More PEF bills make it into law
PEF is still
harvesting the fruits of its legislative labors in
Albany, as more and more bills that it helped push
through the Legislature are being signed into law by the
governor.
“Considering how relatively little legislation made
it through this session, our success rate is pretty
gratifying,” said PEF Vice President Ken Brynien,
chair of the union’s Political Action Committee.
“It shows we are building both our credibility and
influence, and our political skills as a union.”
Four more bills supported by PEF were signed in late
August. They are:
• Full Pension Credit — which allows state
University of New York employees in the NYS Employees
Retirement System, who work for a full school year, to
receive 12 months of pension credit;
• Earnings Limit — which lowers the age to 65
at which public-sector retirees in the state are no
longer subject to an earnings limit if they go back to
work in the public-sector after retiring. Previously, the
earnings limit ceased when a retiree reached 70;
• Cancer Screening — which allows a state
employee leave of up to four hours annually for
breast-cancer screening. Employees will not be required
to charge this time against any other leave; and
• Professional Standards — which provides for
the licensing of professionals in social work, and
establishes minimum requirements for education and
training.
PEF is waiting to see how the governor will deal with two
more bills that were sent to him in mid-September.
They would: restrict the state’s use of its
employees’ Social Security numbers on documents; and
provide safeguards for state employees reassigned to a
different worksite. — Sherry Halbrook
State
agencies get green light to offer early retirement
options
Windows continue to open at various state agencies for
eligible employees to take advantage of both the Early
Retirement Incentive (ERI) and the 25/55 retirement
option.
ERI windows
opening
At this writing, the traditional ERI has been approved
for designated employees at 16 state agencies. These
agencies include the:
• Assembly — June 20, ’02 through Sept.
17, ’02;
• Senate — June 20, ’02 through Sept. 17,
’02;
• Office of Real Property Services — July 24,
’02 through Aug. 22, ’02;
• SUNY Buffalo — July 26, ’02 through Aug.
24, ’02;
• Division of Tax Appeals — Aug. 1, ’02
through Oct. 29, ’02;
• Division of Budget — Aug. 1, ’02 through
Oct. 29, ’02;
• Higher Education Services — Aug. 1, ’02
through Oct. 29, ’02;
• Office of the State Comptroller — Aug. 1,
’02 through Oct. 29, ’02;
• Office of General Services — Aug. 1, ’02
through Oct. 29, ’02;
• Office of Court Administration — Aug. 19,
’02 through Oct. 2, ’02;
• SUNY Construction Fund — Sept. 20, ’02
through Dec. 18, ’02;
• Roswell Park Cancer Institute — Oct. 1,
’02 through Dec. 29, ’02;
• Dormitory Authority — Oct. 3, ’02
through Dec. 31, ’02;
• SUNY College at Plattsburgh — Oct. 3,
’02 through Dec. 31, ’02;
• SUNY College of Tech., Cobleskill — Oct. 3,
’02 through Dec. 31, ’02; and
• Power Authority — Nov. 17, ’02 through
Dec. 31, ’02.
25/55 windows
opening
So far, 90-day windows have been approved for eligible
employees to take the 25/55 incentive at:
• Power Authority — July 13, ’02 through
Oct. 10, ’02;
• SUNY College at Fredonia — Aug. 1, ’02
through Oct. 29, ’02;
• SUNY College at Plattsburgh — Aug. 14,
’02 through Nov. 11, ’02;
• Office of Court Administration — Aug. 19,
’02 through Nov. 16, ’02;
• SUNY Construction Fund — Sept. 20, ’02
through Dec. 18, ’02;
• Dormitory Authority — Oct. 3, ’02
through Dec. 31, ’02;
• Senate — Oct. 3, ’02 through Dec. 31,
’02;
• SUNY College of Tech., Cobleskill — Oct. 3,
’02 through Dec. 31, ’02;
• Assembly — Dec. 1, ’02 through Feb. 28,
’03; and
• Roswell Park Cancer Institute — Jan. 1,
’03 through Mar. 31, ’03.
If the state does not designate a 25/55 window for an
Executive branch agency to open before January 1, 2003,
then the 90-day window will begin on that date.—
Sherry Halbrook
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COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This
Issue:
Features
PEF dedicates memorial to
fallen members
Union marshals forces behind
candidates
Early retirement agency
options
PS&T contract team
shares good news
AFT lends experience for
PS&T talks
Departments
President's Message: PEF
unity best tribute
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Member Mobilization: Fully
mobilized divisions
Legislative Action: More PEF
bills are law
Nurses' Station:
Needlesticks, act now
Health Notes: Flex
Spending/Dependent Care
Retirees In Action: On the
move nationally
Health & Safety: Coping
with worksite disaster
Member Highlights: picture
page
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
Reg. 7 members earn SEFA
awards
Fineson member earns
employee award
Nominees for Reg. 12
coordinator sought
Training grants help members
Tri-County Labor Council
elects Twitchell
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