Effort to Fix Tier 2 pensions continues before fall legislative session

With some 5,000 phone calls made and more than 56,000 email messages sent to legislators this spring demanding an equitable and adequate retirement for all public employees across the state, the We Are One Illinois coalition succeeded in getting our campaign to fix Tier 2 pensions on the General Assembly's radar.

This effort was just the start, as fixing Tier 2 and ending the unfair divide in pension benefits will be a road with many challenges, chief among them the need to raise additional revenue to avoid jeopardizing the stability of the pension funds.

The inadequate Tier 2 pension level affects all public employees who started employment on or after January 1, 2011. If you are on Tier 2, you contribute the same amount towards retirement as those hired in 2010 or earlier, but you receive a lesser benefit when you retire and over the course of your retirement years.

While comprehensive legislation to fix Tier 2 across all public pension systems was not considered in the spring legislative session, we gained multiple assurances from lawmakers that they want to work to address this injustice. Fixing Tier 2 will only succeed with continued grassroots pressure to make sure these lawmakers keep their promises, and we gain enough support to pass pension fairness in the House and Senate.

Throughout the remainder of the summer, be on the lookout for additional ways to get involved in the Tier 2 campaign. Together with the We Are One Illinois coalition of unions, educational events and member mobilization actions will continue to ensure that our voices are heard loud and clear as we approach the fall veto session.

"If we're to succeed, we have to stand together-both Tier 1 and Tier 2 employees, and active and retired members-to fight for basic fairness in retirement," said Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch. "Be prepared to step up and make your voice heard as this effort ramps up and stay tuned for more ways you can get involved."