Illinois Federation of Teachers names new political director, takes on Tier 2 pensions

Westmont, IL – One of the biggest education unions in Illinois has a new political director, as it wades into the fight over Tier 2 pensions.

The Illinois Federation of Teachers veteran staffer Bryen Johnson will take over as the union’s statewide director of political activities. He replaces longtime political director Michelle Paul, who left after 20 years at IFT.

“We are so pleased to promote Bryen into the lead role as head of the IFT’s political activities department,” said IFT President Dan Montgomery. “For more than a decade here with the IFT and nearly another decade before that, he has demonstrated a powerful commitment to improving the lives of workers and their families through the legislative process. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this critical role.”

Johnson served most recently as the union’s state affiliate political organizer, acting as liaison to the American Federation of Teachers. Prior to joining IFT, he served in staff and managerial roles with the Illinois Senate Democrats.

“I’m honored to take on this new challenge at the IFT,” Johnson said. “And I’m excited to continue in my new role to build on the collaborative work we’ve done as a union centered around our membership.”

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
IFT’s political agenda supports legislative initiatives for high-quality public schools, protecting the members’ professions and the bargaining rights of all people, according to its public statements.

Among its highlights from the recent legislative session were fully funding teachers’ pensions, increases in early childhood funding and the creation of the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood, funding for a pilot program to reduce teacher vacancies, increases in regular and special education transportation and school breakfast, $10 million in additional MAP grant funding for lower-income college students and an across the board increase in funding for K-12 and higher education institutions. That includes $226.9 million for Southern Illinois University.

IFT also lauded the plans to implement Mental Health Early Action on Campus; fighting basic needs insecurity including homelessness prevention for college students; more funding for services for people with developmental disabilities – including a $1 per hour wage increase for support staff – and $1.8 million in increased appropriations for the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board, as well as a $400,000 increase for the Illinois Labor Relations Board.

FIXING TIER 2 PENSIONS
One of IFT’s major pushes – along with most education Labor groups in Illinois – is to fix Tier 2 pensions.

Tier 2 employees – hired in 2011 and later – have a higher age of retirement at 67, become eligible only after 10 years of service, and do not receive the three percent cost-of-living adjustment that Tier 1 employees receive. It also caps the maximum salary and changed the formula.

However, all K-12 teachers pay the same nine percent, higher-education employees pay eight percent and education support staff 4.5 percent into the system, whether they are Tier 1 or 2. Economists and Labor leaders have argued that Tier 2 benefits are so low they might violate federal laws requiring that a mandated state pension plan cannot offer a benefit that is lower than Social Security.

Gov. JB Pritzker has gone on record that Tier 2 needs changes, and IFT held a webinar on July 16 for members to understand the differences between Tier 1 and Tier 2, and the path to fixing Tier 2 for educational employees.

IFT has joined with AFSCME, Illinois Education Association, Illinois AFL-CIO and others in an ongoing campaign to fix Tier 2.

“By ensuring pension payments are made as mandated by law, the legislature has taken a crucial step to secure the financial stability of our retirees and honor the commitments already made to hardworking public servants,” Montgomery said. “We look forward to continued discussion around repairs to the inadequate Tier II pension, which is widely agreed to violate federal law, and to creating a fairer structure that is properly resourced for the long term while addressing the dire shortages in teaching and public service workforces.”