With legislators expecting to discuss and vote on a newly released pension plan, members of Eastern’s chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 want to petition against the new plan.

As the Tuesday date for legislators to meet and vote on the pension reform proposal looms ahead, UPI members will be taking signatures Monday to present to Senator Dale Righter before the session meets.

The petition, in the form of a postcard, will be available from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday at the Food Court of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The proposal, which is being called the Leader’s Plan, was announced Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving – giving legislators days to review it before going into session.

The proposal includes items such as anyone aged 45 or under, the retirement age will be increased on a graduated scale. For those 46 years of age and above, the retirement age will be increased by four months up to five years.

In addition, the proposal also details a funding schedule to reach 100 percent funding no later than the fiscal year 2044. Averaging costs over the pensioner’s employment will certify contributions.

Supplemental contributions from the state are also taken into account in the new proposal.

The State will contribute $364 million in the fiscal year 201 and will continue to contribute until the fiscal year 2045, or until there is 100 percent funding.

The proposal also has “pension abuse” stipulations against non-governmental organizations.

Ann Fritz, the president of Eastern’s UPI chapter, said if the proposal is introduced and passed in the one-day session, unions would challenge it in court.

She said Article XIII, Section 5 of the Illinois Constitution states that “Membership in any pension or retirement system of the State, any unit of local government or school district, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, shall be an enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired.”

Fritz said the plan does not have a bill number yet, as it will be introduced Monday and voted on Tuesday.

Eastern’s UPI Vice President Fern Kory said in a press release more than 160 retirees have already signed the postcard.

“Many have already been in touch with local legislators, letting them know that pension cuts would come on top of a 2 to 4 percent hike in health care costs that they did not plan for,” Kory said.

Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or dennewsdesk@gmail.com.