PA NEWS - Port Authority Retirees Association, Inc.

PA NEWS
Published weekly for Port Authority and PATH employees March 13, 2008/Volume 7/Number 11
The PA & You
WTC Notice
Deadline Extended
The New York State & Local Retirement
System has asked the Port Authority to
inform employees that they now have
until June 14, 2009, to file a World Trade
Center Notice. Previously, the deadline was
June 14, 2007.
The World Trade Center Presumption
Law provides disability benefits to NYSLRS
members who become permanently
disabled as a result of participation in the
WTC rescue, recovery, or cleanup efforts.
Specifically:
• Active employees are reminded to file
a World Trade Center Notice (RS6047-N)
with NYSLRS by June 14, 2009, even
if not currently disabled, in order to be
eligible for future benefits.
•
Retirees may be able to request a
reclassification of a service or disability
retirement benefit to an accidental
disability benefit by filing an Application
for World Trade Center Accidental
Disability Presumption (RS6418-W).
If the application is not filed by June 14,
2009, the retiree must file the World
Trade Center Notice (RS6047-N) by
June 14, 2009, to be eligible, should the
retiree become disabled in the future.
• Beneficiaries of an eligible active
employee or retiree who dies from
a qualifying condition can request that
the retirement benefit be converted
to an accidental death benefit by filing
an application for World Trade Center
Accidental Death Benefit (RS6418-W).
Please note that a World Trade Center
Notice (RS6047-N) must have been
filed by June 14, 2009, for the beneficiaries
to qualify for this benefit.
For additional information, eligibility
requirements, and updated forms,
visit www.state.osc.ny.us/retire or contact
the NYSLRS Disability Processing Unit
at 518 474-4587.
PATH, Unions Sign Labor Pacts
The Port Authority Trans-
Hudson Corporation and
four of its unions have
signed new labor agreements.
The four are the Transport
Workers Union, the United
Transportation Union – Tower
Group, the American Train
Dispatchers Association, and
the International Brotherhood
of Teamsters.
Labor Relations Chief
Negotiator Cynthia Bacon said,
“These bargaining processes
were successful for both sides.
The union committees worked
hard to achieve wage, pension,
and other improvements for
their respective members, and
PATH achieved its goal of
improved productivity and cost
containment through work-rule and
benefit modifications.”
The new contracts become amendable
in 2011 and 2012. The union
Staircase Moved at WTC
A worker adjusts the Stars and
Stripes minutes before a staircase
that is the last remaining
aboveground World Trade
Center remnant from 9/11 is
moved to a new location at
the WTC site on March 9.
It will become part of the
memorial. Many evacuated
the WTC via the staircase, on
Vesey Street, on 9/11. WTC
Construction Maintenance
Unit Supervisor Bob Schutz
(in brown jacket) monitors
the move.
At the Transport Workers Union agreement signing
are (front row, from left) TWU Vice Chairman Joe
Orrick, TWU General Chairman Peter Sandomenico,
Cynthia Bacon, (back row) TWU Secretary Mike
Brady, TWU President John Feltz, PA Attorney Stephen
Powell, PATH Superintendent Brian Steets, Chief
Maintenance Supervisor John Burkhard, and Labor
Specialist Sandro Ortiz.
members ratified the agreements late
last year, and the Board authorized
them last month.
Alexandra Montone
Mike Dombrowski

Achievements
‘People to Watch’
The Port Authority’s Creative Services Unit
was named “People to Watch” in the January
issue of Graphic Design USA magazine.
The unit was selected for having won two
awards in the American InHouse Design
Awards contest for the agency’s Aviation
Highlights 2003 and the 9/11 Memorial
Program.
OSD General Services Manager Sheila
Koehler said, “Graphic Design USA correctly
noted that our Creative Services Unit is ‘awardwinning,
unique, and diverse.’ To that I would
OSD’s Creative Services Unit: (front row,
from left) Jessica Dobrin, Frank Tricarico,
add eminently capable of designing and producing
any of the marketing materials the
Roanne Bacchus, (back row) Richard
Palacio, David Arroyo, Grace Howarth, Flory
agency needs for its many campaigns.”
Danish, Hany Hannaalla, and Candace
Bexell.
TB&T Perfect Attendance
Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals Director
Victoria Kelly honored her department’s
Madison Avenue-based employees March 3
for their perfect attendance in 2007. Thirtytwo
of the 74 employees at OMA achieved
the feat.
Ms. Kelly also recognized facility and
headquarters staff members who lead the
department in the number of consecutive
years of perfect attendance: Thomas
McMonagle with 22 years; John
Jastremski, Howard Johnson, and
Gerard Lindenmeier with 21; Lindia
Creighton with 20; and Lee Home and
Gerard Quelch with 14.
“I'm very proud of each of the more than 300 people throughout TB&T who had perfect
attendance last year – those with over 20 years of perfect attendance, but also the 100 people
who celebrated their first year,” she said. “They’ve all gone the 'extra mile,’ and I'm very
appreciative of their commitment to the department and to the agency.”
Certified Professional
Victoria Kelly (3rd from left) thanks (from
left) Gerard Quelch, Gerard Lindenmeier,
Thomas McMonagle, John Jastremski, and
Lee Home. Not pictured: Howard Johnson
and Lindia Creighton.
Office of Emergency Management GIS Specialist Erika Poulsen, who
holds a PhD in geography, was certified as a Geographic Information
Systems Specialist by the GIS Certification Institute.
Candidates for certification are reviewed on educational achievements,
professional experience, and contributions to the profession.
Jean Marie Mitchell
Mike Dombrowski Mike Dombrowski
Calendar
Save the Date
Human Resources will
partner with each department
to coordinate an
agencywide celebration of
Take Our Daughters and
Sons to Work Day on
Thursday, April 24.
The event will be an excellent opportunity
to present the many facets of Port
Authority workplaces to the children of
PA employees.
This year's theme, “Making Choices for
a Better World,” fits well with the agency's
mission and goals.
A future PA Broadcast will detail the
April 24 schedule of events.
Shomrim Food Drive
The Port Authority Shomrim Society
has partnered with the Jewish Services
Coalition of Far Rockaway to help stock the
coalition’s food pantry for Passover.
The JSC is a nondenominational social
services agency that assists needy residents
of Far Rockaway and surrounding
communities year-round.
Contributions should be nonbreakable,
nonperishable, Kosher for Passover food
items (no matzohs). Send them to Ronna
Boujo at JFK Bldg. 14, 2nd floor, by Friday,
April 4.
Recent Retirees Meet
Rose Hemmerich invites fellow retirees
since 2000 to join her at lunch at Paul &
Jimmy's Restaurant, 23 East 18th Street in
Manhattan, on Tuesday, April 8, at noon.
The cost is about $35, which includes
appetizer, entree, dessert, coffee, tea,
espresso or cappuccino, and tip.
For more information, contact Ms.
Hemmerich at laroe@optonline.net
Remembering February 26
On the 15th anniversary of the 1993 terrorist bombing
of the World Trade Center, WTC Construction
Deputy Director Alan Reiss presents a memorial quilt
to Evelyn Kirkpatrick (seated), spouse of WTD
Maintenance Group Supervisor Robert Kirkpatrick,
who was killed in the attack. Mr. Reiss and former
WTD Director Charles Maikish presented quilts to
family members of each of the victims. They were
made by Freedom Quilts, a nonprofit group in Iowa
that has also made quilts for 9/11 families.
Madeleine Blot of the National September 11th
Memorial and Museum is at right.
2 PA News / March 13, 2008
Paul Bolognese
Growing the Region
You can receive Growing the
Region, an e-mail newsletter
about PA projects and initiatives
published after each Board meeting.
To subscribe, follow the links at
the bottom of www.panynj.gov. You
can have it delivered to your PA inbox,
your personal e-mail account, or both.
Also, pass the word about GTR to your
contacts outside the agency and
encourage them to subscribe.