NYSUT leaders hailed a recent unanimous appellate court ruling that affirms retired teachers have privacy rights that prevent their annual pensions from being published on websites and in newspapers.
"We are pleased that New York's appellate court has recognized that, after decades of dedicated service to their students and school districts, the privacy rights of retired teachers in the New York State Teachers' Retirement System should be protected," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi.
The Empire Center for New York State Policy, which frequently attacks teachers and other public employees, sued TRS after the system refused a Freedom of Information Law request for the names, addresses and pension payments to the system's beneficiaries.
NYSUT Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta said the court ruling affirms public service retirees have rights to privacy. He said NYSUT would strongly support efforts to defeat any further challenges to members' privacy.