As PEP went to press, both houses of the New York State Legislature had voted unanimously for pension improvements sought by the Police Communication Technicians Chapter of Clerical-Administrative Local 1549.

The Senate passed the bill June 19 and the Assembly acted on June 26.

The chapter has been pressing to make pensions more accessible for PCTs and Supervising PCTs in light of their high-tension jobs. A delegation of 30 chapter members traveled to Albany April 25 to speak with their elected officials about the legislation, which would improve pensions for 911 technicians throughout New York State.

They urged the lawmakers to enact a reform that would let the 911 workers retire with 25 years of service regardless of their age. The union group explained to the legislators that because of the stress of their work, very few 911 communications technicians statewide are able to stay on the job long enough to retire with a pension.

The state Senate bill, S-911, and its companion Assembly bill, would help address this inequity by waiving the age requirement for those with 25 years of service.

Chapter Chair Cynthia Hill said the delegation felt good about their lobbying experience.

Mike Keogh, associate director of DC 37’s Political Action and Legislation Dept., said the union is taking the long view on the bills. “Because of the huge pension gains we made last year, it could be extremely difficult to enact pension improvements again this soon,” he said.