The State is Sacrificing You!

Through Adverse Legislation:

• Targeting state pensions and other healthcare benefits as a way to solve Illinois' fiscal budget crisis.
• Passing the Emergency Budget Act rather than producing a responsible balanced Fiscal Year 2011 Budget; in force until June 30, 2011.
• Initiating legislation to impose healthcare premiums on state retirees which in-turn will cause a financial burden on a large populace.
• Passing pension reform for new hires which has opened the door to possible reforms on current employees.
• Introducing legislation to change the benefit formulas within the pension systems for current employees.
• Launching legislation to eliminate tuition waivers for faculty and staff.

 The State is Further Sacrificing You by:

• Withdrawing legislation for the College Insurance Program (CIP) that would allow funding to keep the program solvent and provide for inclusion of the City Colleges of Chicago.
• Continuing to explore diminishing the pensions of current employees.
• Forcing public universities and community colleges to reorganize departments, reduce and layoff staff, impose furlough days and legislate the ability to borrow money for operating expenses.
  

By being a member you are helping SUAA advocate on your behalf.  Numbers Count!

Join Now!

SUAA is at the forefront:

• Pushing legislation to fund the public pension systems.
• Hindering deeper reforms to the public pension and healthcare benefit systems at the Committee Hearing level in both the Illinois House and Senate.
• Presenting testimonies with accompanying documentation to the Governor's office and other policymakers regarding the hardships placed on the membership due to the State's inability to make timely payments to healthcare providers. 
• Proposing responsible approaches for debt reduction to the Governor and Leadership in the General Assembly.
• Introducing legislation to improve benefits for all participants and beneficiaries of SURS; bringing further awareness to related issues; being recognized for credible requests to preserve current benefits.
• Working to right the wrongs of PA096-0889 (SB1946) that was hastily passed as pension reform on    March 24, 2010.
• Blocking legislation to impose a premium for healthcare coverage on retirees.
• Preventing legislation from passing that would eliminate tuition waivers for faculty and staff.
• Monitoring and participating on State mandated committees to evaluate, align and recommend State funding practices critical for the economic and social well-being of the higher education community.

In this critical time, we are asking you to join our association as we fight for your benefits - and membership in SUAA is economical.  To join for one year the cost is $40 or even less, depending on the local chapter dues where you live.  ($25 for state membership and no more than $15 for your local chapter) We are working for you and we need your help.  Please print out the new member form or call 217.523.4040 for more information or email SUAA[a]suaa.org.