District Council 37, the city's largest public employee union, and its NYC Clerical-Administrative Local 1549 today announced breakthrough pension improvements for its 911 Police Communications Technicians (PCTs) and Supervising PCTs. Principal PCTs in CWA Local 1180 will also be covered.

On Oct. 21, Governor George Pataki signed legislation establishing a new pension plan that makes 911 PCTs and SPCTs eligible to retire after 25 years of service with no age limits. Previously, depending on their retirement plan, PCTs and SPCTs had to remain on their stressful jobs until age 55 to 62 before they could retire.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts said, "We are pleased and proud to have lobbied successfully for this pension improvement for our hardworking 911 PCTs and SPCTs. This new pension plan is long overdue recognition for these workers, who have been on the front lines handling millions of urgent calls each year during every type of emergency - from Sept. 11 and the recent power failure to plane crashes, hurricanes and blizzards. We thank our Political Action Department for their hard work on this and the governor for signing the legislation. "

Eddie Rodriguez, president of NYC Clerical-Administrative Local 1549, applauded the legislation. "Working at 911 is a very stressful job and takes a toll on our members both psychologically and physically. Stress-related disabilities - like carpal tunnel, asthma and hypertension - often cut short our members' working lives before they reach pensionable age, " he said. "This new pension plan is a step forward in recognizing the stressful nature of the PCT and SPCT job and allows our members to look forward to a timely retirement after their invaluable service to the city. It comes as a result of years of hard work by Local 1549 Vice President Ralph Palladino, PCT/SPCT Chapter Chair Alma Roper and her committee, and the entire PCT/SPCT Chapter of the local."

The new legislation, amending the city's retirement and Social Security law and administrative code, provides for 911 PCTs and SPCTs age 30 or over to opt into the new plan within 180 days of its effective date or continue with their existing pension coverage. Workers below age 30 will only be eligible to join the new plan. Those who enroll in the new pension plan will have to contribute an additional percentage of their salary above what they are already contributing toward their pensions. Governor Pataki required that this additional contribution be included in the legislation as a precondition to his signature.