A note from Dan Montgomery, president of the IFT

November 10, 2011

House Doesn't Call Pension-Cutting Bill, but Keep the Pressure On!

Dear Fellow IFT Members:

I am pleased to report to you that pension-cutting Senate Bill 512 was not called in the House today. However, lawmakers decided to add an additional day of veto session to the calendar. We are unsure whether or not SB 512 will be called in the House on that final day, November 29, so we may not be out of the woods yet.

But make no mistake about it--your efforts thus far during veto session have again made the difference. You and your brothers and sisters in the IFT sent more than 8,000 e-mails and made over 15,000 calls to legislators already this month telling them to do the right thing and oppose SB 512. And the combined strength of IFT members, the We Are One Illinois coalition and all of organized labor sent a clear message to lawmakers at the October 26 rally in Springfield that elected officials should protect – not cut – public employee pensions.

I cannot thank you enough for your continuing efforts to defend your hard-earned pension and those of all the men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving the students and citizens of Illinois.

Again, I extend my deepest gratitude to you for your efforts so far. Please know that the IFT remains focused on protecting your retirement security. We continue to participate in discussions with key parties about the best way to reduce the unfunded liability without harming members of the systems, and to strengthen retirement security and the state’s fiscal health long-term.

Please watch the IFT Web site and your inbox for updates and Action Alerts. I know the IFT and all of organized labor will be able to count on your activism when it is needed most!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Even if you’ve already contacted your legislator, please take a moment
to e-mail them again. Click here to e-mail them now and tell them to protect, not cut, public employee pensions.

For more information on what YOU can do, visit the IFT Action Center.
(IFT 11/11)