Recent News

Wisconsin Unions Score Major Win With Court Ruling Restoring Collective Bargaining Rights

12.2.24 - portside.org


Wisconsin public workers have won a major legal victory with a ruling that restores collective bargaining rights they lost under Act 10, a 2011 state law forced through by then Governor Scott Walker. Seven unions and 3 labor leaders filed the suit.

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Members Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract

10.10.24

Local 300 members overwhelmingly ratified the new contract by 629 to 3. President James Golden said the votes were counted on Oct. 10.

What Project 2025 Means for America

7.8.24

Project 2025, the conservative movement’s detailed electoral blueprint to dismantle the federal government and our system of democracy, is also known as the “Presidential Transition Project of the US Conservative Party,” an electoral playbook for a GOP 2025 victory. Project 2025 was released as a PDF document and in book form in summer 2023 by The Heritage Foundation. Project 2025’s overarching goal is a “top to bottom” blueprint for systematic reform of the current federal system of governance to “destroy the Administrative State.” That includes a sweeping and targeted goal of removing, or rolling back, federal policies deemed to be examples of “leftist wokeism”: programs to support gender and LGBTQ+ civil rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and Biden policies in energy, environmental policy, defense, and international aid – among key sectors.

Gov. Hochul Halts Congestion Pricing in a Stunning 11th-Hour Shift

6.5.24

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced on Wednesday that she was shelving the long-awaited tolling plan known as congestion pricing, just weeks before it was to go into effect.

“After careful consideration I have come to the difficult decision that implementing the planned congestion pricing system risks too many unintended consequences,” Ms. Hochul said, adding: “I have directed the M.T.A. to indefinitely pause the program.”

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Telework Pilot Program

4.25.24

Part of the newly settled contracts with the City of New York includes a pilot telework program that allows eligible employees to work remotely for up to two days per week. Not everyone will be eligible to telework as some jobs do not allow for this type of arrangement and some agencies are not participating in the program. Each individual agency decides whether to participate; the decision is NOT up to the union. The program runs until May 31, 2025, and has the option of being renewed based on effectiveness and worker participation.

"Unfortunately, we do not have control over whether an agency participates in the pilot program," said Local 300 President James Golden. "No union has a say in this decision. We have advocated to get as many agencies to participate as possible, but the rest is out of our control."

Members at agencies with approved telework programs are strongly encouraged to follow the rules of the program at their agency.
• Report to the office on the days you must work in person
• On the days you work remotely, start your day at the designated time and do not end your day earlier than your stop time
• Be at your computer for the entire workday
• Do not take breaks other than the ones you are entitled to take
• Keep an open line of communication with your boss/supervisor at all times
• If you experience any power or internet outages, report them immediately
• On telework days, work as if you are working in an office; work responsibly, effectively, and efficiently

The fate of the pilot program depends on whether union members work to the best of their ability and agencies do not see any change in performance.

If you have any questions about the pilot telework program at your agency, please reach out to your Shop Steward or the union.

What is the World Trade Center Presumption Law?

The World Trade Center Presumption Law provides a presumption to eligible NYSLRS members and retirees who become permanently disabled and are unable to do their jobs due to certain conditions, that they can claim their permanent disabilities are the result of participation in World Trade Center rescue, recovery or cleanup operations. The presumption will apply unless it’s proven the condition was the result of other factors.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, the presumption allows you to:

  • File for an accidental disability retirement in the future;
  • Have an existing disability retirement benefit reclassified as an accidental disability retirement benefit; or
  • Leave your beneficiaries an accidental death benefit.

    Your disability or death must be due to one of the qualifying conditions specified in the law.

Who should file?

You must file an Application for World Trade Center Notice (RS6047-N) prior to submitting an Application for World Trade Center Accidental Disability Presumption (RS6047-W)Even if you do not currently suffer one of the qualifying conditions, filing this notice will protect your right — and the right of your beneficiaries — to apply for benefits in the future.

Once you file a notice with NYSLRS, there is no subsequent deadline to file for an accidental disability retirement or retirement reclassification should the need arise.

For more information, Click Here >> 

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