AFSCME FREE COLLEGE BENEFIT
The AFSCME Free College benefit provides an opportunity for you and your family to learn an on-line degree at no cost to you. The program recently has expanded to include certificates and/or degrees in Cyber Security, Data Science, Digital and Social Media Marketing, Advertising, Hospitality-Event management and more, as well as the previously existing programs that include, among others, Criminal Justice, Business Management, Early Childhood Education, Paralegal, Accounting, etc. Another CSEA members-only benefit. Go to https://freecollege.AFSCME.org/ or call 1-888-590-9009. Classes start January 14th.
CHANGES TO HEALTH INSURANCE CO-PAYS, ETC.
Be certain to review changes to your NYSHIP (New York State Health Insurance Program) benefits prior to changes that will take place effective January 1st. Enrollees were mailed a pamphlet a few weeks ago setting out the upcoming changes.
NEW CHOICE NEW YORK
As we have been telling members that attended our dinner meetings, there are organizations that exist solely to convince members to quit their union. I’ve been speaking about the “Freedom Foundation” over the last year. Now, there is another organization called New Choice New York that has been passing out literature at homes and in workplaces, encouraging people to quit their union. But you already know the value of having a Union on your side during an interrogation, counseling or disciplinary matter. You know the value of having a contract to rely on to determine your working conditions and policies. You know the value of having good health benefits, dental, vision, co-pay reimbursement and legal benefits. You know that membership must be maintained above 50% or no contract will exist. Our members are educated and know that union-represented employees on average make 27% more in wages and make 28% more in retirement pension benefits. Our members won’t be fooled.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION – BROOME & CORTLAND COS. – DEC. 18TH
On Tuesday, December 18th, Deferred Compensation Rep. Daniel Kain will be in the Broome County Courthouse, 65 Hawley St., from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the 3rd Floor Attorney Office, and in the Cortland County Courthouse, 46 Greenbush St., 1st Floor Grand Jury Room from 1:00-3:00 p.m. You may schedule a 15-minute appointment to enroll or review your account without charge to your own leave accruals, based on the operating needs of your court. Please discuss your availability with your supervisor prior to trying to schedule an appointment. Appointments are first-come first-served. Bring a paystub if you plan to enroll. See the link below to view the flyer for more information. Click on the links below to make an appointment:
Deferred Comp Flyer, Dec. 18, 2018
Binghamton appointments – http://binghamtoncourt.myRetirementAppt.com
Cortland appointments – http://cortlandcourt.myRetirementAppt.com
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. Once a month, we randomly insert a member’s ID number somewhere within the text of a Receiver Notice. If you see your member ID number, contact me within 48 hours and you will receive a check for $20. (Our September winner was from Cayuga County.)