Defend Cook County pensions!

Following the lead of the state and the City of Chicago, President Toni Preckwinkle has cut off talks with unions representing county workers and decided to press for pension-cutting legislation in Springfield.

The Preckwinkle administration wants the General Assembly to pass cuts that would reduce the value of an average county employee pension by 30 percent over the first two decades of retirement – that’s as much as $30,000 a year over that time!

Click here to read a summary of all the Preckwinkle administration's proposed changes.

The county wants legislators to vote on the pension cuts when they return from spring break later this month. That’s why it’s critical for county employees and retirees to take action now!

Cook County employees: Call your legislator today toll-free at (888) 912-5959 or by using our online click-to-call tool. Make sure you call both your state representative and your state senator with the following message:

The Cook County administration is planning to push for passage of legislation in the coming weeks that would drastically reduce the pensions of county employees. I’m calling to urge you to vote NO on their pension plan and tell them to work to reach agreement with all the unions representing county workers on a plan that is fair and constitutional.

Remember, you can reach your legislators toll free at (888) 912-5959 or by using our online click-to-call tool.

The administration’s proposal affects every county employee. It would require you to pay more for your pension, in most cases work longer to get it, make significant reductions to your initial pension benefit and reduce the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) you receive in retirement.

Just like the cuts passed affecting state, state university and City of Chicago employees, these cuts are unfair and unconstitutional. Unfortunately, some unions representing county employees have agreed to go along with the plan.

AFSCME is standing strong against the cuts, however – the leadership of all 15 locals representing Cook County employees rejected the county’s plan because it places far too great a burden on employees.

Lawmakers now need to hear from as many AFSCME members as possible – we can stop this plan, but only if we take action.

Call your legislator today toll-free at (888) 912-5959 or by using our online click-to-call tool and tell them to say NO to pension cuts for Cook County employees.