Thousands of New York City public school educators will ramp up a statewide campaign on Tuesday, 1/6, to demand state pension reforms for educators hired after April 2012.

See photos of city educators from across the five boroughs »

"New York City and the State are focused on making life better and more affordable for ordinary, working people. A viable retirement is part of that equation, and without it, the city and state will struggle to recruit and retain the educators we need in our public schools," said Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers.

UFT members will engage in actions before and after school in January and February, leading up to a March 8 rally in Albany with other unions calling for the state to fix the Tier 6 pensions.

"It's time to make some noise," said Emile Fici, a teacher and union leader at PS 24 in Brooklyn.

Municipal workers hired since the 2012 cutoff date are in what's known as the Tier 6 state pension and are calling for the same financial security that colleagues hired before them already have: being eligible to retire with full benefits at age 55 after working 30 years. Currently, Tier 6 municipal employees must work until age 63 to receive full retirement benefits, according to state law. Over 78,000 UFT members are in Tier 6.

"I love my job and really love what I do. But I would like the option of retiring at 30 years," said Kristin DeFendis, a special education teacher and union leader at Middle School 51 in Brooklyn. She is making sure her staff understands their pensions, what's at stake, and the need for organizing on this issue.

"Tier 6 is driving away new teachers," said Maggie Joyce, a teacher and union leader at PS 35 in the Bronx. "Teachers coming out of college are looking at the fact that they have to work until age 63, and that's scaring them away from our system. We have to fix Tier 6."

"Teaching is an exciting, interesting, and demanding job. To newer teachers - who are using all of their energy mastering their work in the classroom - retiring at age 63 is an ungodly number. So our message is - we have a voice, let's try to fix this," said Peter Saccoccio, a teacher and union leader at PS/IS 384 in Brooklyn.

The March 8 rally in Albany will draw on unions representing municipal employees from across the state, all impacted by the state law governing Tier 6 pensions.