The State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA) has scheduled a Regional Meeting at College of DuPage for Thursday April 3, 2014. The College of DuPage Annuitants Association (CDAA) will host the meeting. The meeting agenda will include the following:
- A representative from SURS to speak about the retirees’ portion of Senate Bill1.
- A representative from SUAA to speak about the SUAA lawsuit filed against Senate Bill 1.
- A representative to speak about the new proposed SUAA Constitution.
On behalf of College of DuPage Annuitants Association, I would like to extend an invitation to the College of DuPage Part Time Faculty Association to the regional meeting of SUAA members. We at the college are very proud to serve as host for the event.We would like to stress that we feel that this is not just a routine invitation for something nice to attend; but feel, given the situation in Springfield, it is critical that currently employed College full-time and part time faculty and staff attend and bring your hard questions.The situation regarding future and current pensions is a very fluid one and that all staffers need to be there:Currently, SUAA is one of the major retirees’ organizations that are suing the state to overturn Senate Bill #1, which if it is allowed to stand, will cost retirees tens of thousands of dollars over the life of one’s pension.
There are hot button issues, both political and policy, centering on the governor’s race that can have a real impact on the future of public pensions.
To my mind, there has never been a time in which solidarity — between full and part timers, whether faculty or staff, working or retired — was so important. Over the years, membership in the College of DuPage Annuitants Association was something taken up when you retired. Given the on-going crisis played out in the legislature, the governor’s office and the courts, it is essential that all public employees should have a clear grasp of the issues involved and work toward a unity to protect our pensions. CDAA is not just for retirees, but all employees.At the moment the pension issues are garnering all the headlines, but other issues (e. g. Return to Work, the future of tenure, and the future public support of higher education) loom large and should be confronted by relatively well-informed, unified public employees.I am aware that everyone is busy as educators. But I would like to urge you to join the meeting and for you to invite COD part time faculty to attend the meeting. The meeting will begin at 2pm in SRC 2000. Please utilize the link below to register for the meeting.
http://suaa.org/CODRegistrationForm.php
The Illinois economic outlook, particularly if the current temporary income tax hike is allowed to lapse, will only become worse and public employees will be among the first to be targeted. I think it is very clear, based on the action of the legislature and governor, that the threat to public employees is real and palpable.
Very truly yours,
Sherwood Edwards
President CDAA