IRS scam alert

An IRS telephone scam has surfaced.  Be alert and remember the IRS never calls taxpayers – they communicate by regular mail.  The scammers are calling people and threatening them with fines and arrest.  Never give out Social Security numbers or any bank information over the phone even if caller is using IRS ID numbers and official sounding titles.  If you receive a call from the IRS – hang up and report the call to crime stoppers – 1-800-244-8477.  All calls are kept anonymous.

Reasons We Don’t Want a NYS Constitutional Convention in 2017

Joan Perini of NYSUT has written a letter to all NYSUT member about the proposal for a New York State Constitutional Convention and what it would mean to NYSUT members. She states:

We need to understand what is at stake and what you can do to help.  For one thing, let your fellow retirees know about the plans for a 2017 convention and what the proposed changes would mean to them.  A good example of a negative issue that could be raised has to do with pension rights.  Currently it states that once hired as a public employee and told your pension rights, your pension can never be diminished or impaired.  Revocation of this right would be a serious loss to all public employees.

Read the complete letter here Constitutional_Convention

Heads-Up for Long Island Retirees

Kathleen A. Lyons, NYSUT Retiree Services Consultant, had issued a heads-up warning for LI retirees. Teacher retiree are being targeted by scam phone calls “regarding your pension.”  These are similar to calls that claim to be from the IRS. The Freedom of Information Act allowed that pensions are public information and has seemingly given those who would defraud people the opportunity to target a class of “senior citizens” who might fall for one of these scams.  Obviously those collecting pensions are mostly older not younger members of society.

One women who received such a call indicated that she called the FBI and they in turn told her to report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-382-4357.

Contact State Legislatures Now!

NYSUT-college

Higher-ed advocates to call on state Legislature to provide long-term funding for SUNY and CUNY campuses.

A coalition of labor unions will join with the state Senate and Assembly Higher Education Committee chairs Monday to urge that lawmakers include in the forthcoming state budget ‘Maintenance of Effort’ funding to enable State University of New York and City University of New York campuses —which for years have been hamstrung by cuts in aid — to cover basic operating costs.

Representatives from New York State United Teachers, United University Professions, the Professional Staff Congress and District Council 37 will join Democratic Assemblywoman Deborah Glick of Manhattan and Republican state Sen. Kenneth LaValle of Port Jefferson at 11:30 a.m. Monday in the LCA press room of the Legislative Office Building in Albany.

Take action now at the NYSUT Member Action Center to ask lawmakers to see to it that the state pays its fair share of SUNY/CUNY mandated costs!

Member Benefits Programs

nysut_member_benefitsAll NYSUT members are encouraged to visit the Member Benefits website at memberbenefits.nysut.org to learn more about endorsed programs and services offered.  Newest endorsed programs include Member Shopping Program powered by Paycheck Direct, Solar Solidarity Program from American Solar Partners, and ID Watchdog protecting against identity and credit theft.  Call 1-800-626-8101 to request printed directory of services.