REPORT: June 2006

Pension change for city RNs on fast track

Measure awaits Governor’s signature

Actions in June by both the New York State Legislature and the New York City Council moved a pension improvement for city RNs closer to reality.
During its last week of session, both houses of the State Legislature passed a bill that would include RN and nurse midwife positions on a list “physically taxing” jobs in the New York City Administrative Code. On June 13, the New York City Council passed a home rule message in support of the state legislation.

“This is great step forward,” said NYSNA Community Affairs Representative Carol Pittman. “This proposal is among the very few pension proposals the City Council has agreed to consider this year. It’s a tribute to the persistence of our members that this measure has moved so far, so fast.”
The bill must be signed by Gov. George Pataki in order to become law.

The pension change would affect NYSNA members who work for the city Health and Hospitals Corporation and mayoral agencies. Employees who hold “physically taxing” positions may be eligible to retire early with full benefits, providing they have worked for the city for at least 25 years. RNs who benefit from this option will make additional contributions to the city pension fund.

NYSNA members and staff presented the association’s arguments in favor of the legislation before a hearing of the City Council’s Finance Committee on June 12. These included research that indicated nurses run a greater risk for physical injury on the job than many of the other workers that are already on the list.