AFT, NYSUT, & RC 23

Union related posts — specifically concerning the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) or Retiree Council 23 (RC 23).

NYSTRS June Newsletter

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NYSTRS_June

The June 2015 issue of NYSTRS’ Resource newsletter is now available on the NYSUT website. Download the newsletter (PDF).

In This Issue:

Coming in September: A COLA Increase
Eligible retirees receiving a monthly benefit of any amount from NYSTRS will see a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 1.0% on the first $18,000 of their annual benefit payment beginning this September, the result of legislation enacted in New York 15 years ago.

NYSTRS Remains a Top-10 Fund
NYSTRS is once again ranked among the top-10 pension funds in the nation according to trade publication Pensions & Investments (P&I).

Promised Pensions Are Guaranteed
NYSTRS retirees have received benefits in full and without fail since 1921.

Your Pension a Better Bang for the Buck
Pension plans like the one administered by NYSTRS are far more cost efficient at providing retirement income compared to individual defined contribution accounts, according to a study conducted by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS).

Changing Banks? Also Change Direct Deposit Info
If you’re changing banks, make sure you update your direct deposit instructions with NYSTRS. If you have a MyNYSTRS account, you can now make the change online at NYSTRS.org.

Experience the Convenience of MyNYSTRS
A MyNYSTRS account gives you access to all your Retirement System benefit information and a variety of self-service tools – accessible in one convenient, secure location.

You’re Invited to Clean Out Our Account!
NYSTRS holds $13.5 million in an Abandoned Accounts Fund that the System would ideally like to see drawn down. Your help in locating rightful owners of the money would be appreciated.

Board Meeting Highlights

Read previous issues of Resource on the NYSUT website. – See more at: http://rc23.ny.aft.org/member-benefits/nystrs-resource-june-newsletter#sthash.WiPigUtT.dpuf

Zephyr Teachout coming to Long Island

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NYSUT is partnering with the Working Families Party and other allied organizations to build a Progressive Candidate Pipeline Project. As part of this project, Zephyr Teachout will be a speaker at two events on Long Island entitled, “Why She Runs”. The Suffolk County event is being held on Wednesday, June 10 at NYSUT Suffolk Regional Office in Hauppague. A reception will begin at  6:30 p.m., followed by the event at 7:00 p.m.

Teachout will be speaking along with other local officials about the need to have people, who have our interest in mind, to step up and run for office.

For questions please call Jeff Friedman L.I. Regional Political Organizer (516) 670-7834

Spring 2015 NYSUT Member Benefits E-Newsletter

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NYSUT is proud to present the Spring 2015 issue of our quarterly Member Benefits E-Direct electronic newsletter.
Click here to view this e-newsletter. The publication includes embedded links that will allow you to learn more about our various endorsed programs & services.We hope that you will find the content useful.
Each issue of this electronic publication is put together with great thought and effort as we strive to ensure that we offer helpful hints and tips to our members — an added benefit of NYSUT membership provided at no cost to NYSUT members. We want all NYSUT members to know that membership in NYSUT provides access to a variety of Member Benefits-endorsed programs & services available exclusively to them and their families.
Thank you for your continued support of NYSUT Member Benefits!

Victory for Oregon Retirees

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Oregon Supreme Court overturns

PERS cuts for existing retirees

PERsOregon’s Supreme Court delivered a victory for working families when it reaffirmed that the state must fulfill its contractual pension promises, ruling on April 30 that two bills designed to cut previously agreed upon cost-of-living adjustments for retirees through the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) were unconstitutional. Everice Moro, a retired member of the Oregon School Employees Association, was the lead plaintiff in the case, Moro v. State of Oregon.
“The court has made it clear that even our governor and state legislators must honor a contract made with workers,” says Moro, who chairs OSEA’s Retired Oregon School Employees chapter.
“This is an important decision and victory for our retired members,” says Ed Edwards, OSEA’s director of government relations. (Photo credit: M.O. Stevens/Wikimedia)

NYSUT Speaks Out …

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NYSUT rejects Cuomo’s teacher evaluation sham

ALBANY, N.Y. March 31, 2015 — New York State United Teachers today said changes to the teacher evaluation and tenure laws contained in the state budget are a disgrace.

“The teacher evaluation system imposed by Governor Cuomo is a sham, and he now owns it. From the beginning, the state of New York has witnessed a vengeful governor refusing to engage in honest dialogue about the quality of our public schools, or how to improve teaching and learning. Governor Cuomo is so enamored with hedge fund money that he has refused to consider the educational research; listen to educational professionals; or acknowledge the concerns of tens of thousands of parents who are so angry about his testing madness, they are protecting their children by opting them out of state exams.

“Let’s be absolutely clear: NYSUT rejects this evaluation system. It is an unworkable, convoluted plan that undermines local control, disrespects principals and school administrators, guts collective bargaining and further feeds the testing beast. It does nothing to help students and will do nothing to foster the professional dialogue and collaboration that is essential to helping New York’s already strong teaching force become stronger. Ironically, this will only make it harder for school districts in impoverished communities to attract and retain the excellent teachers that students need and deserve.”

New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.