SYRACUSE AREA RETIREMENT PRESENTATION & DINNER – February 25, 2026
Join us for the New York State Retirement System Presentation and Dinner on Wednesday, February 25th at 6:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Destiny USA, 311 Hiawatha Blvd. W, Syracuse, NY 13204.
Reservation deadline: February 16, 2026
Confirmation sent by: February 20, 2026
A waitlist will be created once capacity is reached.
All CSEA Local 334 members from any of our 20 counties may attend. You do not need to be nearing retirement—this presentation is valuable for anyone planning ahead.
See the attached flyer for full details and RSVP information.
UPCOMING REGION AND LOCAL EVENTS – see attached flyers for details
Binghamton St Patrick’s day Parade – Saturday March 7th, 2026 Binghamton St Pats Parade
Syracuse St Patrick’s day Parade – Saturday March 14th, 2026 Syracuse St Pats Parade_Flyer_RSVP
Binghamton Hockey Night – April 11th, 2026 Binghamton Hockey Night
FIX TIER SIX
Join the fight for pension reform! Sign up to stay informed about the latest updates on pension reform for Tiers 5 and 6, CSEA’s advocacy efforts, and ways to get involved.
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/join-the-fight-for-tier-56-reform?source=email&
Fix Tier 6: A Statewide Call to Action
On Sunday, March 8, unions will come together in Albany for a statewide Fix Tier 6 Rally! Hosted by NYS AFL-CIO, CSEA is supporting the event alongside other labor affiliates.
Where: MVP Arena in Albany.
When: Doors open at 10:30 a.m., with the rally running from 12:00pm to 2:00pm
Registration is required! – Attendees will not be admitted without a ticket
Click here to register.
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUND – CO-PAY REIMBURSEMENT
You may submit an EBF reimbursement form once your combined co-pays for doctor visits, labs/X-rays, unreimbursed medical expenses, and prescriptions total $400.
Eligible co-pays must be incurred on or after December 31 each year.
2025 reimbursement applications are accepted until March 31, 2026.
Refer to the attached guidelines for acceptable proof (EOBs for medical co-pays, pharmacy printouts for prescriptions).
Questions? Call 1‑800‑323‑2732 or visit www.cseaebf.com.
NYS RIDE PROGRAM
The current NYS-Ride commuter benefit has been enhanced to allow employees to enjoy pre-tax savings on qualified parking expenses. Employees who pay for parking as part of their daily commute to work, including parking at or near their work location or public transportation hub (except where parking is provided by the employer), may use pre-tax payroll deductions to pay for parking.
The pre-tax parking benefit can be used to pay a third-party parking vendor at eligible locations.
This includes parking at:
- Parking meters
- Visitor or guest logs
- Park and ride locations
- Municipal lots
However, it cannot be used for parking that is employer-provided. Employer provided parking includes parking through the Office of General Service Employee Parking Program, parking fees paid through payroll deduction, or parking fees paid through payment to the employer. Employees may contribute up to $300 per month on a pre-tax basis to pay for parking expenses. Contributions are deducted biweekly from an employee’s gross pay and deposited into the appropriate account. Employees can use the debit card that is issued to NYS-Ride participants to pay for qualified parking expenses or submit receipts for reimbursement. Transit and parking funds are considered two separate accounts and will not be commingled.
If you have questions regarding the New York State Ride program, you may contact
Customer Service at (888) 235-9223 or visit the website, NYS-Ride | Office of Employee Relations
TAX SEASON REMINDER
When filing your 2025 federal taxes, remember that certain overtime earnings may qualify for a federal income tax deduction. From 2025–2028, eligible workers may deduct up to $12,500 per person in qualified overtime compensation. Only the overtime premium—the amount above your regular hourly rate—is deductible.
Example: If your regular rate is $20/hr and overtime is $30/hr, only the extra $10/hr counts.
Consult a tax professional for guidance. A downloadable flyer is available.
MEMBER BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT – Legal Experts on Your Side!
For $16.30 a month, you, your spouse, and your dependents have legal assistance for some of the most frequently needed legal matters including a will, power of attorney, health care proxy, estate planning, real estate matters, traffic violations, divorce and so much more! Never pay the attorney’s hourly rate when using an in-network attorney for any or all the covered matters. Call 800-821-6400 to find out more or to enroll.
BE INFORMED – GET INVOLVED
Please share this information with coworkers and post it on Union boards where available. Staying informed is essential—visit our website and download the CSEA app to keep important updates at your fingertips.
To ensure you receive all Union communications, please update your mailing address, email, and phone number with CSEA Member Solutions at 1‑800‑342‑4146 or online at:
https://cseany.org/contact-us