Support Memo: Fix Tiers 5 & 6 and Protect Public Services

The New York State AFL-CIO, representing 2.5 million union members, retirees, and their families, supports legislation to be included in the State budget, that will restore parity for Tier 5 and Tier 6 members of the public retirement system with their Tier 4 counterparts.

New York’s Tier 5 and Tier 6 pension system forces public sector workers to pay more, earn less, and receive lower benefits than their counterparts under earlier pension tiers. Both Tiers are major deterrents for people considering a career in the public sector.

New York’s public sector workforce delivers the vital public services our communities rely on. The quality of our public safety and emergency services, teaching and related services in schools and colleges, health care, mass transit, infrastructure, roads and bridges, and countless other programs is dependent on attracting the most qualified and dedicated workers possible.

New York is facing a public workforce and service delivery crisis since Tiers 5 and 6 were enacted. Employers at every level of government are dealing with staffing shortages, unfilled positions, excessive mandatory overtime, high turnover, and low morale, and it is affecting the ability to deliver the services we all rely on.

We must restore parity for public employees in Tiers 5 and 6 with those in Tier 4. This will improve recruitment and retention, provide retirement security, increase affordability, and ensure all workers are treated fairly in New York’s public pension system.

For further information contact the Legislative Department at 518-436-8516.