The State Universities Annuitants Association, which lobbies to protect the pension benefits of higher education employees, and the Illinois Attorney General have reached a tentative agreement to push the start of pension reform for community college and university workers back until July 2015. The agreement must still be approved by a Sangamon County judge.
In a release, SUAA Executive Director Linda Brookhart says the deal addresses a critical issue:
"The agreement ensures that our members will have all the facts before they have to make a decision on whether to retire or not. It is my hope that the court will do the right thing and let the agreement stand."
The new state pension law is set to take effect this summer. The Association and groups that represent other state workers have filed a lawsuit challenging the law's constitutionality.
The full press release can be found at http://www.suaa.org/assets/pdf/2014/PressRelease5.13.2014.pdf