The United Federation of Teachers

ARTICLE FOUR

Jan 26, 2007 2:54 PM

PENSION AND RETIREMENT PROGRAM

A. Annuity Fund

The Board shall contribute at the rate of $400 per year to the Teachers’ Retirement System to be credited monthly to the annuity account of each employee who is at the maximum step of his/her salary schedule.

The Board will seek such legislation as may be necessary to provide for these annuity contributions. In the event that necessary enabling legislation is not enacted, the Board will pay monthly to each employee covered in the preceding paragraph at the rate specified above.

B. Support for Program

With respect to pensions and retirement, the Board hereby affirms its support of the following program:

  1. One year of pension credit shall be granted for each 170 days of substitute service.
  2. Employees shall be entitled to credit for all teaching service in New York City or elsewhere rendered before entry into the Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York and for such non-teaching service as may be acceptable for credit under the Teachers’ Retirement System.
  3. The Teachers’ Retirement Board should be adequately staffed to provide prompt and efficient service.
  4. The Board agrees to support legislation to provide that psychologists and social workers shall have the right to purchase pension credit for prior service as a psychologist or social worker in a public institution.

C. Board of Education Retirement System

For members of the Board of Education Retirement System, the Board agrees to provide, effective September 8, 1969, the same pension benefits as were heretofore approved by the Board of Education for other members of the Board of Education Retirement System.

D. Pension Legislation

  1. A Labor-Management Pension Committee will be established to investigate legislation allowing all current and future members of the TRS Tier II, III and IV to retire without a reduction of benefits due to early retirement upon age 55 with at least 25 years of service, as well as other relevant pension issues.
  2. The Committee will analyze the actual costs and additional contribution rates required to provide this benefit (including any additional health insurance benefit costs) without any cost to the City.
  3. Upon mutual acceptance of the Committee’s recommendations, including plan design and costs, the parties agree to jointly support the legislation necessary to implement the benefit changes.

E. Tax Deferred Annuity Plan

The parties agree to jointly support legislation and to obtain any other necessary regulatory approval, to enroll newly-hired employees who do not enroll in a retirement or pension system maintained by the City of New York in the Board's 403(b) Annuity Plan at the time the employee is hired. It is further agreed that such employees will be provided with the option to withdraw from enrollment in the Board's 403(b) Annuity Plan.

F. Pension Benefits Agreement and Deferred Compensation Plan

  1. The Pension Benefits Agreement dated June 6, 2000 is deemed to be a part of this Agreement.
  2. The Board and the City shall promptly make available to the employees covered by this Agreement an eligible deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.