond anyone`s controll is forgetting teachers never missed a payment unlike the state who missed years of payments. The state caused this and it is up to them to fix it!
Well Bruce, I was not aware that stating the facts as I see them was somehow “right wing.” You can wait for the state to ride in on a white horse and “fix it,” but I suspect you will be waiting for a long time for a fix that you’re not going to like. I, however, will not be fooled again by these people. I will not stake my future retirement on some “fix” that the state is going to come up with. As I see it, they do not have a good track record. Prudence dictates making other plans for retirement. I have seen enough to know that the pensions that were promised are not going to be paid out anymore.
For reasons that are beyond the control of anyone in Illinois, the gravy train is ending and the state’s budget crises will continue to worsen for many years to come. All of this political wrangling about TRS and holding the line on pension cuts is wasted effort. Any deal struck with state politicians now will be renegotiated in the future when more cuts are necessary. The state spent the money long ago and raising taxes again will just cause more businesses to flee the state. Squeezing Illinois taxpayers dry is not a viable solution. So, in the future TRS pensions will be continually “adjusted” down. Make plans now for less money in retirement. It is just the way it is going to be.
Please leave teacher’s pensions alone this is our my only means of support that we have when we retire.
Cutting benefits for the retired is the same as cutting benefits for all. The is partcularly for those of us over 45 who have less time to make adjustments in pension plans and still be able to retire above the poverty level.
How about using some common sense, and apply fiscal sanity? The system was based on unrealistic numbers and it was and is unsustainable. The egregious excess of the suburban districts is doing great harm to TRS and all downstate teachers. Face reality, no teacher deserves the $200,000 salary some suburban teachers are receiving, and the $150,000 pension at age 56 it entitles them to draw is also undeserved and unsustainable. Do you know all teachers exhaust their contributions and interest earned before the end of their fifth year retired?
Accept the 3% contribution increase-it’s needed and the pension is still a great deal.
No initial pensions over $100,000. (adjusted for inflation as time passes), and no money to non career teachers.
The COLA should be “the inflation rate or 3%, whatever is less,” for all pensions below $100,000, and use the Governor’s recommendation for pensions in excess of $100,000!
Freeze all active teacher pension entitlements already in excess of $100,000 at their current level, and apply the new COLA when they retire. Only take contributions from their salary as needed to fund their pension at the “frozen” level.
Retirement at 62, not a ridiculous 67, and move early retirement to 58 (with penalty) with no COLA until 67.
Fight for continuing TRIP subsidies. Can you believe that State employees were receiving totally free health care insurance, and is it any wonder taxpayers are outraged?
Dear Retired Teacher,
I signed my retirement contract with my school district three years ago. Next year the binding retirement contract will reach termination and I will no longer be able to legally retain my teaching position. I am not 67? Should I be forced to take the TRS ‘ERO’ if the retirement age is increased and ultimately lose thousands of dollars? I will not have the option of teaching until I’m 62 or 67 since I signed the contract to retire There are no options or provisions create in this reform to provide for teachers that are near their current retirement?
I have taught school for 34 years and will be retiring in 2013. I’m depending on receiving my full pension which I have planned on for my future. I raised my son as a single parent and my teacher retirement is my only means of support for the remaining years of my life. I can’t afford to receive a penalty and won’t be able to pay for health insurance. I realize that there is a need for reform, but I find it hard to believe that there isn’t a less radical approach that can be taken.
Retired Teacher–you make a valid plea for common sense. Unfortunately that’s lacking under the dome in Springfield with our elected officials.
State workers (SERS) get a much smaller pension than members of TRS or SURS (lower maximum percentage of salary) and their average salaries are lower. When hired, state workers were offered a pro-rated health care insurance subsidy in retirement based on years worked. Now the state wants to renege on that promise.
Just like you and me, state workers are also depending on receiving what they were promised. And they bargained contracts and made retirement plans based on those agreements.
And I would not judge what is the right teacher salary in a given area. The costs of living are dramatically different across Illinois, as are the funding levels for schools.
I received salary and benefits bargained for with my employer, based on the state laws at the time. None of the benefits that we or state workers bargained are outrageous–they are average or below average across public and private sector job comparisons.
The problem is the state never set aside enough funds to invest to pay the bill, while the employees paid their share.
Congratulations to IEA-NEA and the work they are doing to make sure that agreements made with teachers and other state employees in the past ARE NOT BROKEN. Keep up the good work
Mel Smith
Past President, IEA-NEA 77-81
I’m horrified by the proposal to zero funding for TRIP. Please make stopping that a priority.