Lawmakers Urged To Change Pension Plans of 780,000 New York Public Workers

Governor Hochul voices support for reforms to improve recruitment and retention in schools, hospitals, and government agencies.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Thousands of New York public workers rallied in Albany on Sunday to demand changes to Tier 6 of the New York State and Local Retirement System, which affects roughly 780,000 public employees. Governor Kathy Hochul voiced support for reforms aimed at improving recruitment and retention across schools, hospitals, and government agencies.

Why it matters

The current Tier 6 pension rules are hindering hiring for essential public-sector roles and contributing to burnout, as existing staff are forced to work overtime to fill vacancies. Supporters argue that additional fixes are needed to address staffing shortages, while critics warn that changes could increase long-term pension costs for state and local governments.

The details

Tier 6 of the New York State and Local Retirement System applies to public workers hired on or after April 1, 2012. The system requires members to contribute 3-6% of their salary to their pensions, raises the full-benefit retirement age to 63, and results in generally lower benefits than earlier tiers. Supporters say the rules are making it harder to recruit and retain teachers, nurses, firefighters, and other public workers.

  • The rally took place on Sunday, March 9, 2026 at Albany's MVP Arena.
  • Tier 6 applies to public workers hired on or after April 1, 2012.

The players

Kathy Hochul

The Governor of New York who voiced support for reforms to the pension system.

Sam Fresina

The president of the New York State Professional Firefighters' Association.

Randi Weingarten

The president of the American Federation of Teachers.

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What they’re saying

“At least 65 percent of our members right now are tier six, they are separate from our tier two, tier four, tier five members. All firefighters fight the same fires and put their lives on the line.”

— Sam Fresina, President, New York State Professional Firefighters' Association (CBS)

“Any social studies teacher teaches there should be fundamental fairness, that there should be a social contract both in the state and this nation, that if you worked hard and played by the rules, you and your family would be okay.”

— Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers (CBS)

“I'm fighting for a fairer pension plan because it's essential that we continue recruiting people.”

— Kathy Hochul (Spectrum News)

What’s next

Supporters at the rally argue that additional fixes are needed to address staffing shortages, as current pension rules make it harder to recruit and retain teachers, nurses, firefighters, and other public workers. Critics warn that additional changes could increase long-term pension costs for state and local governments and school districts.

The takeaway

This rally highlights the ongoing tensions between public sector workers, their unions, and state governments over pension benefits and the impact on recruitment and retention of essential public services. The outcome of these negotiations will have significant implications for the future of New York's public workforce and the quality of services provided to residents.