CSEA STATEWIDE OFFICER ELECTIONS – VOTE!
Ballots have been mailed to members to vote for our CSEA Statewide Officers. Please follow the instructions very carefully and return your ballot as soon as possible. Ballots must be received by 8:00 a.m. on February 10, 2016 in order to be counted.
GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL – RETIREE HEALTH PREMIUMS
The Governor has asked in his proposed budget to change the contribution amount for some retirees for health insurance premiums. See the flyer for complete information. Obviously, CSEA is strongly opposed to this change and will fight to defeat it.
Every Friday, CSEA emails a short summary of what has transpired in Albany during that week, with important updates for our members on legislative and political issues that may affect each one of us (such as the Governor’s proposal to change retiree health premium contributions). Here is a TWIA Sign-up to receive these e-mails, “This Week in Albany,” TWIA. You can enroll online at www.cseany.org, under the “Legislative & Political Action” section, or complete the form and email to our CSEA Capital Region Political Action Coordinator Bryan Miller at Bryan.Miller@cseainc.org. As State employees, it is imperative that you keep informed of issues that may affect you!
AFSCME PHONE CALLS MEMO
AFSCME Phone Calls Memo from CSEA President Danny Donohue regarding AFSCME phone calls to our members’ home numbers for the purpose of updating members on the Friedrichs case pending at the Supreme Court and to update member information.
SWIPING OUT – END OF SHIFT
Incidents of employees swiping out at the end of their shift and then going back to work continue to be reported. Remember, not only is it inappropriate to swipe out and then continue working, there could also be consequences from UCS for doing so. No one should be continuing to work after swiping out.
LOCAL OFFICERS’ CONTACT INFORMATION
All Local Officers’ contact information is available on our web site, http://cseajudiciary.org, under Locals, Local 694, “Contact.”
DO YOU KNOW YOUR CSEA ID NUMBER?
Every CSEA Membership Number begins with “123.” If you do not know your membership number, you may obtain it through the CSEA web site, www.cseany.org, by clicking on “Look up your CSEA ID” at the top of the home page.
STATEWIDE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
MetLife/Flaumenbaum/Pearl Carroll Scholarship Application link will provide information for the MetLife/Flaumenbaum/Pearl Carroll Scholarship program. Note the application deadline of April 15th for the Flaumenbaum application.
Please distribute in your work place/to your co-workers. Thank you.
JURY DUTY – RETURN TO WORK
CSEA members that report for Jury Duty have the option to return to work after fulfilling their duties as a juror for the day. There should be no charges to a member’s accruals if they choose not to return to work on a jury duty day.
LONGEVITY PAYMENTS; PROMOTING
There have been numerous questions regarding the Longevity Payments that will begin in April of 2016. Longevity Payments are based on years past Maximum on the salary schedules. Under our current contract, if you have completed four years past Max as of April 1st of 2016, you will be entitled to a Longevity Payment of $2,250 each year. If you have completed eight years past Max as of April 1st of 2016, you will be entitled to a Longevity Payment of $4,600 each year. If you have completed 13 years past Max as of April 1st, 2016, you will be entitled to a Longevity Payment of $6,900 each year. Other requirements to receiving a Longevity Payment are: having worked 120 workdays within the fiscal year and receiving a performance rating higher than unsatisfactory. Longevity Payments are not added to base pay but are pensionable. Longevity payments are pro-rated for employees working less than full time.
Regarding promotions and Longevity Payments, if you are at or above Max in your present position and promote and remain at or above Max in the new position, you are entitled to take your years of service credit for Longevity Payment purposes with you to the new promotional position.
LONGEVITY INCREMENTS
Longevity Increments cease to exist as of April 1st, 2016, which is the reason that they are no longer listed in the 2016 salary schedule. While they are no longer listed in the salary schedule for April 1st, 2016, no member will lose an increment that they have already received prior to that date. (Do not confuse the Longevity Increments with the new Longevity Payments that begin in April 2016.)
EBF CO-PAY REIMBURSEMENTS
Physician office visit and prescription drug co-pays are reimbursable up to a maximum of $325 annually by submitting appropriate documentation and application to EBF. Reimbursement applications for 2015 will be accepted through March 31, 2016. Please read the guidelines carefully for acceptable forms of co-pay reimbursement documentation.
Click Here – UCS EBF CO-PAY REIMBURSEMENT FORM
Reminder – there are many more items you may qualify for. Examples: purchasing a home or having baby. Please check the website at www.cseaebf.com and be sure to look under UCS Employees.