We Win as Gov. Cuomo Signs Veterans’ Bill

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Co-Sponsor, other politicians, and TWU and Union members on the steps in Albany's state house supporting the bill.
Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Co-Sponsor, other politicians, and TWU and Union members on the steps in Albany's state house supporting the bill.

Three years of dogged effort by TWU Local 100 and statewide military veterans’ groups paid off in a huge way on May 31 when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Veteran’s Equality Act (S7160/A9531 – Larkin/Paulin) into law. Now, all New York State military veterans – regardless of where they served – will be able to buy back three years of pension credit in public retirement systems.

Legislation passed in 2000 allowed such buy-backs only for service during certain conflicts like WW II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. Iraq was covered, yet Afghanistan, Kosovo, and certain other conflicts were not. And the legislation left out women veterans who were barred from combat zones.

President Samuelsen made passing a new veteran’s bill a priority, establishing our Veteran’s Committee under the leadership of then RTO Vice President Kevin Harrington and raising the profile of our annual Veteran’s Day celebration at the Hall.

IB ImageAt the 2013 Lobby Day, Harrington and other Committee members went to see State Senator William Larkin (R-Orange County), a decorated combat veteran, and explained how the earlier legislation was deficient in that it left out many male veterans and all female military veterans. Larkin wrote the bill and got behind it along with his co-sponsor in the State Assembly, Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale). TWU had started the ball rolling.

Samuelsen had high praise for the Local 100 Veterans Committee and the rank-and-file members who participated in Veterans Lobby Day trips to Albany. "This victory could not have happened without the relentless grassroots efforts by our Local 100 veterans and our Veterans committee.  Despite early setbacks, they dug their heels in deep and kept moving forward like the good soldiers they are," he
said.

Close coordination with veterans from other TWU locals followed. TWU's PAC Department, headed by Marvin Holland, and the union's Veterans Committee, spearheaded a coalition of municipal unions pressing for a bill that would give pension credit for military time served and mounted several lobbying trips to Albany. They visited nearly every state legislator.

Along with Harrington, vets Kevin McCawley and Phil Caruana devoted untold hours to the effort. Brother McCawley took over the leadership of the TWU Local 100 Veteran's Committee after Brother Harrington's retirement last year. He commended the bill sponsors for their constant support as well as longtime allies in the legislature Sen. Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge) and Assemb. Peter Abbate (D-Dyker Heights).

IB ImageUnder the bill, in order to obtain pension credit for your military service:

-You must have been honorably discharged from the military;

-You must apply while an active member of the pension system

-You must have 5 or more years of public service credit

-The total military service, wartime and otherwise, that you may purchase is 3 years

TWU Local 100 was proud to partner with a statewide coalition to get the job for our members who are military veterans. A link to the website displaying our victory, and containing useful news links, is here:
http://nyvetsforservicecredit.blogspot.com/

Our victory was also noted in today's Daily News. Read the article here.

To reach our Veteran's Committee, sign up here:

http://www.twulocal100.org/content/twu-local-100-veterans-committee-sign