Supreme Court urged: "Declare pension-cutting law unconstitutional"

Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan is joined by state workers and retirees

outside the Illinois Supreme Court in Springfield on March 11

as he talks to reporters after oral arguments in a lawsuit opposing a state pension overhaul. 

 

Attorneys representing active employees and retirees participating in the state pension systems urged the justices of the Illinois Supreme Court to uphold a circuit court decision declaring Senate Bill 1 (SB1, Public Act 98-599) unconstitutional and void.

 

During last week's hearing, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that the state constitution's pension protection clause means what it says: that membership in the state pension systems constitutes "...an enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired."  Read the entire post here.

 

Additional articles:

 

Illinois pension reform hinges on 40 words 

 

Pensioners React to Landmark Supreme Court Case 

 

Illinois pension law greeted with court skepticism 

 

Justices question 'police powers,' emergencies in pension case 

 

Illinois justices press state's lawyer on pension overhaul
A punishing pension proposal

After a little number crunching, it seems Gov. Bruce Rauner's pension proposal would stick it to mid-career public employees.

 

Read more in The Rauner Report 

 

 

IEA-R conference

  

The IEA-Retired Council and the conference planning committee invite you to attend the 18th Annual IEA-R Professional Conference on April 11. We have a wonderful birthday party planned for this conference, at which we will be celebrating the 25th birthday of IEA-R!  

 

We would like to extend a special invitation to newly- and nearly-retired members to take advantage of this great opportunity to join in the celebration. The conference will again be at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Brook, offering a great facility, close to outstanding dining and shopping venues.

  

Find all the conference information you need on the IEA web site.

 

NEA Member Benefits offers FREE retirement guides

 


Helping secure your financial future is an important part of what we do.
 

We're happy to offer Kiplinger's Retirement Report, provided by Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine. This monthly guide is full of practical information and advice aimed to help you plan for and enjoy your retirement.
 
This $40/year, 12-issue resource is FREE to registered NEA members!
  
Sign up for our retirement e-newsletter and we'll send you monthly reminders when your next free issue of the Kiplinger's Retirement Report is available. 

 

What's the ideal age to take Social Security benefits?

 

 

Three different investment consultants give you their take - and arguments -on the pros and cons of various ages.

 

Read further to find which argument best fits your situation.

 

Two generations; retired and together

 

 Lauri McBride, a retired teacher, looks in on her father, William Fink, 88, every day.

 

"Dual-generation retirements have become more numerous, at least for the moment, thanks to a rare confluence of trends. Among them are increased life spans, the relatively young marriage age of the Greatest Generation and what may be the last wave of retirees with traditional pensions, which allow for more secure, even early, retirements."

 

This article offers a look at the "sandwich generation" in which two generations are retired and are able to enjoy mutual leisure time. Now that baby boomers have hit the classic retirement age, there are family dynamics to figure out in these intergenerational relationships. To read more, click here   

IEA-R elections

 Election timelines   

 

  • January - Notice of elections and nominations were in the December-January official election publication
  • Feb. 11 - Nominations were due
  • Mar. 18 - Ballots mailed (an election will be held only for contested positions)
  • Apr. 22 - Ballots due
  • Apr. 24 - Ballots counted
  • May 1 - Candidates notified of results 

 

The following Council of Retiree positions are to be elected in the Spring, for three-year terms: 

 

  • Chair, retired council
  • Vice-chair, retired council
  • Central section council member
  • At-large council member 

 

Election information can be found on the IEA web page.  

 

On Facebook?

 

Do you have a Facebook account? If so, search for Illinois Education Association and like and follow IEA's page.

 

You'll get news as it happens, and some fun stuff too! Like IEA today.  

 

Connect with IEA!

IEA Connect is a new and easy way to get all your IEA questions answered in one spot. You can do it by phone, by email or by live chat with someone via the IEA website. 

  • Have you ever wondered how you can access discounts and deals?
  • Or how your dues dollars are spent?
  • Are you trying to find out more information about the new evaluation system or professional development resources?
  • Need to change your membership information?

IEA Connect is here to help. Now, you can reach an IEA Connect specialist 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

 

If we don't know the answer, we'll find one for you! Connect with IEA today!
 

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