Public Employee Press

Letters
Join DC 37 Lobby Day May 6 to help pass 55/25 and stop OTB layoffs

With a whirlwind of activity, the 55/25 pension bill for the UFT became a reality. My hat is off to them since they did it so fast. How is DC 37 doing at getting Chapter 96 reopened? Could you publish the bill numbers so that we all can write to our state senators and assembly members?

—CHRIS INGUANTA
Computer Specialist, Local 2627

Editor’s note: As you may know, the UFT’s 25/55 was a part of their new contract and was achieved through a joint effort with Mayor Bloomberg. As you suggest, members can help generate our own whirlwind for A.5754A (Abbate) and S.3244A (Golden) by writing legislators and participating in DC 37’s May 6 Lobby Day in Albany. For more information, call the DC 37 PoliticalAction Dept. at 212-815-1550.

The reopener legislation would correct an inequity for members who did not get adequate information in 1995 and therefore did not opt into the benefits of Chapter 96. That’s the plan that lets employees pay an extra contribution to receive an unreduced pension when they retire at age 55 with 25 years of service or at 50 with 25 years of “physically taxing” service. It would also make the 55/25 plan available to members who are presently covered by the 57/5 plan.