Public Employee Press

Persistent Press Operator gets his check

Printing Press Operator Eric Smith was seeking a refund from the pension system, because he had contributed too much.

When he heard, “The check is in the mail,” once too often, he called District Council 37. “My pension contributions were supposed to stop after 10 years, but that was shortly after the World Trade Center attacks when my agency had moved us to 75 Worth Street for a while,” said the Local 1087 member.

Smith operates high tech copiers, folding machines and printers for the Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services.

Lost in a jumble of bureaucratic red tape, Smith’s 3 percent pension deductions continued well after the 10-year point when the contributions are supposed to end in Tier 4. When he spoke to management about the problem, they referred him to the New York City Employees Retirement System, which told him, “The check is in the mail.”

After a few months of waiting patiently, Smith asked the DC 37 Blue Collar Division to investigate. DC 37 Council Reps Chandler Henderson and later Yolanda Johnson looked into the matter. A year passed and they were informed that Smith’s refund check had been cashed.

“At that point NYCERS wanted me to submit handwriting for analysis, but with help from the union I didn’t have to,” Smith said. Six months later, management found the mailed check, but it’s valid period had expired. The lapse in time meant that a replacement check would have to be issued.

Compounding the mix-up, Smith had moved and DCAS had not informed NYCERS of the address change. This glitch prompted another 12-month investigation.

DC 37 pension expert Dennis Deahn helped out, and Johnson “found out who was directly responsible and saw that I got the money,” Smith said.

It took four years, but in July the check was really in the mail. Smith received $1,900, including interest on his overpayments.

“I am very thankful that DC 37 was there to help track this down and make it work out well,” Smith told co-workers at a recent membership meeting. “DC 37 put a lot of effort into getting me my money.”

— Diane S. Williams