Legislation granting new accidental death benefits to public workers who died after contracting COVID-19 was signed into law by Gov. Cuomo today. The pension legislation enables a beneficiary to receive half-salary payments for life. That could be much more advantageous than the other applicable option in New York State pension law: upRead more about Govenor Cuomo Signs Covid-19 Death Benefit Bill
*** Up-date *** At the May 20th MTA Board Meeting the filing waiver was extended to June 7, 2020. This is to announce that MTA Senior Management has agreed to implement the principles of the Governor’s Executive Order 202.18, issued April 16, 2020, allowing for immediate service retirements in the New York State andRead more about Temporary Suspension of the 30-Day Filing Requirement
What is Convalescent Plasma? Convalescent plasma is the liquid part of blood that is collected from patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 patients develop antibodies in the blood against the virus. Antibodies are proteins that might help fight the infection.Read more about Donate COVID-19 Plasma
We are pleased to inform you that the MTA is expanding their antibody testing program to include Northwell Health-GoHealth and BioReference Laboratories. Beginning Monday, May 18th, you will be able to get a free test at 52 Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care facilities in the New York metropolitan region. You can schedule yourRead more about Transit Workers Eligible for State’s Covid-19 Antibody Testing
*** Legislative Update *** In the NYS Assembly and Senate our good friends Peter Abbate, Jessica Ramos and Andrew Gounandes, are sponsoring legislation that would make any COVID-19 related illness suffered by our members presumed be to an on the job injury. The attached document outlines the things you must know and do ifRead more about A message from Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Regarding COVID-19 Exposure
Lyft announced that Citi and Mastercard have partnered to commit $1 million to significantly grow the Citi Bike Critical Workforce Membership Program, making memberships longer and available to more workers. More than 5,500 first-responder, healthcare, and transit workers have joined the program since it began offering a free month ofRead more about Citi Bike Critical Workforce Membership Program Extension
*** Important Up Date *** Effective April 26, 2020 the temporary suspension of doctor certification requirement for absences of 5 days or less HAS ENDED. ALL MEMBERS SHALL REVERT TO THIER PREVIOUS CONTRACTUAL DOCTOR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
April 20th: Gov. Cuomo called on the federal government today to boost wages for healthcare workers, cops, firefighters, transit workers and others on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus outbreak. In his daily briefing from Albany, Cuomo said Congress should ensure that the next COVID-19 emergency funding package bankrolls aRead more about Cuomo Proposes Hazard Pay for Coronavirus Frontline Workers
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that it has joined forces with Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care to provide prioritized COVID-19 testing to symptomatic frontline MTA workers at its urgent care facilities throughout the New York metropolitan region. Under the new partnership, Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care will provide priority testingRead more about MTA Teams Up With State’s Largest Healthcare Provider in Latest Move to Protect Front Line MTA Workers
APRIL 14 — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, TSO Local 106 and the Transport Workers Union of America, have reached an agreement establishing a COVID-19 death benefit for members who died after being infected. Under the agreement, the MTA will pay $500,000 in a lump sum to the spouse, beneficiary or estate ofRead more about Union Reaches Agreement with MTA on 0K Death Benefit to Families of Transit Workers Killed in Pandemic