SOCIAL SECURITY

WHEREAS, the federal social security system provides, on the overall, the best package of protection for the money available to any working person in the United States; and

WHEREAS, public employers are exempt from mandatory participation in social security; and

WHEREAS, New York City has announced its intention to withdraw from the social security system; and

WHEREAS, this is only the start of a trend on the part of local governments to withdraw from the social security system; and

WHEREAS, once withdrawn a locality cannot reenter the system:

RESOLVED, that the AFT Convention condemns the action of Mayor Beame in announcing his intention to take New York City out of the social security system; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT support passage of legislation that provides for consultation and agreement by the organization representing the employees of that jurisdiction before any withdrawal from Social Security may be effected.