We want to hear from you! Visit AFT Voices to share your opinion on the challenges you face in the workplace by answering our new survey question posted on the site.

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/vpAxgjp1_qCS/.

Two relatively new bills have been introduced in the IL Senate dealing with the pensions of public employees (like teachers and paraprofessionals who work for school districts). 

Senate Bill 303 provides that all current members of state-funded pension plans would be allowed to convert their DB plan to a DC plan, thus creating a significant deficit in the remaining DB plans. This would result in even higher pension contributions by the state of Illinois and endanger the solvency of the current plans.

Senate Bill 304 would mandate that all new hires in state-funded pension plans be put into a DC plan. This would not eliminate the existing DB plan for current members, but would increase overall pension costs for the state, as the state would be operating and administering two separate plans concurrently.

The IFT vehemently opposes these bills.

Right now, both bills are in the Senate Pension and Investments committee.  Click here to find out more on these bills, and then contact your senators!

We want to hear from you! Visit AFT Voices to share your opinions on the challenges you face in the workplace by answering our new survey question posted on the site.

Many districts are going "green." What should be done at your school to make it more environmentally friendly?

The Illinois New Teacher Collaborative's (INTC) fourth annual conference, "Moving Toward High Quality Induction and Mentoring," will be held Feb. 24-25, 2009 in Springfield, Ill. You can now register online at the INTC website, http://intc.ed.uiuc.edu . For more information, contact IFT Educational Issues Director Sue Walter at swalter@ift-aft.org.