The Illinois Retired Teachers' Association (IRTA) defends pension and healthcare protection via its lobbying efforts, advocates for retirees, provides group rate dental and vision insurance among other benefits, and provides travel and entertainment options for its members.
IRTA state-wide initiatives are effective to the extent that the local units can provide support through their active membership.
Thus, LLRTA, along with the other 95 local units, provided support to have Public Act 98-599 declared unconstitutional.
Consequently, the Illinois Pension Code, which guaranteed the retirement annuity benefits for individuals enrolled in the pension system prior to January 2011, was upheld, because
active LLRTA
members and members of the other local units, contracted a law firm to successfully argue the case. Additionally, one of these benefits included the guaranteed annually compounded 3% COLA that today, through the local units' efforts, retired educators receive!