We launched our Fix Tier 6 campaign for 2026 on a Saturday Zoom this month that drew nearly 1,000 members from more than 500 schools. That Dec. 6 kickoff underscored what has become increasingly clear: Our Tier 6 members, who now make up the majority of our union’s DOE-employed members, are deeply concerned about whether they can make it to age 63 to collect an unreduced pension. Given the emotional and physical toll of our work, who can blame them?

I was surprised by the fact that a third of our members on that call didn’t know pension tiers are created and changed through legislation in Albany. As a union, we have to understand how tiers come into being and how they can be improved so we can organize effectively to advocate for changes. It’s also important to remember our long fight to strengthen Tier 4. That previous tier went through more than 90 reforms to get to the pension benefits our veteran members have today.

Since we first launched the campaign to fix Tier 6, state lawmakers have reduced the number of years it takes to vest and changed the final average salary calculation to match Tier 4. The next big reform we are focusing on is lowering the retirement age to 55 after 30 years of service with an unreduced pension. Politically, this will be the hardest lift. Our opponents love to say how public servants want everything for nothing and that our pensions and other benefits burn a big hole in the city’s pocket. They will never understand or value the work we do. But the fundamental pact we make when we become New York City public school educators is that we won’t make huge salaries — but we will have top-notch benefits. Being able to retire at a reasonable age is part of that pact.

Lowering the retirement age won’t be easy, but the coming year provides a window of opportunity. With affordability becoming the No. 1 issue in the city, the state and nationally, we see a path forward. But to make this change happen, we need all of our members committed to this fight. The pressure we can exert on Albany from inside our schools — with a workforce as large and visible as ours — is enormous.

That’s why we launched our “6” days campaign on Dec. 6. On the sixth of every month, schools will participate in coordinated actions to educate members, build visibility and show collective strength. These actions will build momentum toward a major Tier 6 rally in Albany on Sunday, March 8, when members from all the NYSUT and other public sector locals across the state will come together.

With so many new members this school year, this is a perfect opportunity to show them what being part of a fighting union means. This campaign will make our fight for Tier 6 visible, human and impossible for state lawmakers to ignore as they consider pension reform.

Let’s also be clear about the broader landscape: Only 24% of workers nationwide have a defined-benefit pension. We know we are lucky to have one, but we also know it’s our right and our responsibility to fight to improve it. Fixing Tier 6 isn’t only about fairness and respect for today’s educators. It will strengthen our school system. Better pensions mean more educators will choose to work in New York City public schools and more will stay. And when we stay, we won’t just survive, we will thrive. Our students will benefit from that stability and experience.

This campaign belongs to all of us. Every member has a role to play, whether it’s taking part in a school action, going to the rally in Albany or talking with new colleagues who are still learning what’s at stake.

It’s time to fix Tier 6 — and together, we will.