Sept.

3, 2012 Illinois Delegation to the Democratic National Convention Charlotte, NC Friends: As the nation pauses on this Labor Day to honor American workers, their families and the unions through which workers make heard their collective voice, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn continues to advance policies that undermine the best interests of working people, most especially public employees across Illinois. And as the Democratic Party gathers in Charlotte to set forth its priorities for the next four years chief among them protecting retirement security, affordable health care and good jobs while ensuring that the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share in taxesGovernor Quinns actions in our home state directly contradict the partys professed values. Destroying Good Jobs and Weakening Public Services. Gov. Quinn is seeking to lay off some 4,000 child protection workers, disability aides, correctional officers and other state employees. The Quinn plan would jeopardize services to individuals with severe disabilities, increase violence and undermine security in state prisons, and drastically weaken the states ability to protect abused and neglected children. Local elected officials and concerned citizens have joined together to oppose these cuts, most of which are solely the result of Gov. Quinns refusal to expend money appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly. Breaking Union Contracts. Even after unions representing state employees cooperated to help the state achieve several hundred million dollars in savings, Gov. Quinn has refused to pay negotiated wage increases owed to some 30,000 state workers. Its wrong and unlawful for the governor to just trample on union contracts reached in good faith. Whats at stake is the right to collective bargaining for all public employees in Illinois. The governor is seeking to overturn the ruling of an independent arbitrator who ordered the raises to be paid and said that if Gov. Quinn has his way, the collective bargaining process will be severely undermined. Cutting Pensions. Gov. Quinn is leading the charge to drastically reduce the modest pensions earned by teachers, caregivers, police, nurses and other public employees across Illinois. In this effort, the governor has promulgated falsehoods and sought to blame employees for the states pension debt. In reality, the average pension is just $32,000 a year, for which most workers pay 8 to 10 percent of every check, while nearly 80% of Illinois public employees are not eligible for Social Security. Tax Breaks for Big Corporations. While claiming the state budget lacks funds to honor union contracts and provide prescription drug coverage for seniors, health insurance for working poor families or modest pensions for retired public employeesall areas where he has made or pushed for drastic cutsGov. Quinn has given hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to profitable corporations such as Motorola Mobility, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Sears and Boeing. At the same time, the Governor has criticized a proposal to help stabilize state pension funding by closing tax loopholes for big oil companies and foreign corporate profits. There is no dispute that our state faces challenges, particularly fiscal ones. On this Labor Day and throughout this week in Charlotte, we ask that you take the opportunity to remind Governor Quinn

that public employees are helpers, problem solvers, the men and women who keep our cities and our state working, those whom families, neighbors and friends turn to in times of need. Public employees want to be part of the solution in Illinois government, just as they solve problems in their communities every day. Governor Quinn should respect, listen to and work with them, not scapegoat, blame and attack them. Last week in Tampa the Republican Party adopted the most anti-union party platform in anyones memory. They praised the actions of Republican governors Scott Walker and John Kasich for their assault on union rights. Please tell Governor Quinn that refusing to honor union contracts, eliminating thousands of good jobs and seeking to place the entire burden of the state's pension debt on employees and retirees has no place in the Democratic Party or its proud history of support for working men and women and the unions that represent them. Sincerely, John Cameron AFSCME Council 31 director of political and community relations Illinois Delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention 9th Congressional District Chicago, IL Joseph Gump AFSCME Local 3315 political action chair Illinois Delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention 8th Congressional District Palatine, IL Dino Leone AFSCME Council 31 staff representative Ilinois Delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention 17th Congressional District Milan, IL Mary Plata AFSCME Local 3298 secretary-treasurer Illinois Delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention 13th Congressional District Aurora, IL