Port Authority Retirees Association, Inc. 

What is PARA?

PARA is the Port Authority Retirees Association.  Membership in PARA is open to all retirees and active employees of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and of its predecessor, The Port of New York Authority, including PATH.

Mission

Our mission is to serve PA retirees and to promote their welfare.  We do this by keeping them informed on matters that affect them and by engaging in other activities to further their interests.  We foster and encourage legislation that maintains or improves our circumstances primarily as it affects the pensions of the New York State Retirement System and our health benefits.

We have been advised that in accordance with the recent union settlements, the retro payments for affected retiree members (and current staff) of these unions will be sent out beginning in mid November 2018. Affected TWU retirees will receive the full retro payment this year. Others will receive a partial retro payment in 2018 and the balance in the 2nd quarter 2019 as per the new union agreements.

The checks will be sent to the address on record at the PA. Therefore, it is important to advise the PA if you have a new address in order to assure that the payment reaches you. If you have a new address or any questions about these payments please call the PA Service Delivery number 212-435-2870.
 

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RETROACTIVE PAYMENTS:

In coordination with the Port Authority, PARA has been provided the following information.  (December 2018)

Due to the unique nature of this situation, the length of time, and the requirements for each Tier, the Port Authority has been in regular contact with New York State & Local Employees Retirement System (NYSLERS).

The Port Authority will provide NYSLERS with an updated earnings report for each employee, by month, for the respective individual's retro periods. As a result of this coordination between NYSLRS and the Port Authority, the active employee and/or retiree will not be required to submit any reconciliation documents (pay stubs) to NYSLERS in order to update their Final Average Salaries (FAS).

All retro payments have been calculated in their entirety for the total years, months, etc. affected, respective to each individual employee. However, please note that since the retro payments for most groups are being paid with 50% of the total retro in 2018, and the remaining 50% in 2019 (note: TWU retro payments have been paid in full in 2018), NYSLERS will not be able compute the FAS until after the second retro payment is distributed.

NYSLERS will adjust the FAS for all active and retiree individuals after the 2019 payments and the final PA report is submitted to NYSLRS.

Adjustments for Vacation Exchange (Sell Back) and Uniform Allowance(s) will be addressed in 2019.

As for taxes and withholdings, Port Authority Payroll must utilize the statutory "Supplement Tax Rate" because this is considered a special payment. So, the tax rate for active employees and retirees on the retros is set by the IRS.

For retirees, taxes will be respective of the state where each retiree currently resides.

NOTE:

Retroactive checks will be mailed to the retirees at the address on file. Therefore, it is important to advise the PA of any changes, including those regarding deceased members. Contact the Port Authority Service Delivery Team at212-435-2870 to provide updates.
 

Important news on the agency’s continued efforts to address expired labor contracts.

The members of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association today voted to ratify a new labor agreement. We could not be more pleased to hear this terrific news, and to be heading into a new year with increased financial certainty for the agency’s Police Officers.

Additionally, tentative agreements have been reached with the three police superior unions – the Sergeants Benevolent Association, the Lieutenants Benevolent Association, and the Detectives Endowment Association – whose previous contracts expired in 2010. These tentative agreements will go to the memberships of these unions in the near future.

Finally, we are also pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with the Union of Automotive Technicians (UOAT), whose last agreement expired in 2011. The tentative agreement will go to UOAT members shortly for a vote on ratification.

Taken together, these agreements impact the lives of more than 2,000 dedicated employees who work hard to keep our agency’s vehicles running and the traveling public safe.

Once the pending ratification votes take place, we will be in position to have new agreements in force covering every single represented Port Authority employee. Labor negotiations aren’t easy, and this has been a monumental result achieved through tough negotiations. Everyone involved should be proud.

As we’ve said before, the work isn’t done until 100% of the agency’s represented workforce has new contracts. We look forward to working tirelessly in 2019 to reach new agreements for the unions representing PATH workers.

Kevin J. O’Toole
Chairman
Rick Cotton
Executive Director

• PA Partners with Memorial Sloan Kettering to Improve Access to Cancer Care

• Items of Interest to PA Employees & Retirees - 2019

• Dues Remittance Form - to join, fill out this form and mail to PARA

Contact Us Page

• Dave Gallagher - President

• Rae Ann Hoffmann - Vice President

• Robert Isaacs - Treasurer

• Para Webmaster

Not a Member? -- Join Today!

If you’re a PA retiree or even an active employee and are not yet a member of PARA, now would be a very good time to join.  Everyone is welcomed to join the dues are only $10.00 a year.  Why not join now to support PARA's mission and help chart its future directions?  PARA’s more than 4,000 members are strengthened by our affiliation with the Alliance of Public Retiree Organizations (APRO) representing more than 350,000 members statewide in New York.   Just click here for the PARA dues page and send the remittance form to the address indicated below and remember also that donations are gratefully accepted and appreciated.  If you have a question about dues Click Here to Submit request to Treasurer for Dues Status.

Want to sign up for ebulletins -- Click here!

For Dues, Volunteer & Change of Address use this address:

Port Authority Retirees Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 7493
Monroe Township, NJ 08831

For all other PARA Correspondence use this address:

Port Authority Retirees Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 2002
East Millstone, New Jersey 08875

PARA Board Member Profiles

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