| OSA Newsline -- October 29, 2020
We have been negotiating on the topic of helping our City get past the coming fiscal crisis since late this past Summer. Our negotiations were complicated because we are still awaiting the City's agreement to our overdue contract. Still, we were trying.
Now, however, the UFT settlement regarding $900 million of pay retroactive to 2009 and the later DC37 settlement related to a deferral of Welfare Fund payments may speed matters up for us - or not - as we should learn soon.
This newsline will be changed if we get solid news in between, but otherwise check back next week after Election Day. Meanwhile, the regular mailing has been sent out, but is on our website already as well.
Vote as you will, but please do vote. It is important.
Our current news is on this website. Our new mailing to members is going out and is already posted on the tab "OSA Newsletter."
The only other news was that on Saturday, I voted. The president says we are anarchists in New York. I stood with over a thousand voters in line for over three hours waiting to vote. No anarchy. Just decent people waiting to vote.
The newsline is normally updated on Monday, but circumstances prevented that this week.
The news this week is that we now have five bills up in Albany related to early retirement. Even so, we do not expect any movement on these bills until after the national election.
We are also putting out a membership mailing at this point, but we are a trifle worried that its arrival at your home could be delayed due to Covid and the upcoming election.
Fortunately, it will be available on our website, so even if the hard copy is late it's not a big deal.
Personally, I prefer reading letters on paper myself.
The United States Supreme Court has issued a decision permitting the Trump administration to end the 2020 Census data collection earlier than originally planned at the end of October. The new deadline is midnight tonight, Thursday October 15, 2020.
Please share this information widely and quickly to anyone who has not yet completed their Census form. If you have not completed the Census yet, do it immediately. It's quick. It's simple. And federal funds for your community and electoral representation depend on an accurate count.
You can complete your 2020 Census at my2020Census.gov on the web or by calling 1-844-330-2020.
Wishing you a good Columbus Day holiday.
The stimulus bill that is needed by the cities and states hurt by the coronavirus was first rejected by the President and is now embraced by the President, at least for now.
Congress, meanwhile, has not yet passed it - and there is less than a month left before the election.
We will see.
Last week, New York City cancelled a $900 million retroactive payment owed to the Teachers due to the fiscal worries. The UFT sought arbitration and, very soon, a deal was reached to pay half the money and defer half the money until next year, but with a pledge of no teacher layoffs.
That dispute came out well, from the Teachers' point of view.
We are still awaiting an early buyout or retirement incentive from Albany but, while we are waiting, you can do something. If you are a NYS resident, you can write to your local, or your favorite state officials and tell them what sort of early out would meet your own needs. If you live outside New York State and are an active employee, consider writing the Governor and Mayor. Personal letters are best, and should be brief.
To find out who represents you in the State Senate, use this link:
To find out who represents you in the State Assembly, use this link:
To write to Governor Cuomo you can use this address: Hon. Andrew Cuomo, Governor, State of New York, 633 Third Ave. 39th Fl., New York, NY 10017.
You can reach Mayor de Blasio at: Hon. Bill de Blasio, Mayor, City of New York, City Hall, New York, NY 10007
We have also received no news of layoffs for our members and, so, we are hopeful for the future.
The yearly, month-long period for you to change or modify your health plan has begun. From October 1st-31st, you can switch or change plans if you feel you should. The City usually notifies you of this on your work location, but this year they are using email and may not get to all those concerned.
To obtain forms and information, go to the City's Health Benefits Program website.
Our unions are actively lobbying to persuade the Mayor, the Governor and key elected officials to rely on early retirement offers and debt to carry us past the Covid crisis.
The national news is distressing. Also, we are unsure if the states will be receiving help from the federal government or not.
The local news is of another week without layoffs, so that, at least, is good.
|