The  implications  of Amendment 49 which will appear on the upcoming ballot are becoming clearer.  This amendment is a definite blow to our pensions. By making any improvement in pensions subject to 60% approval by the legislature, the amendment virtually blocks any positive measures.  This is especially serious for new faculty who are now in the Tier 2 pension, which is a decided step down from the traditional defined benefit plan enjoyed by established faculty. For more details on Amendment 49 we suggest you visit the website of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) at:

http://www.ift-aft.org/firstvoteno.aspx