Hearing held in state pension case

A judge in Sangamon County Circuit Court in Springfield heard arguments today – Thursday, Nov. 20 – in the pension lawsuit filed by the We Are One Illinois union coalition, of which AFSCME is a leading partner.

The judge said he will consider today's arguments and issue a ruling in writing tomorrow afternoon – Friday, Nov. 21.

The lawsuit seeks to overturn what was Senate Bill 1, legislation cutting the pensions of active and retired members of the State Employees Retirement System (SERS), State Universities Retirement System (SURS) and Teachers Retirement System (TRS).

Today's arguments pertained to a motion filed by We Are One Illinois and other plaintiffs arguing that the pension clause of the Illinois Constitution means what it says, and that pension benefits cannot be diminished or impaired. The union coalition and the other plaintiffs asked the court to grant summary judgment, which would mean that the state's "police powers" defense would not apply and that the pension-cutting legislation is unconstitutional.

"The We Are One Illinois coalition and its member unions that represent hundreds of thousands of active and retired teachers, state employees and university employees throughout Illinois look forward to the court's ruling on the important question considered here today," the coalition said in a statement. "We welcomed the opportunity to make our case that the Illinois Constitution means what it says, and the pension clause is absolute."