This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.” Samuel Adams
This actually may be blessing in disguise. This plant has been renovated and is cherry... a beautiful automotive manufacturing plant. It might be perfect for several growing Automotive brands.
If we can get Right to Work laws in place, then it is a possibility. The UAW NEEDS TO GO! Imagine, Detroit Mich. is Right to Work. Why not Illinois!!!!!
The UAW has worked well with the auto industry. The concessions were in place there, and there is a trained workforce. You have a state of the art facility. The Ford plant is doing well in the south burbs, and the Belvedere plant as well. The labor is not the problem in this case, its the product.
Right to work will NOT happen here, Its a waste of time and effort. And it would not touch the UAW either way. Finding reasonable and intelligent union leadership IS possible. The auto industry is actually an example of this.
Dont lump the government employee pension mess in with all unions here in Illinois. It is precisely this confrontational attitude and lack of compromise that is stalemating the legislature.
It is not just the pension mess - although that was definitely the result of allowing unions to organize state employees, which should be illegal. The unions have run up the cost of everything, not just wages. Then add the trial lawyers and the exurbanite judgments in workers comp cases. Do you know an Illinois prison guard has been awarded 100% Disability with a salary for life because her got carpal tunnel syndrome from opening cell doors! Yet, Unions are destroying Illinois!
Unions did not cause the pension problems in Illinois. This was caused by the Illinois state legislature failing to fund the system years ago and they cannot catch up. As a taxpayer, THAT is what you should be furious about. the pension systems have already been modified to the point that there will be lawsuits because the benefits for future employees are below the social security threshold that you enjoy, but pensioners do not have access to. You cannot talk about economics with political party talking points. Whatever your opinions about unions are fine for you to express, but don't say the unions caused the pension problem. Then you are letting BOTH parties that failed to fund at the proper time off the hook, just like they want you to.
Republican-Democrat, Union-Non Union, Rich-Poor, Government Employee-Non Government Employee, Private-Public, Dependent-Non Dependent, Educated-Uneducated, Minority-Non Minority, Religious-Non Religious and the other millions of opposites don't you just love it when some one works so hard to find what another is doing so wrong but never labors on the solution.
the "pension mess" is not just in Chicago. It is here and all over Illinois. Take a look at what some "retired" state, local, and school employees rake in. There are a couple of retirees from IVCC that makes OVER $100,000 a year in pension! That would not be so bad, but the average wage for an IVCC graduate that works around here is $40,000 - that is the working wage, not a retirement pension! The system is a mess because the people are apathetic, the representatives value a campaign donation more than doing what is right, and in some cases the employees have unreasonable demands.
“80% of all local (LaSalle County IL) taxes are used to fund salaries and benefits of government employees. More than 11% of LaSalle County residents are government employees.” - Taxpayers United.
The unions sent another group of thugs down here from Chicago to picket in front of the construction sight on Shooting Park Road. Why is Barnaby Jones allowing these Thugs from Chicago picket in front of a LOCAL construction sight. Why are the Chicago Unions interested in Peru Illinois? Something smells and it aint dead fish.
8:29 Your missing the point on retirees benefits. Do you know that employees had been paying into their retirement for a long time and much of their benefits come from their own contributions. And did you know that those same retirement contributions that the state were suppose to pay went out the door with sour investments and those lawmakers used those funds for other projects. Do you know that the employees don't receive and social security. Did you know that the state did not have to pay their fair share of social security payroll taxes? Did they save the money for paying pension benefits? No. What would happen to your employer if you had a pension contribution and they spent the money or failed to make the contribution? Or what would happen if they took your employee contribution and mismanaged it and lost if all? I am not a union employee or work for any governmental, school system. It's just plain stupid to blame employees.
11:32, did you know that the teachers unions negotiated it so that the local school taxpayers would pay the teacher's share. Yes - many school districts pay the teacher's contribution - not the teacher. So they have non of their actual money invested in the fund. The new Gov. is trying to outlaw this practice, but the Unions are fighting it tooth and nail.
That share just replaced the pay increase they would have received. Districts do it both ways and it doesn't cost any more or any less. There is nothing illegal about it. The bottom line is changing the social security could cost the state even more money and they know it. I'll bet your favorite politician doesn't talk about that.
probably not. But, these people should also be in the Social Security system - they should not be exempt. And the local school districts should pay their share of the Social Security system. Even the military is not exempt from Social Security - why should the schools. Oh, but you only get 50% of a very low wage as military pension.
11:16 - nope, they did not. In fact I've heard many complain and say that if they could, they would opt for Social Security and a 401K - some have even proposed a plan to fund both backwards using money already existing in the Pension Plan.
But, it was not the State that necessarily wanted this. It was the majority of local school districts MANY MANY years ago that did not want anything to do wit the cost of paying the employer share of Social Security.
I brought it up to point out that there are options besides the pension system.
If you want to have some fun, type in you favorite local retired teachers name and see how much they are making in retirement. Then type in a local retired administrator's name and compare the two.
$50K to $150K in retirement. I'll let you guess which is which.
I'll tell you why. The Pension Fund Managers that are "connected" to Madigan have made millions of dollars mismanaging - I mean managing - the teachers pension fund.
There is so much bad information here. School districts CANNOT opt out of the teacher retirement system. There are not other options for teachers or school districts including social security. They are required by law to participate.
The teacher pension system is more generous but social security contributions would actually cost more. Public school teachers in illinois do not have access to social security through there teaching jobs. This is not a "choice".
Of course administrators make more than teachers. I am sure were you work management makes less than everyone else but that is usually not the case unless you play professioonal sports.
2:47 the pension funds are not "connected" to Madigan (thankfully) and are actually very well run. You wish you had their investment returns over time. The problem is the state legislators stealing from the system and not paying as they were required and this has been done by both republican and democrat governors. Those of you who think democrats have always ran Illinois apparently have a short memory since you don't remember Jim Edgar or Pate Phillip.
What we should all be furious aobut is the pension system enjoyed by state legislators. Teachers administrators and others work a full career to earn theirs. Legislators can in one term in their part time job have a nice pension. That is ridiculous.
Anon 8:35 PM The parking lot you are talking about with the luxury cars is not the teachers. At the various local high schools and IVCC it is the students parking lot.
'fraid not 9:06. It is definitely the teacher's lot that I see the big SUV's that cost over $50K, the little Mercedes and Lexus sedans. Not the student lot with used pickup trucks over a decade old.
I drive my kids to two different schools. I have never seen a Mercedes and a Lexus is just a Toyota. A big SUV? Some teachers have families and I suppose there might be one or two although a good minivan is one of the most expensive vehicles you can buy. I have a lot of teacher friends and most drive pretty average cars. You will also find most teachers are very frugal people.
I assume you are implying that teachers are doing so well that they can buy any car they want. While their salary is your business, what car they drive is absolutely not. Who cares! They can drive whatever car they want and live in whatever house they want and I would be willing to bet that for many of them the teacher salary is the second income not the first.
Question, if teachers have it so good, why don't you go to school, become a teacher and live in the lap of luxury?
All teacher salaries must be public knowledge. Just checked out a website, for the salaries of any teacher you want to know about in Illinois. The figures are from 2012. (LP TWP. HSD 120 -- Peru ESD 124)) Probably could find more current ones if you spent the time. I was in to the 2014 salaries, but hit a wrong button and blew everything away. Not familiar with any of the teachers, so I don’t know if they are all full time or some are 1st year teachers. I would guess around 2/3 of the teachers are above $50,000 and a lot of $60 – $70 – $80 and above. (Remember, these are 2012 salaries) Pretty darn good for 9 – 10 months of work. Article also tells how they get around the pension thing. I don’t feel a bit sorry for them. In a lot of the cases, I made 1/4 of those wages all my life, now I’m supporting them on a small pension.
L-P and Ottawa also paid a "fine" to the TRS for pension spiking. They like to give raises in the last few years. Then there is drivers Education. I know of one L-P teacher that increased the annual salary to $100K by teaching drivers Ed. There is something magic about that course that demands more money - and then they get "overtime" for driving with kids in the evening and running the summer program. That's another thing. Why is "overtime" in the teachers contract? They are professionals that are paid a salary - the last time I checked, there is no OVERTIME for professionals. They get paid to do a job. I haven't seen "overtime" in 30 years.
Of course it is public knowledge 12:03. Also I read what I assume is the same article. It is not a "fine" at all but the district is paying the retirement system costs for salary increases over a certain amount.
It is not overtime and they do not get paid extra for teaching driver ed classes during the year. They get paid extra for working during their time off so of course it raises the salary. It is an additional job. You don't have to agree with it but it is not their job to drive around with teenagers in a car for time they are otherwise off.
Well, I would then guess it will be a long time before we see any teachers in the welfare lines. Probably not many reading this, that wouldn’t trade paychecks, at a moments notice.
Who said anything about wanting to be a teacher. This is a normal blog comment made by someone who has never taught evaluating a profession which is highly underpaid. This person does not realize that all jobs, including teaching have conditions as well as pay to be considered in the evaluation of the entire package.
40 comments:
They are shutting down all North American operations, not just the plant in Normal.
This actually may be blessing in disguise. This plant has been renovated and is cherry... a beautiful automotive manufacturing plant. It might be perfect for several growing Automotive brands.
1:25
Forget it. Illinois business environment, workmen’s comp.,and the UAW, will take care of that.
If we can get Right to Work laws in place, then it is a possibility. The UAW NEEDS TO GO! Imagine, Detroit Mich. is Right to Work. Why not Illinois!!!!!
The UAW has worked well with the auto industry. The concessions were in place there, and there is a trained workforce. You have a state of the art facility. The Ford plant is doing well in the south burbs, and the Belvedere plant as well. The labor is not the problem in this case, its the product.
Right to work will NOT happen here, Its a waste of time and effort. And it would not touch the UAW either way. Finding reasonable and intelligent union leadership IS possible. The auto industry is actually an example of this.
Dont lump the government employee pension mess in with all unions here in Illinois. It is precisely this confrontational attitude and lack of compromise that is stalemating the legislature.
Right to Work will happen. The people will see the UAW and the other Labor Unions for what they are - leaches living off the wages of the working man!
Down with Communism! Down with Labor Unions! Right to Work in Illinois!
It is not just the pension mess - although that was definitely the result of allowing unions to organize state employees, which should be illegal. The unions have run up the cost of everything, not just wages. Then add the trial lawyers and the exurbanite judgments in workers comp cases. Do you know an Illinois prison guard has been awarded 100% Disability with a salary for life because her got carpal tunnel syndrome from opening cell doors! Yet, Unions are destroying Illinois!
Unions did not cause the pension problems in Illinois. This was caused by the Illinois state legislature failing to fund the system years ago and they cannot catch up. As a taxpayer, THAT is what you should be furious about. the pension systems have already been modified to the point that there will be lawsuits because the benefits for future employees are below the social security threshold that you enjoy, but pensioners do not have access to. You cannot talk about economics with political party talking points. Whatever your opinions about unions are fine for you to express, but don't say the unions caused the pension problem. Then you are letting BOTH parties that failed to fund at the proper time off the hook, just like they want you to.
11:56, and who elected the State Legislature? I'll tell you who, the Unions.
11:56
I don't feel right about that. How can I blame both parties for the pension mess in Chicago, when there are no Republicans ?
Smart thing to do would not import Mitsubishi now .
Republican-Democrat, Union-Non Union, Rich-Poor, Government Employee-Non Government Employee, Private-Public, Dependent-Non Dependent, Educated-Uneducated, Minority-Non Minority, Religious-Non Religious and the other millions of opposites don't you just love it when some one works so hard to find what another is doing so wrong but never labors on the solution.
1:52, the people of the state of Illinois
the "pension mess" is not just in Chicago. It is here and all over Illinois. Take a look at what some "retired" state, local, and school employees rake in. There are a couple of retirees from IVCC that makes OVER $100,000 a year in pension! That would not be so bad, but the average wage for an IVCC graduate that works around here is $40,000 - that is the working wage, not a retirement pension!
The system is a mess because the people are apathetic, the representatives value a campaign donation more than doing what is right, and in some cases the employees have unreasonable demands.
“80% of all local (LaSalle County IL) taxes are used to fund salaries and benefits of government employees. More than 11% of LaSalle County residents are government employees.” - Taxpayers United.
The unions sent another group of thugs down here from Chicago to picket in front of the construction sight on Shooting Park Road. Why is Barnaby Jones allowing these Thugs from Chicago picket in front of a LOCAL construction sight. Why are the Chicago Unions interested in Peru Illinois? Something smells and it aint dead fish.
8:29 Your missing the point on retirees benefits. Do you know that employees had been paying into their retirement for a long time and much of their benefits come from their own contributions. And did you know that those same retirement contributions that the state were suppose to pay went out the door with sour investments and those lawmakers used those funds for other projects. Do you know that the employees don't receive and social security. Did you know that the state did not have to pay their fair share of social security payroll taxes? Did they save the money for paying pension benefits? No. What would happen to your employer if you had a pension contribution and they spent the money or failed to make the contribution? Or what would happen if they took your employee contribution and mismanaged it and lost if all?
I am not a union employee or work for any governmental, school system. It's just plain stupid to blame employees.
11:32, did you know that the teachers unions negotiated it so that the local school taxpayers would pay the teacher's share. Yes - many school districts pay the teacher's contribution - not the teacher. So they have non of their actual money invested in the fund. The new Gov. is trying to outlaw this practice, but the Unions are fighting it tooth and nail.
1:13 they pay a portion of the teacher's share.
That share just replaced the pay increase they would have received. Districts do it both ways and it doesn't cost any more or any less. There is nothing illegal about it. The bottom line is changing the social security could cost the state even more money and they know it. I'll bet your favorite politician doesn't talk about that.
probably not. But, these people should also be in the Social Security system - they should not be exempt. And the local school districts should pay their share of the Social Security system. Even the military is not exempt from Social Security - why should the schools. Oh, but you only get 50% of a very low wage as military pension.
2:41, that is a outright lie.
6:49 no it is not.
4:47 Getting out of the social security system was the idea of the state. Do you think teacher's wanted out?
11:16 - nope, they did not. In fact I've heard many complain and say that if they could, they would opt for Social Security and a 401K - some have even proposed a plan to fund both backwards using money already existing in the Pension Plan.
But, it was not the State that necessarily wanted this. It was the majority of local school districts MANY MANY years ago that did not want anything to do wit the cost of paying the employer share of Social Security.
I brought it up to point out that there are options besides the pension system.
If you want to have some fun, type in you favorite local retired teachers name and see how much they are making in retirement. Then type in a local retired administrator's name and compare the two.
$50K to $150K in retirement. I'll let you guess which is which.
I'll tell you why. The Pension Fund Managers that are "connected" to Madigan have made millions of dollars mismanaging - I mean managing - the teachers pension fund.
There is so much bad information here. School districts CANNOT opt out of the teacher retirement system. There are not other options for teachers or school districts including social security. They are required by law to participate.
The teacher pension system is more generous but social security contributions would actually cost more. Public school teachers in illinois do not have access to social security through there teaching jobs. This is not a "choice".
Of course administrators make more than teachers. I am sure were you work management makes less than everyone else but that is usually not the case unless you play professioonal sports.
2:47 the pension funds are not "connected" to Madigan (thankfully) and are actually very well run. You wish you had their investment returns over time. The problem is the state legislators stealing from the system and not paying as they were required and this has been done by both republican and democrat governors. Those of you who think democrats have always ran Illinois apparently have a short memory since you don't remember Jim Edgar or Pate Phillip.
What we should all be furious aobut is the pension system enjoyed by state legislators. Teachers administrators and others work a full career to earn theirs. Legislators can in one term in their part time job have a nice pension. That is ridiculous.
The law could easily be changed.
Drive through the "teacher's parking lot" of any local school. Take note of the luxury cars.
Anon 8:35 PM The parking lot you are talking about with the luxury cars is not the teachers. At the various local high schools and IVCC it is the students parking lot.
'fraid not 9:06. It is definitely the teacher's lot that I see the big SUV's that cost over $50K, the little Mercedes and Lexus sedans. Not the student lot with used pickup trucks over a decade old.
I drive my kids to two different schools. I have never seen a Mercedes and a Lexus is just a Toyota. A big SUV? Some teachers have families and I suppose there might be one or two although a good minivan is one of the most expensive vehicles you can buy. I have a lot of teacher friends and most drive pretty average cars. You will also find most teachers are very frugal people.
I assume you are implying that teachers are doing so well that they can buy any car they want. While their salary is your business, what car they drive is absolutely not. Who cares! They can drive whatever car they want and live in whatever house they want and I would be willing to bet that for many of them the teacher salary is the second income not the first.
Question, if teachers have it so good, why don't you go to school, become a teacher and live in the lap of luxury?
Nope, just seems to me they have a lot of extra money and my taxes keep going up.
1:43
All teacher salaries must be public knowledge. Just checked out a website, for the salaries of any teacher you want to know about in Illinois. The figures are from 2012. (LP TWP. HSD 120 -- Peru ESD 124)) Probably could find more current ones if you spent the time. I was in to the 2014 salaries, but hit a wrong button and blew everything away. Not familiar with any of the teachers, so I don’t know if they are all full time or some are 1st year teachers. I would guess around 2/3 of the teachers are above $50,000 and a lot of $60 – $70 – $80 and above. (Remember, these are 2012 salaries) Pretty darn good for 9 – 10 months of work. Article also tells how they get around the pension thing. I don’t feel a bit sorry for them. In a lot of the cases, I made 1/4 of those wages all my life, now I’m supporting them on a small pension.
L-P and Ottawa also paid a "fine" to the TRS for pension spiking. They like to give raises in the last few years. Then there is drivers Education. I know of one L-P teacher that increased the annual salary to $100K by teaching drivers Ed. There is something magic about that course that demands more money - and then they get "overtime" for driving with kids in the evening and running the summer program. That's another thing. Why is "overtime" in the teachers contract? They are professionals that are paid a salary - the last time I checked, there is no OVERTIME for professionals. They get paid to do a job. I haven't seen "overtime" in 30 years.
Of course it is public knowledge 12:03. Also I read what I assume is the same article. It is not a "fine" at all but the district is paying the retirement system costs for salary increases over a certain amount.
It is not overtime and they do not get paid extra for teaching driver ed classes during the year. They get paid extra for working during their time off so of course it raises the salary. It is an additional job. You don't have to agree with it but it is not their job to drive around with teenagers in a car for time they are otherwise off.
Well, I would then guess it will be a long time before we see any teachers in the welfare lines. Probably not many reading this, that wouldn’t trade paychecks, at a moments notice.
I think it is time to do away with drivers education in the schools. Let the private sector take over.
So because people with a college degree in a good job are not in the welfare lines and that is a bad thing?
Problem is, you don't get to trade paychecks. Again, if you want to be a teacher then go back to school and be a teacher.
Who said anything about wanting to be a teacher. This is a normal blog comment made by someone who has never taught evaluating a profession which is highly underpaid. This person does not realize that all jobs, including teaching have conditions as well as pay to be considered in the evaluation of the entire package.
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