Local 100 Preserves 25/55 for Next Generation
Governor Cuomo was successful in his quest to implement a Tier VI pension, but TWU Local 100 worked hard to minimize the hit that new transit workers will take. While nearly every other union in the NYCERS plan had their retirement age pushed back to 63, we were successful in defending the 25/55 pension for future Local 100 members.
Local 100 President John Samuelsen, and the union's Albany team of Marvin Holland and Curtis Tate argued vociferously that transit is arduous work that wears down our bodies, and that raising the 25/55 requirements would be nothing less than disastrous. The final outcome reflects this. President Samuelsen said: "The fact that we were able to fend off the bulk this assault on the next generation of transit workers is a significant victory for Local 100 and this entire membership. Our Albany team did an outstanding job, and it underscores the fact that a strong presence is Albany is essential to protecting what we have fought so hard to secure for this membership."
During the days and weeks before the legislature acted, Local 100 was a constant presence in Albany, with member-lobbyists organized by our Political Action Committee hitting office after office, and phone calls from the Union Hall following the same path. We worked side-by-side with the NYS AFL-CIO, and with public sector unions from the city and state, while also carrying a transit-specific message.
The bill, overall, is a setback for future public sector workers in New York City and State. but it was not the knockout blow the Governor's original proposal tried to deliver. A strong pushback by public sector unions, including Local 100, stripped the bill of some of its most egregious features, such as the 401(k)-like individual retirement accounts in the original proposal.