Pension Inequity?

To the Editor:
Will the Constitution of New York State help the Union?
The new TWU Local 100 Contract with the MTA has a provision for previous (prior to 2001) pension payment refunds. I think that the Union can demand such refunds under the Constitution of the State of New York.
Indeed, the Constitution states that “…After July first, nineteen hundred forty, membership in any pension or retirement system of the state or a civil division thereof shall be a contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished…” (Article V, 7).
Let’s analyze the word “diminish.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes the word “diminish” as “…to make less or cause to appear less…”
It is obvious that pension benefits of union members who paid more to the Pension Fund, at least were made “to appear less” and lost some of their value, when employees with lower seniority were allowed to pay less.
The current situation, therefore, violates the Constitution of New York State, and it should be corrected immediately. And the only way to do it is to pay refunds.
Victor Maltsev
Rego Park