The 2007 legislative session brought UUP members a step closer toward achieving pension equity.

For the second year in a row, both houses of the state Legislature passed the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) pension equity bill. The legislation would have the state pick up, over a three-year period, the 3 percent pension contribution now paid by ORP members after 10 years of service.

The measure would put ORP members on par with public employees enrolled in the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) and the Teachers’ Retire-ment System (TRS), who do not contribute to their pensions after 10 years of membership.

As The Voice went to press, the bill had just reached the governor’s desk.

Hospital issue healed

UUP’s extensive effort to keep Upstate Medical University (UMU) in Syracuse within SUNY led to an apparent affiliation agreement between UMU and neighboring Crouse Hospital.

The tentative agreement maintains UMU as part of the SUNY system while conforming to the recommendations of the Berger Commission regarding hospital capacity.

“The apparent agreement meets our goal of keeping Upstate Medical University within SUNY,” UUP President William Scheuerman said. “There is no change in governance and no privatization.”

The tentative agreement provides for a joint advisory council to coordinate planning between the two hospitals and to pinpoint programs that may be consolidated.

Retiree bill awaits Spitzer OK

Another major UUP legislative priority is one step from becoming law.

A bill prohibiting the diminution of health insurance benefits to SUNY retirees passed in both houses and is awaiting action by the governor.

The measure would protect public employee retirees by barring any diminishment of their health insurance benefits or any reduction in the contributions the government pays toward their premiums, unless an equivalent change also included for active employees.

The prohibition would be in effect until May 15, 2008.

Similar legislation made it through both houses last year, only to be vetoed by former Gov. George Pataki. This year, it appears Gov. Eliot Spitzer is more inclined to sign the legislation into law.

“Whatever the outcome, UUP will advocate in the future for a permanent ban against the loss of or reduction in health insurance benefits for SUNY retirees,” Scheuerman said.            

— Donald Feldstein