CSEA NEWS YOU CAN USE

DiNapoli Announces Decrease in Pension Contribution Rates

August 30, 2013-- New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced that employer contribution rates for the New York State and Local Retirement System will decline in Fiscal Year 2014-15. The average contribution rate for the Employee Retirement System (ERS) will decrease by 0.8 percent of payroll, from 20.9 percent to 20.1 percent. The average contribution rate for the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) will decrease by 1.3 percent of payroll, from 28.9 percent to 27.6 percent.

The Comptroller said, “The New York State Common Retirement Fund’s strong gains over the last four years have mitigated some of the impact of the financial market collapse of 2008-2009. Strong investment performance, along with a revision in actuarial smoothing, has lowered the employer contribution rate for 2014-15.”

Cuomo Wants to Give Tax Cuts Rather than Create Middle-Class Jobs in Communities

Despite the fact that our communities are continuing to lose good middle-class jobs and the State is expected to have a budget deficit of $1.7 billion, Governor Cuomo said that he will push for a tax cut next year that will likely benefit the wealthiest New Yorkers the most. The Governor has not indicated how this tax cut will be paid for. However, there is a fear that it will be paid for by additional losses of good jobs in communities throughout our State.

LOCAL 828 MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SEPT 10

Red Fedele's Brook House
920 Elmridge Center Dr., Rochester, N.Y.
585.723.9988

ROLL CALL FOR ALL LOCAL 828 EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS AND UNIT PRESIDENTS

Rochester, N.Y.-- Monroe County Local 828 President Bess Watts has sent notification of a Local 828 executive board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, at 5:30, at Red Fedele's Brook House Restaurant, off West Ridge Road in Greece, N.Y.

Please call the Local 828 office 585.328.5250 and confirm your attendance with Barb as soon as possible. The agenda for the meeting will include approving the budget for the fiscal year starting October 1, 2013.

LABOR DAY PARADE & PRESSER SET FOR SEPT. 2

Rochester, N.Y. -- The Rochester & Vicinity Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO will hold a press conference before the kick-off of the 2013 Annual Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 2^nd in honor of Labor Day to recognize the working men and women who are the foundation of progress and the cornerstone of the City of Rochester’s growth.

Rochester Labor Council members, workers, families and community leaders are coming together to discuss how the productivity of working families has powered the City of Rochester and surrounding counties’ social and economic expansion while the fabric of the American Dream has frayed under a generation of stagnation, growing income inequality and failed public policy.

With the 50^th Anniversary of the March on Washington this year, and critical immigration reform legislation on the table in Washington, D.C., our members and leaders want to remind the community of how far we’ve come in the last 50 years, but how much further we have to go. As we celebrate the contributions of ALL workers this Labor Day, we recognize that our approach to change must be rooted in our values as a nation. We believe in hard work, in the dignity of all work and in respect for one another. What unites us as Americans is our belief in shared values and in the country we all call home, not where we were born or where we come from.

Strong protections for worker standards and worker rights are essential to the economic future for all working people—EVERYONE should be able to attain the American Dream.

Where: Seneca Waterways Boy Scouts Building, 474 East Ave. in Rochester

When:  Press Conference at 10:00 AM; Parade begins at 11:00 AM

Who: Guest speakers include Mayor Tom Richards, President of the Rochester Labor Council Jim Bertolone, City Council Candidate Rev. Marlowe Washington and Public Employee Federation's Denise Young.

The parade kicks off at 11:00 AM near the corner of East Ave. and Alexander St. and proceed west toward downtown East Main Street.

CSEA NEWS OF THE DAY

UNION PLUS SAVINGS FOR LABOR DAY

Made in America by union Labor » IAFF member goes to school with help from Union Plus » Take a photo of U@Work, then enter to win » Computer buying tips » How to find union-made appliances »

Made in America by union Labor When you purchase these union-made products, you support thousands of union jobs.  When you use your Union Plus discounts, you save money.  It’s a good deal for everyone. FIND UNION-MADE DEALS »

IAFF member goes to school with help from Union Plus Michael Terenzio, Watertown, CT, started as a volunteer firefighter and for the past 37 years has been a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 3572. Today, he’s working on a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Readiness & Response Management through the National Labor College (NLC) with support from Union Plus. READ TERENZIO'S STORY » Need financial help for college for you or your child?  Check out these Union Plus scholarships.

Take 25% off when you order Teleflora flowers online to celebrate Labor Day.

Take a photo of U@Work, then enter to win With Labor Day just around the corner, here’s your chance to show America what you do for a living.  Enter a photo of you at work in the Union Plus U@Work Photo Contest and you could win one of 15 valuable prizes including a new smartphone and a year of service on unionized AT&T Wireless.   ENTER YOUR PHOTO » See your fellow union brothers & sisters at work, visit our 30 Days of Labor calendar.

Computer buying tips Use these tips from Consumer Reports to find the right computer for your needs and budget.   GET  TIPS » Remember to use your Union Plus discount (family members can, too!) when you shop Dell and HP.

How to find union-made appliances Looking for a new appliance?  Use this union-made shopping list to buy American and support IUE-CWA and UAW members.   FIND UNION-MADE APPLIANCES » Text APPLIANCE to 22555 to receive the list on your phone. Union members have been posting captions for Rosie the Riveter atfacebook.com/unionplus. Like the page and post your own caption! We’d love to hear from you!

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