Securing Benefits in New York

After long and intensive lobbying by AFSCME Council 82 members, New York Gov. George Pataki (R) signed a bill on Jan. 28 ensuring that the state's 21,000 COs will receive equal and adequate disability retirement benefits in the event they are disabled on the job.

Richard Abrahamson, president of Council 82, says passage of the bill guaranteeing all officers a disability retirement of three-fourths their salary indicates that "the governor and the legislature have recognized the inherent risks that go with the jobs our members perform, and provided security for them and their families."

The bill corrects a three-tier system that had been in place for COs and security hospital treatment assistants in forensic psychiatric facilities. Under that system, which was based on date of hire, officers doing the same work, side by side, might sustain similar injuries - and yet one might retire with three-fourths of his or her salary, the other with only two-thirds or even one-third of his or her salary. In fact, some 70 percent of officers had a disability benefit of only one-third their salaries.

Council 82's victory is the culmination of a years-long battle.