Message from Mary Bennett, Phone Committee Chair:

I want to take the opportunity to thank Charles Hogan, Walt and Jenny Esler and David Rolston who made phone calls to fellow members encouraging them to contact legislators..  Because of the combined efforts of everyone on the committee, we were able to generate approximately 400 direct contacts to members.  Although we lost  the battle, the war is not over.  This is a marathon not a sprint.  The closeness of the final vote demonstrates that our phone calls had a positive impact.  We are always looking for volunteers to join our phone committee.  You can contact Mary Bennett, Chair of the Telephone Committee at 773-583-3651 or e-mail me at Bennett5849@gmail.com or Charles Hogan at (773) 679-9255 or e-mail chocgan9494@sbcglobal.net

Message from member Walter Esler:

Adam Andrzejewski, writing at Huff Post examines the little known H1b Visa program, which is used to outsource US jobs. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has been pushing the program, according to Andrzejewski. Under the program, jobs which would normally be filled by Illinois residents are instead filled by Indian nationals, called H1b visa holders. View the article by clicking here.

The H1b visa holders earn no pension credit and are not eligible to join a union apply for citizenship. Workers hired under the program costs about 30% more than union members, even when the costs of pensions and other benefits are factored in.

Also, the first suits in defense of our pensions have been filed.  For further information, click here.

January 15 meeting:

Rich Whitney is scheduled to be the speaker for our next meeting at Ruby Tuesdays (5203 Old Orchard Rd, Skokie, 11 o’clock, Wednesday, January 15).  Mr. Whitney’s thoughts about the Illinois “pension crisis” can be found by clicking here.