Post date: Jan 24, 2017 11:04:24 PM
Dear IFT member,
The Illinois Senate is about to vote on a massive “grand bargain” that will make unconstitutional cuts to your pension and deliver large parts of Governor Rauner's turnaround agenda in exchange for revenue.
Call your State Senator and ask them to vote “No” to the Grand Bargain. Use this link and then enter your zip code to be connected to your State Senator. http://www.ift-aft.org/news/2017/01/23/urgent-tell-your- senator-to-reject-bad-bargain
The Governor has held our state hostage for two years now, vetoing state budgets that don't meet his political conditions. We must work together toward a solution, but this isn't the way.
Tying the budget to anti-worker reforms is not only wrong, it's unnecessary. We can tax the most wealthy and close corporate loopholes to help fund our state without harming working people.
Votes on a 13-part deal are scheduled for early this week, including proposals to:
• Reduce your retirement benefits. Senate Bill 11 will force Tier 1 employees in TRS, SURS, and CTPF to make an unfair choice between two cuts. We firmly believe this is unconstitutional.
• Eliminate physical and drivers education ( aka “mandate relief”). Senate Bill 13 would freeze property taxes for two years, which would erode local support for our schools and allow districts to privatize drivers education, eliminate salary and benefit protections for non-instructional employees, and reduce or opt out of PE requirements.
Read our detailed analysis of the legislative package here – then call your Senator.
Call your State Senator and ask them to vote “No” to the Grand Bargain. Use this link and then enter your zip code to be connected to your State Senator. http://www.ift-aft.org/news/2017/01/23/urgent-tell-your- senator-to-reject-bad-bargain Urge lawmakers to VOTE NO on plans that balance the budget on the backs of workers instead of taxing the most wealthy. CALL NOW!
Thanks for all that you do.
In Unity,
Dan Montgomery
President, Illinois Federation of Teachers