FIX TIER SIX
By Melinda Person, NYSUT President • Mar. 5, 2024
Hi, MAC Activists,
Educators in Tiers 5 and 6 of the New York state pension system pay tens of thousands more into system and work years longer to receive less in benefits than earlier pension tiers.
But NYSUT is working to fix this, just like we did with Tier 4 a few years ago. Our Fix Tier 6 campaign has kicked into high gear and now we need everyone to stand with us.
Read on…
Why it matters: Whether you’re a Tier 5 or 6 member, an earlier pension tier member, a retired educator, a state or local employee who’s a non-educator, or you just believe that public employees deserve the dignity of a pension, we must stand in solidarity with Tiers 5 and 6 members. Pension fairness for one means pension fairness for all.
Tier 5 and 6 members deserve better: Paying more and getting less isn’t fair, dignified or much of an incentive for our newer members to stay in the teaching profession.
Supporting our professions: If we want to solve the teacher shortage, we need to Fix Tiers 5 and 6. We can’t expect newer educators to stay in the field if they must work longer, pay more and get less in retirement than generations before them. Fixing Tiers 5 and 6 is about solidarity and fairness.
Take action: Tell our lawmakers that we won’t quit until we Fix Tier 6!
Stand together. We need the collective power of every NYSUT member and public education advocate to get this done. It’s time to come together and do the right thing. Together, we can Fix Tier 6!
TAKE ACTION NOW
FOUR free in-person sessions about the NYS Teachers Retirement System (“TRS”) for any NYSUT member
Dear Local Leader,
We are pleased to offer FOUR free in-person sessions about the NYS Teachers Retirement System (“TRS”) for any NYSUT member enrolled in this retirement system. These sessions will be held on:
- Thursday, February 15th
- Thursday, February 29th
- Tuesday, March 5th
- Wednesday, March 27th
All sessions are scheduled from 4:30-6:30pm at the Rochester Regional NYSUT Office, 30 N. Union St., Rochester, NY 14607.
TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM (TRS)
The sessions about the NYS Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) are for all NYSUT members who are also members of the NYSTRS. Teachers, related titles and teaching assistants are members of the TRS. (Nurses and civil service titles are not in the TRS.) This session will be presented by Beth Chetney, NYSUT Endorsed Teacher Member of the NYSTRS Board of Trustees. Topics covered include security, planning, filing for retirement, calculating your benefit, reading your statement and understanding the options.
These sessions will be held at the Rochester Regional NYSUT Office (30 N. Union St., Rochester, NY 14607). They are capped at 85 people each and will fill up quickly. Please consider your registration your commitment to attend. If you reserve a spot and do not show you will be taking a spot from another person. If you cannot attend, please let us know so we can give your seat to someone on the waitlist. Due to capacity limits, we are not able to accommodate requests to bring your spouse with you.
Pizza and soda will be served. There is free parking in the lots around the building. Advanced registration is required. Register HERE for these sessions and choose which date you will attend.
In order to inform the presentation to meet your needs, please fill out this survey that corresponds to the date you will be attending in advance the session:
Thanks,
Carrie M. Andrews
Regional Staff Director
New York State United Teachers
30 N. Union St. Suite 302
Rochester, NY 14607
Phone (585) 454-5550
Carrie.Andrews@nysut.org
WELLNOW URGENT CARE UPDATE
Dear Local Leader,
I want to make sure that you and your members are aware of a recent change regarding Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield and WellNow Urgent Care. Effective January 1, 2024, WellNow Urgent Care is no longer an in-network provider in the Excellus BueCross Blue Shield network. Neither NYSUT nor your district have anything to do with this change. It’s a matter between those two entities. You may have already received direct notice of this change if you utilized a WellNow Urgent Care within the past year.
I am writing so you’re aware that if you have Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance (such as a plan through FLASHP or RASHP) and visit a WellNow Urgent Care your visit will be considered out of network and you may need to pay more for that visit. You can visit ExcellusBCBS.com/CareOptions to learn about other options for Urgent Care that are in-network.
Again, this is a matter between WellNow and Excellus Blue Choice Blue Shield. I want your members to be aware of the change as many of us utilize urgent care centers in our region.
Thanks,
Carrie M. Andrews
Regional Staff Director
New York State United Teachers
Privacy rights under HIPPA and FERPA laws & requirements
Dear Local Leaders,
Often members raise questions about privacy rights under HIPPA and FERPA. To provide information and further education about these complex laws, NYSUT’s Office of General Counsel is offering a free online session on January 24th from 4:30-6:30pm. While this session my of particular interest to members who work in health care, any interested NYSUT member can sign up for the session. Please use your personal email address to register for the session to avoid your district system blocking your confirmation.
Understanding HIPPA and FERPA
Presenter: Christopher Scoville and Denna Mikhail, NYSUT Office of General Counsel
Sharing, what can be shared about students’ medical and or educational records? It can be confusing and complex. Is it HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) or FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)? Working in an educational setting, health care professionals sometimes seek clarification surrounding the application of the HIPPA and FERPA to education and health records. The seminar will provide general information that health care professionals need when working in a school setting.
When: Wednesday, January 24, 2024,| 4:30PM – 6:PM
Where: Virtual
Register in advance here: Meeting Registration – Zoom
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registration questions can be sent to Andrea at Andrea.Tersigni@nysut.org.
Protected: Welcome New Members
NYSUT Science and Reading Initiative
Becoming a National Board Certified (“NBC”) teacher
NYSUT has always been proud to support our members who seek to become National Board Certified (“NBC”) teachers. We want to let you know about an upcoming informational session being held at Nazareth College on January 11 at which time you can learn more about the process and the benefits of NBC.
For more information and to register for the January 11 NBC interest session visit these sites: National Board Certified Teacher Interest Info Sheet – Google Docs and National Board Interest Session Jan. 11, 2024 (1) – Google Docs
There is also a National Board Writing Institute to support you as you work on the components of your certification. Register HERE for the March 23rd session.
Thanks,
Carrie M. Andrews
Regional Staff Director
New York State United Teachers