15,000 unionists gathered at the MVP Arena in Albany for the Statewide Rally to Fix Tier 6 on March 8. Photo Credit: El-Wise Noisette.

Caption: 15,000 unionists gathered at the MVP Arena in Albany for the Statewide Rally to Fix Tier 6 on March 8. Photo Credit: El-Wise Noisette.

NYSUT brings together 15,000 unionists for historic Fix Tier 6 rally

By Molly Belmont,
NYSUT Communications

Thousands of educators, firefighters, nurses, law enforcement, and public workers from across the state gathered at MVP Arena Sunday for the sold-out Statewide Fix Tier 6 Rally, raising their voices in unison to demand a just, equitable retirement.

The event brought together 15,000 members from NYSUT, NYS AFL-CIO, Civil Service Employees Association, Public Employees Federation, New York State Nurses Association and the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association, and others who called on state lawmakers to lower retirement ages and reduce penalties, so that educators and other civil servants can retire with the dignity they deserve.

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“Every single person in this crowd chose public service. You chose the classroom. You chose the school bus. You chose the counseling office. You chose to show up for New Yorkers every single day,” NYSUT President Melinda Person told the packed arena. “And you did it knowing that the road was long. New York must value your service the same way it always has, because teachers don’t get stock options. Nurses don’t get hedge fund bonuses and firefighters don’t get corporate buy-outs.”

Currently 780,000 public workers are enrolled in Tier 6, which requires employees to work longer, contribute more, and receive fewer benefits than workers in earlier pension tiers.

NYSUT members said the rally was awe-inspiring, and they were happy to stand next to brothers and sisters from unions all over the state.

When Amy Jencik, a member of the Teachers Association of the Tarrytowns, got the news that she could attend the statewide rally, she felt like she won the lottery. “When I signed up, I was waitlisted, so I knew it was going to be a good turnout, and that made me want to come even more,” Jencik said. “I really wanted to show up for Tier 6.”

Alexandra Sepulveda, a member of UFT, said she also felt lucky to be there. “I felt like we were just all together, even the nurses, the firefighters, everybody coming together. It was really beautiful and inspiring.”

Sepulveda, who is a member of Tier 6, said she also appreciated the support of Tier 4 members and retirees. “I know that Tier 4 also had issues and tiers 1, 2, and 3 stood up to help Tier 4 get better, so I'm really grateful that there are Tier 4 members out today to help us fix our tier so we can also retire and feel confident in that,” Sepulveda said.

“Tier 6 is going to make it so people don't want to do public service anymore,” said Lisa McDonnell, a member of Middle Country TA. McDonnell said solidarity is essential to getting pension reform. “I know when I started, Tier 4 looked very different, and people worked for me to have a better Tier 4, and I want to do the same thing for Tier 6,” she said.

Mother and daughter, Tinamarie Mantisi, Gates-Chili TA and Marissa Mantisi, Monroe 2 Orleans BOCES United Professionals, traveled from Rochester to show their support for the cause.

Marissa Mantisi, has already been working for seven years, but, she said, thanks to Tier 6, she will need to work for another 32 years before she can retire. “It’s daunting,” she said. “It’s very daunting.”

“For me to have to think about her working that hard, for that long, it’s worrying,” said Tinamarie Mantisi, a Tier 4 member. “I hope we can fix it to what it needs to be.”

The rally was emceed by Gaspare Randazzo, a history teacher at Susan Wagner High School and UFT member who travels the world with his stand-up routine about teaching, and included performances from SAG-AFTRA Vice President Lisa Ann Walter, star of Abbott Elementary, who brought the house down with her comedy routine.

Members also cheered on speeches by AFT President Randi Weingarten; Mario Cilento, president of the state AFL-CIO; Sam Fresina, president of the New York Professional Fire Fighters Association and Wayne Spence, president of the New York State Public Employees Federation.

Cilento said the state needs to fix its broken promise. “Decades ago, there was a promise made by this state. The promise was that if you dedicated your life to public service, then when you retire, you would be able to live your retirement, have a retirement of dignity, of self-respect, and financial independence. Fourteen years ago, this state broke that promise,” Cilento said.

“Folks, we have more power than they realize, and they don’t want us to know,” said Spence. “So don’t give up the fight!”

During the program, Melody Castiglia and Mike McGowen, members of the New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees, shared their experiences as members of Tier 5 and 6. “When those of us in Tier 5 and 6 are asked to contribute more, work longer, and receive less, it is a message that we are worth less. It weakens morale. It hurts recruitment and retention,” said Castiglia. “And when one tier is weakened the whole union is weakened.”

Governor Kathy Hochul took the stage at the rally’s end to thank educators and public servants for their tireless work and dedication.

“I want to acknowledge the hardworking men and women who are the unsung heroes of our state. Whether you're molding young minds or responding to emergencies, or filling potholes, the work you do makes an enormous difference for our communities, and it keeps New York moving forward.”

Hochul noted that hard work deserves just compensation and that without it, recruitment and retention will continue to be an issue. The governor also noted the victories that have already been won on this issue, with NYSUT’s advocacy, including reducing the final average salary calculation from five to three years and shortening the vesting period from ten years to five.

Hochul concluded her remarks by promising to roll up her sleeves this budget season and honor the sacrifices our public workers make: “I’m going to keep fighting to make sure you get what you deserve.”

“It was really great to see so many people here,” UFT member Sarah D’Amico said after the rally. “They showed us that this has changed before, and we're going to change it again. We just have to keep going.”

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