IMPORTANT - PROPOSED TIER 6

Have you taken the 60 seconds (or less) to e-mail your legislators in opposition to the proposed Tier 6?  Forward this e-mail to your home address, then forward a copy to friends and family.  On your home computer, visit www.tinyurl.com/stoptier6 to quickly and easily e-mail your legislators and tell them NOT to put your retirement at risk.  The process is simple - simply fill in your address, your legislators are automatically selected, there is a proposed letter that you can submit immediately OR you can write your own thoughts.  This is extremely important.  We all want pension security when reaching retirement age!  Contact your legislators today.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS - Update as of 9/28/2011

IMPORTANT NYSHIP CHANGES

(Source: James Hennerty, CSEA Dep. Director of Contract Administration)

We have just learned that changes in the New York State Health Insurance Plan, NYSHIP, negotiated by CSEA for its Executive Branch members will apply to CSEA-represented court employees, non-unionized court employees, and judges as of October 1^st of this year. It is the responsibility of the NYSHIP Office to inform all affected employees about the details. We do not yet know if this is being done at present. Further developments will be posted on the web site.

CSEA ID NUMBER

Every member was sent a CSEA ID card about eight weeks ago. It is important to keep this card in a safe place as it contains your CSEA ID number. You must have this number in order to vote for your representatives, to vote on your contract, etc. We pushed for many years to end the practice of utilizing Social Security numbers. Now that this system is in place, it is up to each member to keep track of their ID number. If you need a replacement card, please contact the CSEA Membership Department at headquarters (1-800-342-4146) or the CSEA Region 5 office.

Earlier in the year, the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund (EBF) also sent out a membership ID card with BOTH the CSEA ID number and also the EBF number to be utilized with participating providers. Please keep your card in a safe place.

The EBF web site, www.cseaebf.com, now offers the ability to order a replacement card with your EBF ID number. However, replacement cards do NOT contain your CSEA ID numbers, only the EBF number.

HEALTH OPTION PROGRAM

(Source: James Hennerty, CSEA Dep. Director of Contract Administration)

UCS management has informed us that they will NOT continue the Health Option Program (HOP) for the calendar year 2012. Article 8.3 of the contract does not continue the HOP beyond 2010. CSEA did persuade them to extend the program through 2011.

Because this provision is not "Triboroughed," UCS is within its legal rights to refuse to continue it. Naturally, CSEA will fight to include it in a contract as we continue efforts to negotiate a new one.