CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR TODAY
1-877-255-9417

New York State is facing difficult economic times and several issues are currently under review by the New York State Legislature to help resolve our current budget crisis.  One of these proposals is the creation of a new Tier V in the pension system for both uniformed and non-uniformed public employees.

This proposal is unacceptable to the 2 1/2 million members of the New York State AFL-CIO, particularly those who provide essential public services. Some in Albany have stated that public employee pensions are too rich.  But here are some facts:

•  Tier V does not achieve any savings in the near future and does not help the state or local governments out of their budget problems.
  
  
•  Long term savings from Tier V will not occur for at least 10 years and even after that there is  wide disagreement on how much savings can really be achieved.
  
  
•  Attacks on public employees in the press are based on falsehoods.  The average pension of public employees is far lower than reported.  Most retired public employees are living month to month.
  
  
•  An attack on public pensions will drive down pensions for all workers by lowering standards in the future and encouraging  public and private sector employers to lower pensions. 
  
  
•  The labor movement spent 25 years fixing the problems with Tiers II, III, and IV.  Tier V will not only penalize the public workforce but it will roll back all of this progress.
  
  
•  Most Individuals join public service because of the security of the pension plan - not for wages.
  
  
•  In reality, this is nothing more than a pay reduction as it would have new employees pay either 3% (non-uniform personnel) or 5% (uniformed personnel) for the existing benefit. 

 Tier V should be removed from the budget and not taken up for consideration at this time. 

CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR TODAY
1-877-255-9417

Tell your Senator that you OPPOSE a new pension tier for public employees.