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Thousands flock to UFT’s 55/25 info sessions
Apr 10, 2008 11:15 AM
Arlene Gonzalez of International HS has a question.
More than 5,000 UFT members, excited about the new 55/25 retirement option, attended the first round of informational sessions that the union recently held in all boroughs.
“It was extremely informative,” said Pat Torney, a 21-year veteran who teaches physical education at Newtown HS in Queens. “After the presentation, every single personal question was answered patiently and privately, which is amazing considering how many people were there.”
Sandra March, teacher member of the Teachers’ Retirement System board, said the union’s goal was “to provide all the factual tools so that the members can make their own informed decisions for themselves.”
March noted that everyone’s situation is unique, and that there are many variables and factors to consider, “though the common priority is, of course, to provide for the best possible future. I was delighted to see members of all ages and lengths of service present. It was by no means limited to people on the cusp of retirement.”
So far, more than 6,000 UFT members have opted in. And, judging from the responses at the sessions, that number might grow.
The opt-in period ends on Aug. 25.
“It was a top-notch learning experience, even though much of what I needed to know I had already read in the Q & A that the union had put out and the stories in the UFT newspaper,” said Ellen Gerber, a 28-year educator at PS 38, Staten Island.
Jackie Ervolina, chair of the UFT secretaries chapter and staff member at PS 4 in Queens, a District 75 school, observed that some members couldn’t wait to reach the 55/25 milestone while others wanted to opt in as an insurance policy just in case they wanted to retire before age 62.
The 55/25 retirement option became law on Feb. 27 after 14 years of collective bargaining and dogged political action. It was supported by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and allows eligible UFT-represented educators to retire without any actuarial penalty — in other words, their full earned benefit — five years sooner than they could have done previously.
UFT President Randi Weingarten expects that the new retirement option will help make a lifetime teaching career more attractive and slow the “brain drain” and demoralization of recent years.
Aviva Sonnenblick, an ESL teacher at JHS 189 in Queens, said that the informational session gave her “peace of mind” because “what seemed to me a complex and confusing set of rules was made ‘brain-friendly’ by the union’s pension specialists. Their answers were comprehensive and yet were simple as could be.”
Many of the questions were anticipated in the Q & A that all members received; others were not. The most common concerns were related to the consequences of opting in: Would you be forced to retire? What happens if you retire and want to come back? Is it worth it for new teachers as they cannot project 20-25 years into the future? How would their pension entitlement be impacted if they failed to meet all the guidelines?
Some members asked if they could get any of their contributions refunded if they decide not to retire early. Others learned that although the legislation gives members the right to retire with an unreduced benefit, benefits increase with longer service.
Even if people didn’t always hear what they wanted to hear, they seemed glad to get the definitive answers they needed.
“Whether in a classroom or at a pension workshop, there’s no such thing as a foolish question,” said Gloria Castillo of PS 11, Manhattan. “That was the position of the presenters, and it encouraged everyone to open up and speak freely.”
A second round of informational meetings in the boroughs will be held in late May and early June. For dates and times as well as other helpful information, click the fuschia “55/25 Update” button on the UFT Web site, www.uft.org.
Members at the March 27 55/25 workshop at Long Island City HS hear from Sandra March, teacher-member of the Teachers’ Retirement System board.
Need more info?
The informational process is ongoing. Members with questions and concerns are urged to contact:
UFT borough offices
- Bronx: 1-718- 379-6200
- Brooklyn: 1-718-852-4900
- Manhattan: 1-212-598-6800
- Queens: 1-718-275-4400
- Staten Island: 1-718-605-1400
Pension systems
- TRS: 1-888-8NYCTRS
- BERS: 1-718-935-5400
