ALBANY- This week, the New York State Senate Civil Service and Pension Committee held a joint public hearing to discuss retention and recruitment for civil service jobs, the state pension fund, pensions, and civil service benefits.
State Senator Robert Jackson (D, Manhattan) serves as the chairman of the committee began the hearing by stating, “The state currently faces labor shortages for all levels and industries providing public service, which requires the development and successful implementation of strategies that focus on removing barriers, attracting a diverse pool of candidates, and attracting and retaining an experienced workforce.”
Several labor leaders testified at the hearing, many of whom cited the state’s tier six retirement system as the primary reason the state is struggling to fill open positions. The state retirement system has six tiers, and any state employee who began on or after April 1, 2012 is in tier six. Tier six is characterized by a smaller retirement contribution and benefit on the part of the state.
Sam Fresina, the President of the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association, which represents 109 locals across the state, shared his thoughts about solving the state’s staffing problems with the committee.
“The recruitment and retention issue is critical for all fire fighters across the state,” said Fresina. He said the issue is important because improperly staffed firehouses put fire fighters at risk.
Fresina said that the state’s tier six retirement system has, “completely gutted the opportunities for my members and their families.”
Public Employees Federation (PEF) Vice President Randi DiAntonio provided testimony that since 2021, the state has lost 16,858 employees due to attrition. DiAntonio also cited the state’s tier six retirement system as one of the primary problems.
“The state retirement plan was once called the ‘career plan,’” DiAntonio said. “That is because defined benefit plans are designed to reward longevity and service. The tier six plan does not provide incentives to remain in state service.”
The state legislature is scheduled to reconvene in January. It is unclear whether or not lawmakers plan to introduce new legislation that would change the state’s tier six retirement plan, which currently has more than 350,000 members.
