Harper Freeman at The Chief reports the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is going full tilt on pushing for reforms to New York State’s Tier 6 Retirement Plan this Legislative Session, seeking the first updates to the pension plan since 2024. In an interview with UFT President Michael Mulgrew, he reiterated his goal to lower the retirement age for Municipal Employees on the Tier 6 plan from 63 to 55: “Affordability has become a massive issue, but we have the data showing that all of these Public Sector Agencies have openings because we can't fill these jobs. When you tell people they have to work to (63), they aren't coming. It's just going to get worse if we don't make changes.” Mulgrew expects the changes the Union is pushing for would cost $500 million statewide, which he said is negligible when looking at the overall size of the State’s budget. To pressure Lawmakers on the change, the Union has launched a Fix Tier 6 Campaign in schools across the City so Teachers get involved in pushing the reforms. It will culminate in a March 8th rally in Albany, just as budget season in the cold capital begins to heat up. "Tier Six is driving away new Teachers," said Maggie Joyce, a Teacher and UFT Union Leader in the Bronx. "Teachers coming out of college are looking at the fact that they have to work until age (63) and that's scaring them away from our system. We have to fix Tier Six." 

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Tier 6 reform a 'priority' for unions in 2026 - The Chief