Benefits of Membership
Every Voice Matters in SUAA: Add Yours Today!
WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN SUAA
SUAA is your voice at the State Capitol: through voice, action, mission, and visibility. Our work is often done behind the scenes, but here is how we are working every day to make a difference for our members:
LEGISLATIVE DIFFERENCE
STOPPED CONSTITUTIONAL THREATS
- Represented all SURS participants and beneficiaries by suing the State of Illinois over Senate Bill 1 (Public Act 98-0599), pension reform. The Supreme Court found the law unconstitutional, saving the average pensioner HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS over the course of their retirement
- Led the charge to defeat adding a new section to Article XIII of the State Constitution, which would have been an attack on SURS employees and retirees
- Continue to actively lobby the Legislature to prevent changes to the Constitution that would harm SURS retirees and active members, such as the "pension clause"
PROMOTED HIGHER EDUCATION'S FUTURE
- Stopped legislation that would create a slippery slope toward abolishing tuition waivers for university personnel, that ultimately could target community colleges next
- Continuing to support legislation in Springfield to strengthen health care and pension benefits for SURS members
- Advocating for protecting and preserving the College Insurance Program (CIP health benefits)
- Protected faculty forced to take furloughs during the state's budget crisis
- Working to preserve Illinois' higher education system as a critical, quality commodity for Illinois, through the Higher Education Creates Jobs campaign and other advocacy
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
- Using SUAA Mini-Briefings and our website and social media pages to provide regular updates from legislative and court action that affects you: your workplace, your health care, your retirement, your future
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