Unions Fire Back At Quinn Over Pension Plan

Gov. Pat Quinn’s pension proposal is
getting a firm “no” from major Illinois unions.
The “We Are One Illinois” labor coalition calls his proposal
unconstitutional and unfair to workers.
The group said Friday that Quinn has made it much harder to work
out a solution that public-employee unions can support.
Illinois has the worst-funded pension systems in the country.
The amount that state government must contribute jumps sharply each
year, leaving less money for other needs.
Quinn wants to fix the problem by raising the retirement age for
workers and making them contribute more to their pension funds. He
also wants schools and universities to help pay pension costs.
The unions say this would violate the Illinois Constitution’s
ban on reducing retirement benefits.  (AP)