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Bread-and-butter issues of pension, health benefits top retirees’ agenda
The PEF Retiree Executive Board met in Rochester this September to coincide with the 27th Annual PEF Convention there. We want PEF Retirees to be considered a part of and a strong supporter of our union.
Several of us met with PEF President Roger Benson to talk about issues critical to the PEF retirees — our pensions and health insurance. We also discussed plans to make the PEF retirees a stronger force for retiree issues and PEF.
Health insurance and our pensions are our “bread-and-butter issues.” Let’s use the vast majority of our energy to promote and protect these benefits and subjugate all other concerns that are controversial or divisive.
It’s unfortunate that it took nine years of intensive lobbying to obtain a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in our pensions. It’s unfair that this COLA is only calculated on the first $18,000 of our annual pensions. This year, eligible retirees are receiving a maximum monthly COLA boost of $24 in their pension checks.
State Comptroller Alan Hevesi talks about using the pension fund to stimulate the state economy. We advocate an enhanced COLA and the high velocity dollars that would be infused into the state economy as a good place to start.
Our health insurance benefits are a second area of grave concern. PEF retirees have seen our deductibles and co-pays increase and our costs extended to previously covered services. We were seriously disappointed at the governor’s veto of legislation that would have tied our health insurance coverage to the negotiated benefits of active PEF members in the state PS&T unit.
The PEF retirees is also concerned our reimbursement for Medicare Part B may be challenged and are hopeful that Medicare Part D will be fully explained by NYSHIP and understood by our membership.
We urge all PEF retirees to join us and support our efforts to protect our rights and benefits.
Please help us by opting for automatic dues deduction when it’s time to renew your annual membership. Encourage all PEF retirees to join and participate and work with your local chapter to make it strong and active.
The
Communicator November 05
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