This Week in Albany – October 2, 2026

1. Tier 6 Reforms Take Effect
Effective October 1, every Tier 6 member earning $75,000 or less will pay just 3% toward their pension — 90% of all CSEA Tier 6 members. Under the old law, only about 30% of members paid 3%. This means more money stays in members’ paychecks.

Tier 6 members have long paid significantly higher contribution rates than members in Tiers 4 and 5, and these reforms deliver immediate financial relief while improving long-term retirement security. For members currently paying above 3%, this is effectively equivalent to a raise. Even if you already pay 3%, these reforms protect future raises from being eaten by higher pension deductions.
Also included in this year’s reforms are an increase in pensionable overtime (effective 1/1/2027) and an extension of a law that excludes overtime from contribution rate calculations. These are the largest pension reforms since Tier 6 was created, and it represents major progress. However, it’s not the end of the fight. CSEA remains committed to improving Tier 6 until we achieve full parity with previous tiers.

2. Freedom Foundation Lawsuit 
This week, the Freedom Foundation filed a federal lawsuit against the state seeking to block enforcement of a recently enacted law prohibiting individuals and organizations from falsely impersonating an employee organization or employee organization representative.
The Freedom Foundation claims the law infringes on its First Amendment rights. The law applies when a person or organization impersonates an employee organization or representative with the intent to deceive and cause harm through fraud, misrepresentation, material omission or other deception.
CSEA’s position is simple: If an organization communicates honestly about who they are and who they represent, this law should have no impact on them. If they attempt to deceive union members into believing they are communicating with their union or a union representative, they should be held accountable.

3. State-Federal Balance of Payments
New York has historically been a state that experiences a negative balance of payments with the federal government – meaning New Yorkers pay more in federal taxes than they receive in federal spending on their behalf. According to a report from the State Comptroller’s Office, in Federal Fiscal Year 2024, New York contributed $353.5 billion to the federal treasury and received $341.1 billion in federal spending. For every dollar New York generated in federal tax receipts, it received $0.97 in federal spending – well below the national level of $1.21. New York was one of only ten states with a negative balance of payments in FFY 2024.

4. Employment Service Staffing
The Trump administration has finalized a rule eliminating the requirement that states uses state merit staff to provide federally funded Employment Service programs, allowing states to use alternative staffing models for work currently performed by public employees.
The Employment Service provides job-search and reemployment assistance, connects job seekers with employers and helps businesses fill open positions. Under the new rule, these services will no longer have to be provided by state merit staff. States will instead have the flexibility to use other staffing models, including contracting with private entities.
The NYS Department of Labor is aware of this potential change. CSEA has been in contact with the state.
The rule is scheduled to take effect Oct. 19 unless blocked by a court.

5. CSEA Endorsement Highlight: Chris Ryan

CSEA has endorsed Chris Ryan for reelection in State Senate District 50, which includes parts of Onondaga and Oswego counties. Before serving as State Senator, Chris was a local union president with CWA and a longtime Onondaga County Legislator. Chris had a long history of fighting for CSEA members as a county legislator and has continued to do so in the State Senate. He is a strong supporter of reforming Tier’s 5 and 6 and has led the effort to secure a 25-year retirement for emergency dispatchers.

See all of CSEA’s endorsements on our website.

6. Support CSEA’s Endorsed Candidates
We will have many opportunities over the next several weeks for you to support CSEA’s endorsed candidates! There are several labor walks taking place this weekend:

We will have many opportunities over the next several weeks for you to support CSEA’s endorsed candidates! There are several labor walks taking place this weekend:

Region 1

Labor Walk for Seila Bynoe, Judy Griffin, and Cynthia Nuñez

Date/Time: Sat, Oct 3rd at 10am

Location: 42 Morris Ave

Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Region 2

Labor Walk for Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Chris McCreight
Date/Time: Sat, Oct 3rd at 10am
Location: 1600 Surf Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11224

Region 3

Labor Walk for Cait Conley
Date/Time: Sat, Oct 3rd at 10am
Location: 2659 NY-52
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533

Labor Walk for Cait Conley, Joe Rand and Pat Carroll
Date/Time: Sat, Oct 3rd at 10am
Location: 81 NY-59
Nanuet, NY 10954

Labor Walk for Josh Riley, Michelle Hinchey and Didi Barrett
Date/Time: Sat, Oct 3rd at 10am
Location: 227 Warren St
Hudson, NY 12534

Region 4

Labor Walk for Blake Gendebien and Carrie Woerner 
Date/Time: Sat, Oct 3rd at 11am

Location: 70 East St
Fort Edward, NY 12828

Labor Walk for Blake Gendebien
Date/Time: Sat, Oct 3rd at 3:45pm

Location: 411 State Rte 3
Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Region 5

Labor Walk for John Mannion, Rachel May, and Ian Phillips

Date/Time: Sat, Oct 3rd at 10am

Location: 74 Genesee St

Auburn, NY 13021

Labor Walk for John Mannion, Chris Ryan, and Ian Phillips

Date/Time: Sat, Oct 3rd at 10am

Location: 812 State Fair Blvd

Syracuse, NY 13209

Region 6

Labor Walk for Joseph Morelle, Jeremy Cooney, and Demond Meeks

Date/Time: Sat, Oct 3rd at 10am

Location: 30 N Union St

Rochester, NY 14607

7. Voting Deadlines 
Make sure you’re registered to vote! You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person at your county board or elections. Applications are due by October 24.
You can also apply for an absentee or early mail ballot online, by mail, or in person through October 24. Completed mail and absentee ballots must be postmarked or received by your county board of elections by November 3. 
Early voting runs from October 24 through November 1. Election Day is November 3.

8. CSEA Legislative Toolkit

We’re encouraging members to get the word out about our legislative successes. Click the icons below for informational documents that you can print, share, and post on social media to spread the news. A summary of the FY 2027 New York State Budget is available here.