Legislative Directors,
As a reminder we have scheduled a legislative meeting at the Fort Orange Club in Albany on Wednesday April 3rd 2024 at 12pm. Lunch will be provided.
If you planned on attending and have not notified me via email I would appreciate hearing from you now. I also need to know how many will be attending with you. There is no need to email me if you have already responded.
As an update myself along with NYSPEC Legislative Director Bing Markee and Legislative Committee Chair and Chair of the Tier Enhancement sub-committee Pete Patterson have been having meetings with the Leadership regarding tier enhancements to be included in the budget. In addition to our ongoing meetings with the Governors staff, Senate Majority Leader, Speaker of the Assembly, Assembly Chair of Governmental Employees and Senate Chair of Civil Service and Pensions , we continue to walk the halls during every session meeting with other key legislators to stress the importance of having their support. We point out that NYSPEC's number one priority is Tier /Pension Equity as it is highlighted in our Legislative booklet.
A comprehensive package of tems serving to equalize the pension benefits impacting public employees must be attained in the 2024 state legislative session. . The modifications that have been made to public employee pensions have created a climate within which recruitment and retention of qualified individuals is exacerbated to unprecedented levels. We want them to also put pressure on their leaders to attain tier enhancements in the budget being negotiated now.
I believe the more pressure we can put on our legislators the better the chance we will have of finally achieving some tier enhancements. With that in mind, I encourage you to ask your members to reach out to their local Assembly members and Senators and stress to them the importance of having their support and that the time is now to achieve some long overdue tier enhancements.
We will update you further at the Legislative meeting.
In Unity
Peter D. Meringolo
NYSPEC
Chairman
