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The movement to revise New York State’s public pension rules took center stage in Albany when more than 15,000 union members assembled on March 8 for a coordinated show of force. Delegations from the Public Employees Federation (PEF), NYSUT, AFT, UFT, IAF and many other labor organizations marched and rallied to urge lawmakers and Governor Kathy Hochul to rewrite provisions in the State pension system that affect thousands of employees.
Speakers emphasized both the scale of the issue and concrete next steps. An estimated 780,000 state employees are covered by Tier 6, the tier created for hires after 2012, and union leaders argued that current rules discourage long careers in public service. At the same event, organizers also shared recent Empire Plan health-care notices impacting members, making the gathering part policy demand and part benefits briefing.
Why members say Tier 6 needs reform
Union representatives described the differences between pension tiers as a matter of fairness and recruitment. Under current rules, Tier 6 employees contribute between 3% and 6% of salary toward retirement for their whole careers, with contributions rising as earnings increase. By contrast, Tier 5 members pay a fixed 3% over a career, while Tier 4 contributions are capped at 3% and stop after 10 years. Retirement ages also diverge: full benefits for Tier 6 generally require work until age 63, Tier 5 until 62, and Tier 4 allows full retirement at age 55 after 30 years of service.
Voices from the rally
PEF President Wayne Spence, who noted he is a parole officer and a Tier 4 member, told the crowd that colleagues performing identical duties under Tier 6 receive far less favorable retirement terms. Other labor leaders on stage, including NYSUT President Melinda Person, AFT President Randi Weingarten, and NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, demanded immediate fixes: lower contribution rates, removal of punitive retirement penalties, and a return to pension calculations that use 2% of salary after 20 years.
Recent reforms and the path ahead
Speakers acknowledged incremental moves already made in response to union pressure. Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted changes such as switching benefit calculations from a five-year average to an average of three consecutive years, and shortening the vesting period from ten years to five. Still, unions insist that meaningful statutory changes are required to align Tiers 5 and 6 with the protections that exist for earlier tiers. Because fixing Tier 6 requires legislation, organizers urged members to press legislators before the State budget deadline of April 1.
How members can influence policy
Union leadership framed the campaign as membership-driven: by mobilizing constituents and communicating with elected officials, they said, employees have the leverage to win changes. Practical steps include sending letters to legislators, amplifying union social posts on platforms like Facebook and X, and participating in local advocacy. The rally reinforced the message that collective action can convert attention into legislative results.
Empire Plan notices and member alerts
Alongside pension advocacy, the rally and union communications circulated recent Empire Plan updates that affect health-care access. The Mount Sinai Health System ended participation in Anthem‘s network effective March 4, 2026, though Empire Plan members could continue care at in-network cost levels at Mount Sinai through March 31, 2026. Affected facilities include Mount Sinai Brooklyn, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai Queens, Mount Sinai South Nassau, Mount Sinai West, and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.
Continuity of care and exceptions
The Empire Plan clarified that certain services remain protected: emergency care, previously preauthorized services, instances where no in-network hospital exists within a 30-mile radius or a 30-minute travel window, and maternity care through delivery and postpartum are covered at in-network rates. Medical/surgical services administered by UnitedHealthcare (UHC) are not affected. For questions about continuity of care, members can call 1-877-7-NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447) and press or say 2 for Anthem, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Updated contract information is available at Anthem’s New York page.
The Empire Plan bulletin also reminded members of other recent notices: an urgent device correction for Dexcom G6 and G7 receivers (users should test speakers and contact Dexcom at 1-844-478-1600 if issues arise), the Rite Aid store closures beginning June 4, 2026 which affect pharmacy access, and the retroactive waiver of certain hospital extension clinic facility fees to January 1, 2026. Travel guidance publications (December 2026) and other program details remain available on the NYSHIP website.
Next steps and contacts
Union leaders warned that the rally was a beginning, not an endpoint. They urged members to keep pressure on policymakers before the budget deadline and to use the available Empire Plan contact points for care continuity or benefit questions. For pension advocacy, send messages to your legislators, share union posts online, and stay connected with local chapters. For health-plan queries, call 1-877-7-NYSHIP or visit the official Empire Plan pages for the most current information.