Dear Senator Benjamin,
The COVID-19 pandemic not only has taken the lives of more than 25,000 New York City residents so far, it also has destroyed the economic vitality of the City. This resulted in Mayor Bill de Blasio last year attempting to balance his enormous budget deficit on the backs of 22,000 of my brothers and sisters in the labor movement whose jobs were on the line.
Thanks to the diligence and creativity of some of New York City’s outstanding labor leaders, the layoffs are averted – for now. Hopefully with a new President in office and Democrats in control in Washington, partisan politics will finally end and federal assistance will make its way to New York to help prevent these layoffs from resurfacing this year.
During the peak of the pandemic, my coworkers and I were praised daily as “essential workers” needed on the job to keep New York City running. As the City’s financial resources rapidly depleted, municipal workers – as usual – were told we were “expendable.” Government leaders cannot have it both ways, especially when there are myriad other options.
That’s why I am asking you to:
• Vote for Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) legislation so certain members of the city’s three pension systems will be allowed to retire early without a financial penalty.
• Grant the City borrowing authority similar to what you gave to the State and the MTA.
• Pass a package of revenue bills, including a millionaires’ and ultra-millionaires’ tax, that will generate enough revenue to prevent deep cuts and future layoffs.
So many of us already have sacrificed our health and compromised the health of our loved ones during this pandemic. Many of my CWA Local 1180 brothers and sisters even made the ultimate sacrifice. Rewarding us with even the talk of layoffs is inexcusable when you have other options.
YOU hold the power to stop this. I hope the 365,000 voting, municipal workers in the New York City labor movement and their families can count on your support.
In Solidarity,
Updates
November 21, 2020
Seeing the weight of this support behind us gives me the energy to keep going after such a draining stretch. It is clear that we are not the only ones who refuse to be called expendable. We have a long road ahead but this momentum reminds me why we started this fight in the first place.
26 Comments
I come from a family of retired City workers, plus have some left who would benefit from early retirement during these unprecedented times of the Pandemic. I ask kindly on behalf of them to honor this petition in good faith, for their years of service for OUR COMMUNITY we call home.
It would be a great incentive and financial security to the employees that have worked and have given years of service to have a peace of mind and have financial stability when you reach retirement . Thank you in Advance.
Greetings. I am in full support of an ERI being offered to the many qualifying City workers - such as myself. With 2 years short of "40" years - I find it "cruel and inhumane" to not have the ability to retire after 25 years + of work. Many of us started early and the "burnout - equipped with serious health issues are real". Thank You.
Please help to city’s workforce move towards a retirement incentive package many have already lost so much due to trying times and the current state of world approving this package will help those to retire peaceable given that fact they have served their time and have dedicated their lives to city service. This would give tremendous closure to retirees.
We need our jobs now more than ever, please don’t turn your back on us now, after all we have done and continue to do for the city of New York.
Please consider these three proposals
Please allow the early retirement for city workers. Please pass ERI. Thank you, Aishah
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Dear Senator Benjamin,
The COVID-19 pandemic not only has taken the lives of more than 25,000 New York City residents so far, it also has destroyed the economic vitality of the City. This resulted in Mayor Bill de Blasio last year attempting to balance his enormous budget deficit on the backs of 22,000 of my brothers and sisters in the labor movement whose jobs were on the line.
Thanks to the diligence and creativity of some of New York City’s outstanding labor leaders, the layoffs are averted – for now. Hopefully with a new President in office and Democrats in control in Washington, partisan politics will finally end and federal assistance will make its way to New York to help prevent these layoffs from resurfacing this year.
During the peak of the pandemic, my coworkers and I were praised daily as “essential workers” needed on the job to keep New York City running. As the City’s financial resources rapidly depleted, municipal workers – as usual – were told we were “expendable.” Government leaders cannot have it both ways, especially when there are myriad other options.
That’s why I am asking you to:
• Vote for Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) legislation so certain members of the city’s three pension systems will be allowed to retire early without a financial penalty.
• Grant the City borrowing authority similar to what you gave to the State and the MTA.
• Pass a package of revenue bills, including a millionaires’ and ultra-millionaires’ tax, that will generate enough revenue to prevent deep cuts and future layoffs.
So many of us already have sacrificed our health and compromised the health of our loved ones during this pandemic. Many of my CWA Local 1180 brothers and sisters even made the ultimate sacrifice. Rewarding us with even the talk of layoffs is inexcusable when you have other options.
YOU hold the power to stop this. I hope the 365,000 voting, municipal workers in the New York City labor movement and their families can count on your support.
In Solidarity,
Updates
November 21, 2020
Seeing the weight of this support behind us gives me the energy to keep going after such a draining stretch. It is clear that we are not the only ones who refuse to be called expendable. We have a long road ahead but this momentum reminds me why we started this fight in the first place.
26 Comments
Please grant the NYC borrowing Authority & pass a package or revenue bill. I'm a senior with 16years on the book and to survive I need a 20yrs pension. I'm physically and mentally strong enough to achieve that goal. During this ongoing pandemic many of my union Sisters & Brothers in my age group attended onsite job performance when managers much younger than us remained home. and hopefully include ERI for workers needing only 1-3 years for a full retirement. Thank you for your support & cooperation. I voted for you because I believe in you.
I come from a family of retired City workers, plus have some left who would benefit from early retirement during these unprecedented times of the Pandemic. I ask kindly on behalf of them to honor this petition in good faith, for their years of service for OUR COMMUNITY we call home.
It would be a great incentive and financial security to the employees that have worked and have given years of service to have a peace of mind and have financial stability when you reach retirement . Thank you in Advance.
Greetings. I am in full support of an ERI being offered to the many qualifying City workers - such as myself. With 2 years short of "40" years - I find it "cruel and inhumane" to not have the ability to retire after 25 years + of work. Many of us started early and the "burnout - equipped with serious health issues are real". Thank You.
Please help to city’s workforce move towards a retirement incentive package many have already lost so much due to trying times and the current state of world approving this package will help those to retire peaceable given that fact they have served their time and have dedicated their lives to city service. This would give tremendous closure to retirees.
We need our jobs now more than ever, please don’t turn your back on us now, after all we have done and continue to do for the city of New York.
Please consider these three proposals
Please allow the early retirement for city workers. Please pass ERI. Thank you, Aishah
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Please grant the NYC borrowing Authority & pass a package or revenue bill. I'm a senior with 16years on the book and to survive I need a 20yrs pension. I'm physically and mentally strong enough to achieve that goal. During this ongoing pandemic many of my union Sisters & Brothers in my age group attended onsite job performance when managers much younger than us remained home. and hopefully include ERI for workers needing only 1-3 years for a full retirement. Thank you for your support & cooperation. I voted for you because I believe in you.