LOCAL 334 UTICA COMETS HOCKEY NIGHT – FRIDAY MARCH 7TH – SOLD OUT
Thank you to all of those who responded to join us at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, Friday March 7th for the Utica Comets vs Syracuse Crunch Hockey game. We look forward to seeing you there!
NYS DEFERRED COMP
The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan (457b) will be hosting multiple educational webinars in March specifically for CSEA members who wish to attend and who are thinking of enrolling into the Plan and/or learning more about the Plan. The NYSDCP is a supplemental retirement plan, also known as a 457(b) plan, and their mission is to help State and local-public employees achieve their retirement savings goals and help bridge any potential financial gap in retirement.
We wanted to give you the opportunity to learn about ways to utilize your New York State Deferred Compensation Plan (NYSDCP) to achieve the best financial results for you and your family. There will be two topics presented: Enrollment & Pre-Retirement. Please register for a session below if you are interested. Each session is limited to 1,000 participants. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email about how to join the training session.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Enrollment Webinars – Join us for a conversation about the benefits of joining the NYS Deferred Comp Plan. We will go over the basics of the Plan and how to enroll. All are welcome to participate. Registration required.
12pm session: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/561b171a-8bac-4adc-bde1-e7f0c4344830@22140e4c-d390-45c2-b297-a26c516dc461
4pm session: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c31a2e16-2edb-4f34-9a6f-04a8fb727677@22140e4c-d390-45c2-b297-a26c516dc461
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Pre-Retirement Webinars – Join us for a conversation about important considerations as you get closer to retirement. We will discuss longevity, income sources, asset consolidation, and required minimum distributions. All are welcome to participate. Registration required.
12pm session: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/0ed5228b-2f0e-42d9-8024-d097a7c04c54@22140e4c-d390-45c2-b297-a26c516dc461
4pm session: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e6867e5d-e70c-459a-aadf-1d34b74840d4@22140e4c-d390-45c2-b297-a26c516dc461
We expect each session to last about an hour, with 25-30 minutes of opening remarks and plenty of time for Q&A. If you are unable to attend a session, but have questions you’d like answered, you have the following options:
1 Call the NYSDCP at 1-800-422-8463
2 Click to schedule a phone appointment with your local rep
3 Click to enroll in the NYSDCP online (you will need your paystub)
CSEA SAFETY NET
Safety Net Extreme Cold – CSEA, AFSCME
MEMBER RESOURCES: OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH
Materials & Publications
View/download – A-Z list of fact sheets: cseany.org/safety-resources
Request Free Prints: Publications Order Form
Workshop Trainings & Webinars
View/Watch – webinar trainings: cseany.org/osh-webinars
CSEA Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Specialists
Have a general safety concern?
Contact your OSH Specialist here: cseany.org/member-support
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Hurt at Work?
CSEA endorses the law firm of Fine, Olin and Anderman
Get started now by clicking https://www.foalaw.com/csea-members/
Or call at 855-637-1207
STAY CONNECTED WITH CSEA
To better serve our members, CSEA needs up-to-date contact information. With over 1,000 employers, including the state, counties, municipalities and school districts, records can become outdated. Beginning March 1st, members who update or verify their contact information via the MyCSEA app, website, or contact card will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $25 gift card. Each month, 12 winners will be randomly selected. Look for more details in the March issue of The Work Force. Stay informed and connected—update your information today!
STRIKES AT STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
Our dedicated CSEA members continue to work under extremely challenging conditions in correctional facilities across the state as the wildcat strikes continue. Their safety remains our top priority. Regions have held wellness calls with DOCCS members to listen to concerns and address them to the best of our abilities. We are in constant communication with the governor’s office to address members’ concerns. This communication on the ground and with the governor helps to clarify with members the many unfounded rumors circulating on social media and even news outlets.
Last weekend, CSEA was the first union to secure a 2.5x emergency overtime pay increase for all DOCCS members through negotiations with Gov. Kathy Hochul. It applies to all overtime, is retroactive from Feb. 17 and will remain in effect until the governor deems a return to normal rates appropriate.
Finally, we know the corrections officers’ union is in mediation with the agency and the governor’s office, aiming to resolve the strike and bring corrections officers back to work. We are monitoring the entire situation very closely.
For more on the Taylor Law, visit this archived Work Force article.
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUND CO-PAY REIMBURSEMENT
Submit your EBF reimbursement form once your combined co-pay amount for physician visits, labs/X-rays, other unreimbursed medical expenses, and prescription co-pays reaches $400. This applies to co-pays incurred on or after December 31st each year. Applications for 2024 reimbursement are accepted until March 31st, 2025.
Please refer to the attached guidelines for details on acceptable proof of co-pays, such as Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for physician co-pays and pharmacy printouts for prescription co-pays. If you have any questions, call 1-800-323-2732 or visit www.cseaebf.com.
MEMBER BENEFITS SPOTLIGHT
Did you know that CSEA members receive up to 40% off tuition at Excelsior University? This benefit also applies to a member’s spouse or domestic partner. But that’s not all! The application fee and graduation fees are waived; flexible course schedules are offered; and financial aid, deferred tuition, scholarships, and payment plans are available. Contact an admissions counselor at 844-843-9296 or visit nyscsea.excelsior.edu.
SCHOLARSHIPS – Region 5
The application period for the Central Region 5 Scholarship is now OPEN. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors who will be continuing their education at an accredited college or trade school and are the child, legal dependent, or grandchild of a CSEA Region 5 member in good standing or a CSEA Region 5 staff member. Visit cseany.org/r5 to download the application and a flyer to advertise in your workplace. Deadline is April 1, 2025.
Download the Scholarship Application Here!
Download a flyer to advertise in your workplace!
REGION 5 ST. PATRICKS DAY PARADES
Join Central Region 5 as we represent CSEA in the Binghamton and Syracuse St. Patrick’s Day Parades. All members, family, and friends are welcome! Binghamton Parade is Saturday, March 1. We will be meeting at the Rumble Ponies parking lot at 11 a.m. for a tailgate before the parade (Flyer attached). The Syracuse Parade is on March 15 – more details to follow.
REGION 5 HOCKEY NIGHT
CSEA Region 5 community outreach will be holding their Southern Tier hockey night on Saturday April 12th, 2025. Tickets will be $12 each and must be ordered by April 1st. See the attached flyer for details.
SAVE THE DATE
Region 5 Cornhole Tournament
The Region 5 Community Outreach Committee is asking you to save the date for its 3rd annual Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, June 28, at Touch of Texas in Binghamton. This event is used to raise money for Special Olympics NY. This event is open to ALL members AND the community. Raffle baskets/donation items appreciated. More information on where to sign up will be coming soon. Cornhole Tournament 2025
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