UNIT 9200..................

Nelson Hale Cruikshank:  Due in large part to Cruikshank's lobbying efforts, Congress passed Social Security Disability Insurance in 1956, an amendment to the Social Security Act that provided Social Security benefits to people with disabilities for the first time. He was also a chief architect of Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly, and he championed its eventual passage in 1965.  (click the name for more)

CSEA 9200 Benefits Page

  2011 Payroll Information (as prepared by County Finance Dept)

  CSEA Layoff Checklist: Prepared for our members to be better organized if this should happen.

  Tuition Reimbursement Application for 2011 College Year Expenses    Deadline is Tuesday Jan 10, 2012. 

  Nov 2010 Document prepared by the County:  Common Questions Concerning Benefits for Retirees 

 Buyer's Edge: Save money when buying almost everything.   See details on this pdf file   
WE WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THE DISCOUNT BUYING SERVICE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
Buyer's Edge Inc.  wants to help you Shop Smarter by offering "Lowest Prices Guaranteed" on Major Purchases such as Appliances, TV’s, Cars, Furniture, Kitchen Cabinets and 14 other categories.   It is FREE and convenient! Just click below to learn more.     Important info: CSEA  Group # 1811

www.BuyersEdgeInc.com  Username: 1811(your group #) Password:  member1

   
  Westchester County Dental Providers of thorough preventative and family dentistry programs at offices in White Plains and Yonkers.  
   

2011 POMCO Reimbursement Schedule for Dental Services 

    Raymond Opticians Special Program for CSEA 9200 Union Members   
- Call POMCO to get your Vision Voucher prior to making appointments with any Vision Care provider:  800-234-4393 Now new White Plains location plus 21 others.  Their site
   

  New County Optical Special Program for CSEA 9200 Union Members. 
- Call POMCO to get your Vision Voucher prior to making appointments with any Vision Care provider:  800-234-4393 Now in White Plains, Spring Valley, & Poughkeepsie locations.               

UnionPlus HERTZ Connect Program for Union Members.  No Application Fee, No first year Membership Fee

Connect by Hertz offers the ability to have a car without owning a car. Car sharing allows users, age 18 & up, to rent by the hour or by the day. Save money, eliminate the hassle of parking, and reduce your carbon footprint.
Vehicles are staged throughout New York City and Hoboken, NJ (detailed list available at www.ConnectbyHertz.com under find a vehicle) in convenient, accessible locations. Connect members can keylessly access over 300 vehicles in New York City and Hoboken, NJ as well as hundreds more both domestically and internationally.
All of the vehicles are equipped with GPS navigation, iPod/MP3 adaptor, Bluetooth technology, and in-car communication. Connect by Hertz rentals also come with free gas, insurance, parking, 180 miles per 24-hour period and the support of our 24-hour roadside assistance and in-house member care center.
To become a member and start renting, follow the 5 steps below:
1. Join
Online at www.connectbyhertz.com
Select your respective location and then, Click to JOIN Select the “Connect” Level 1 membership Follow the instructions and use Promotion Code 205666 when instructed You will enter various information including credit card and drivers license. You will receive a Welcome Kit including an Access Keycard, a PIN and a member number within 7-10 business days.
2. Reserve
Online at www.connectbyhertz.com, by calling 877-654-4400, or via your mobile device.
Members choose from a list of vehicles and block out the period of time they will need a vehicle.
3. Access
Hold the Access Card over the card reader to unlock the vehicle.
4. Drive
Only pay for what you use – whether it is an hour or a couple of days.
5. Return
Return the car to the same parking location.

   Union Plus Mortgage Program:  Closing costs are kept down by capping non-third party fees at $100.  Buy your first home using Union Plus and earn a $500 gift card for a union grocery store near you.  
- Chase Bank administers this program for union members.  Contact a Mortgage Specialist using the link above. Click here to learn about the 1% Cash Back Mortgage Offer also available. 
- Contact Chase Loan Officer Charles Coglitore at 914-271-7684 or Charlie.X.Coglitore@chase.com 
- You may have met Charles at the Nov. 2010 Local 860 member conference. 

Contact Pearl Carroll at 1 (877) 847-CSEA  for questions regarding union insurance 
plans after leaving County service.  The number is 1(877) 847-2732.   Pearl Carroll website.

   Deferred Compensation Plan: In brief, by enrolling in the Hartford Deferred Compensation Plan, a percentage of each paycheck is deferred (not considered current income) and is therefore not taxed now.  The deferred amount is invested among several Mutual Investment Funds (you decide) or a fixed interest rate plan administered by Hartford Life Insurance Co. Full control and account information is available to participants via the internet or by toll free phone call. To enroll, just complete an agreement form to set aside, from your current paycheck, the amount you wish to contribute, and decide how you want to invest your contributions.  
See their web pages  Call Hartford at 1-888-804-2621 to enroll.  County Info 

NO Doctor Co-pay cost to CSEA members for Annual Physical Medical Exams for 2009, 2010, and 2011 for CSEA members.  This requires YOU to speak up at the doctor's office.  This is per the report of Fact Finder Martin Schienman that was accepted by CSEA and the County and approved by the County Board of Legislators on Nov 24, 2008.  This is on page 8 of the report linked here. 

  POMCO web site to sign in and look for participating providers / check your EOBs:   www.benefitsoft.com

Scholarship Money:  FastWeb is a source for finding free money for attending college. FastWeb allows you to search the Internet's largest scholarship database at no cost, so finding free money to pay for college or an advanced degree program has never been easier! Simply complete a short profile to be matched with more than 1.3 million scholarships worth over $3 billion and instantly receive detailed information on each scholarship for which you may qualify, including award value and application deadlines. It's free, easy and recommended by more than 19,000 High Schools, Colleges and Universities.

 Tuition Reimbursement Application for 2011 College Year Expenses - Pursuant to the current CSEA union contract, Westchester County reimburses eligible tuition expenses to members enrolled in Accredited college studies.  The deadline to submit your completed application is Tuesday, January 10, 2012.  - It is your responsibility to deliver the completed application, or have it delivered, on time in the office of the Westchester County Human Resources, in White Plains, NY by this date.  Do not use interoffice mail if you are submitting it the last minute.
- Please read the complete application form linked above to understand the requirements and congratulations on completing college courses!
- The Joint Westchester County/Union Tuition Reimbursement Committee reviews and approves tuition cost applications. The committee is composed of members of the County administration, CSEA Unit 9200 members, and members of other unions. Westchester County funds the tuition reimbursement per the percentage established each year by the Committee.  CSEA union members receive this benefit as per our Collective Bargaining Agreement between CSEA and the County of Westchester. 

Taxes by State Information for anyone who may be thinking of retiring and moving to a lower tax state ( just about any state away from NY !)

Union Workers Have Better Health Care and Pensions

CSEA Unit 9200 members working for Westchester County departments have medical care and hospitalization coverage for themselves and family/partner members.  In addition, family dental and vision benefits are provided to the Unit 9200 union member and family/partner members. These benefits have been negotiated into the current Collective Bargaining Agreement union contract.

June 4, 2010 NY Times article:  Companies Crack Down on Defining Dependents in Benefit Plans

Tuesday, June 1, 2010: Westchester County mailed out 1,300 Settlement Checks for $700 each to those CSEA Retirees that retired prior to June, 2004.   Please Notify Retired Co-Workers if You Are Able.
The checks had no letter or description on the stub. Story on AFSCME web site

Apr 23, 2010  New Health Law Brings Better Coverage For Women (includes audio link)

Mar 28, 2010 NYT Article: So why not pay people to live healthier lives? In fact, a fledgling “pay for prevention” industry is beginning to emerge, offering employers ways to reward workers with cash or reduced insurance premiums for exercising more and eating wisely.

 Sick Bank Info All Sick Bank members must donate 1 Sick Leave or 1 Personal Leave day to the Sick Bank for 2010 to remain in the Sick Bank program.  Details on the link 

 Union Scholarships Page   Various Scholarships from Union groups   

  Union Discount  
CSEA Union members get discounts on MOST AT&T cellular monthly bills including monthly service for iPhone 3G and iPhone 4   Call toll free 1-877-882-5258.  
Notify the AT&T customer service operator that the Union Plus AT&T Wireless Discount FAN number is: 3508840. 
Another number is 1-800-897-7046 for this discount.  
 
AT&T is the only unionized wireless phone provider in the US. Not only will you be saving - you'll be supporting union workers and their families. AT&T respects the collective bargaining process and is the only wireless company that is completely unionized. Some 40,000 AT&T Mobility employees are represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). 

Also on the Union Plus web: http://www.unionplus.org/cell-phone-wireless/att-wireless

 Printable Poster explaining the Discount for AT&T

    Go to the Health Clubs page to get full details on gym memberships 

Gym Reimbursement: If you are an HMO health insurance member (Oxford, HIP, or AETNA) and comply with the requirements of your HMO, you can receive a partial refund or discount on the cost of your gym membership.
Go to the Health Clubs page (at the bottom) and see the details.  You yourself have to contact the HMO and get the full details on how to receive the refund or discount. 

    UnionPlus.org website Many Benefits and Discounts for Union Members   
         Click the logo to the left for UnionPlus discounts.           FYI: About UnionPlus

 UnionPlus Scholarships Page Scholarships from Union Plus   Free Email Newsletter from UnionPlus

 UnionPlus Teleflora 20% Discount Florist Program including live Plants & Gift Baskets.
 

Union Scholarships Page   Various Scholarships from Union groups       

 BJ's Warehouse Membership:   Notice   Membership Application Form

 Please Email one of the Union Officers if a CSEA 9200 Union Member is Hospitalized,
 is Seriously ill, or whose Family suffers a death of a family member.   

  Read This Immediately Re the One Care Street Health Survey

Any Problems with POMCO, MEDCO, One Care Street?  You may inform the Health Benefits Committee.
Use this link to print the request form and you must submit copies of documentation re the issue.

POMCO Health Insurance Policy and Administration revised March 2010

Current Salary Chart per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
This chart is in effect until a new Agreement is settled. 
Adobe Acrobat pdf format Click here for the current Salary Scale 

Exam Fees: Current CSEA Westchester County employees who take Promotional  Exams shall pay only $15.00.  For each $15.00 fee, current CSEA employees may take a maximum of two promotional exams on the same test date.  This is per our current union contract, page 38.  
The customary $25.00 fee still applies for each Open Competitive exam. Be certain to pay the reduced fee.  The County HR office might not inform you when applying for an exam!

Health Coverage Notice: When obtaining medical services, please be certain that ALL medical technicians, doctors, physician's assistants, emergency rooms, nursing care, medical transport, anesthesiologists, testing laboratories, and all other aspects of the medical services you receive are participants of your current health provider plan, be it POMCO or one of the other providers.  
If that is not insisted, some non-participating provider medical expenses will not be fully covered by your plan.

  Union Representation by Department: Call the union office representative listed on this document if you have an issue at work. 

2008 Tuition Reimbursement Summary    This is not a "Perk", this is a negotiated benefit in our union contract.
Reimbursement was Mailed Out May 30, 2008

Good and Plentie Band:  The band offers a 10% discount to any CSEA Unit 9200 member who engages them for their special event. They provided the great music for our 2008 and 2009 Holiday parties. (see our Photos page)  

Westchester Community College Free Courses: Per our contract, printed page 27, CSEA members may take credit courses at Westchester Community College (WCC) free of charge. 
Student must pay all fees such as Admission, FSA, Cultural Art, Equipment, Change of Schedule, Lab, Application, and Assessment Test fees.  Books Are Not Free.  Get a Tuition Waiver Form by visiting the CSEA Union Office at 112 E. Post Rd, White Plains, with your County ID card in person.  Some large work locations have Shop Stewards who have a limited supply of Tuition Waiver Forms that must be signed in person by the CSEA member.  Waiver Forms cannot be mailed out to the CSEA member.
Spring Semester Waivers are available after November 1 each year for WCC courses.
Summer Semester Waivers are available after April 1 each year for WCC courses
Fall Semester Waivers are available after July 1 each year for WCC courses

Working Advantage Discounts:  Create your free account by registering on this site and use the CSEA Company Member ID of 744387769 to obtain discounts on movie tickets, ski resorts, theme parks, Broadway theatre, and online shopping retailers:   http://www.workingadvantage.com/

AFSCME Advantage discounts to union members

Taxes by State Information for anyone who may be thinking of retiring and moving to a lower tax state ( just about any state away from NY !)

2007 Tuition Reimbursement Summary  Reimbursement was Mailed Out June 28, 2007

Jun 27, 2007  Charging Too Much For Co-Pays for Drug Benefits is Costly to Employers

Feb 21, 2007  Some Employers Are Offering Free Drugs

Sick Leave NY Times Article of Dec 26, 2006  Only half of workers in the USA have paid sick time.

Sept 2006:  Breast Cancer Screening Law in Effect

CSEA Legal Services Program: The CSEA Legal Services Program provides our union members and families with opportunities for quality legal representation in numerous non-employment related areas. All program attorneys have agreed to provide services at substantially discounted pre-published fees. Fees vary across NY state, depending on the geographic area of the attorney.  These services would cost more without the benefit of the CSEA Legal Services Program discount.  Information is available on the www.CSEAlocal1000.org website or by calling 1(800) 342-4146 and following the prompts for the Legal Services Program.   

NYS Retirement System has free consultations Mondays at the:
Clarence D. Rappleyea Bldg. (silver office building)
123 Main Street, 1st floor, White Plains, NY 
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon    1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
Consultations are by appointment only.
You do not need an appointment to drop off forms, pick up information or have something notarized.
To schedule an appointment, contact our Call Center toll free at:
 1-866-805-0990 
The Main office: New York State and Local Retirement System
110 State Street   Albany, NY 12244-0001
Retirement System News Page
Their "Contact Us" page on the web
Tips on Planning For Retirement

Aug 3, 2005 County Policy to All Departments Regarding Abuse of Sick Time Leave and Excessive Lateness.  All CSEA members should become aware of this policy statement by reading it themselves. Click the link above for the pdf file for printing.

Outdoor Work Safety Information from OSHA

A Thru Z Home Inspection, Inc for both buyers and sellers of homes. 

Healthy New York Promotes access to quality health care by providing comprehensive health insurance to those citizens who need it most. The program creates standardized health insurance benefit packages that are offered by all health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in New York State. These packages are made more affordable through N Y State sponsorship, so that more uninsured small employers and uninsured employed individuals are able to purchase health insurance coverage. The web site is www.healthyny.com

Military.com Web page Connecting you to all the benefits of service.

Totally Free Glucose Meter and Test Strips for POMCO Participants

Precautions When Working Outdoors During Very Hot Weather

University of Phoenix Online Courses are online via the internet. The University of Phoenix Online has become the largest accredited University in the nation. Established in 1976, with 255,000 enrolled students, 10,000 in NY state. Each online class is limited to 15 students. You can achieve your bachelor's or master's degree in the most efficient way possible. Course cost is eligible for Westchester County Tuition Reimbursement.
Contact: Walter Recher   (914) 584-1094  walter.recher@phoenix.edu

Updated 2/1/07: Discounts on your current Nextel Communications phone bill: Nextel will give a 15% discount on your monthly Nextel phone bill for government employees if you call Nextel at 1-800-639-6111. Speak to Customer Care and give them ID code of GLL_NY_ZZZ and say you work for Westchester County. Nextel phone plans opened after March 31, 2006 qualify for 15% discounts.     

Health Article re Favorite Foods For Losing Weight

Sept 10 News: Fewer jobs in USA have health plans 

2007 Tuition Reimbursement Summary

2006 Tuition Reimbursement Info (2005 Expenses)


2005 Tuition Reimbursement Information for 2004 Expenses: 
For school year 2004, the Tuition Reimbursement checks for all County CSEA members and other County department workers were mailed June 3, 2005.  Approved tuition expenses were reimbursed at 81.2%.  The higher reimbursement percentage that ALL County and College employees will receive is due to the current CSEA Unit 9200 contract that increased tuition reimbursement paid by the County by $50,000. By the time the review and checking of all applications is done, the reimbursement is normally paid in June. Tuition Reimbursement checks for Westchester Community College employees were processed and mailed as part of the June 16, 2005 WCC payroll cycle. WCC checks were processed in the separate WCC payroll system at the same 81.2% level.
-The application filing deadline was Jan 10, 2005. An employee has to be on payroll when the reimbursement checks are issued to get the reimbursement. Eligible courses must end by 12/31/04 and be at least 20 classroom hours in length. All applicants must achieve a grade of C (2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) for any courses.  For school year 2004 expenses (paid in 2005 using 2005 County funds) the total to be reimbursed to all CSEA applicants will be $350,000 (up by $50,000 from previous years).  Any reimbursement above $5,250 is taxable per Federal law H.R. 1836.  
-The Joint Westchester County/Union Tuition Reimbursement Committee reviews and approves tuition cost applications. The committee is composed of members of the County administration, CSEA Unit 9200 members, and members of other unions. 

  2004 Tuition Reimbursement Summary Page Reimbursements for 2003 tuition expenses were mailed June 7, 2004. 
For school year 2003, approximately $444,500 of tuition expense was approved for CSEA members.  Dividing the $300,000 available for reimbursement by the $444,500 approved sum produced a 67.5% reimbursement rate.  
For school year 2002, the total approved amount for CSEA members was approx. $462,000; divided into the $300,000 produced a reimbursement rate of approx. 65%.

Shop Union Made web site

UnionPlus.org website Many Benefits and Discounts for Union Members

Union Plus Scholarships Page  

Fordham University offers a 25% discount grant to County and Municipal employees for the College of Liberal Studies.  Click above or call (914) 332-8309

Employer’s Duty to Provide Information to the Union in a Disciplinary Proceeding

How to Manage an Unmanageable Boss

Do you have a NYS Retirement System Loan and being called to active duty in the military?  See this notice from the NYS Comptroller.

CSEA Layoff Information Booklet 2009

NYS Layoff Information Booklet April 2008

Civil Service Rules re Bumping

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