Law gives huge pension perks to union leaders
In all, 23 expected to collect combined $56 million in their lifetimes

September 21, 2011
All it took to give nearly two dozen labor leaders from Chicago a windfall worth millions was a few tweaks to a handful of sentences in the state's lengthy pension code.

The changes became law with no public debate among state legislators and, more importantly, no cost analysis.

Twenty years later, 23 retired union officials from Chicago stand to collect about $56 million from two ailing city pension funds thanks to the changes, a Tribune/WGN-TV investigation found.

Because the law bases the city pensions on the labor leaders' union salaries, they are reaping retirement benefits that far outstrip the modest salaries they made as city employees. On average, their pensions are nearly three times higher than what the typical retired city worker receives.

No one from either the state Legislature or city government will take credit for the law, which passed in 1991, and the process of drafting pension legislation in Springfield is so shrouded in secrecy that there's no way of knowing exactly whom to hold responsible.

The Tribune and WGN-TV found that Senate President John Cullerton was one of only 10 lawmakers on the committee that inserted the changes into a much larger bill. He's also the only one who is still in office.

Cullerton, who declined to be interviewed for this story, denied being involved in the changes and issued a statement that acknowledged the law now looks like a bad idea.

"Municipal pensions should be for the hard-working municipal employees, who typically toil in obscurity, loyally contribute to the pension funds and aren't about to get rich off of their retirements," he said in a prepared statement. "Outliers such as those highlighted by the WGN and Tribune reports should be corrected in order to help restore the system's fiscal and public integrity."

Making changes won't be easy, however. That's because the state constitution says pension benefits cannot be diminished once they are earned.       http://www.chicagotribune.com/.....0921,0,4724416.story

I believe GM got a taxpaid bail out to satisfy the unions. Now, GM is partnering with China to make electric cars! While Americans are looking for work.

Gee, imagine that, unions working along with big government to get things that help them.  Why is it that the Union Leaders are ok with getting the tax breaks, but they don't want the workers in the union getting the same breaks?  Or are they passing these breaks down to the union workers in some way?

Quoted from rampage

Gee, imagine that, unions working along with big government to get things that help them.  Why is it that the Union Leaders are ok with getting the tax breaks, but they don't want the workers in the union getting the same breaks?  Or are they passing these breaks down to the union workers in some way?

And imagine that while obama is trying to control ceo's salaries and bonuses.....the union thug leaders are raking in just as much if not more! They are all corrupt!

maybe their 56 million will turn into cement boots

SHAM SHAM SHAM.....SHAME SHAME SHAME