Attorneys for the City of Chicago say city employees will be worse off if Supreme Court justices strike down their pension plan.
A Cook County judge sided with unions in ruling against changes Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to make to city employees’ retirement benefits.
In the city’s appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court, attorneys write that the two pension funds will run out of money within 13 years without changes. They argue employees may sue the city to put money into the pensions.
But the city says if that happens, attorneys don’t think a court could compel the city to pay, or raise taxes to afford it. That would mean the employees are better off with the plan the Cook County judge struck down.
Attorneys for unions pointed to the state constitution, which says retirement benefits can’t be reduced.
