This is part of Michael Mulgrew's latest email today sent to active UFTers:
The city has dropped a bombshell that puts our premium-free health care in jeopardy. The city’s Office of Labor Relations sent a letter to the head of the Municipal Labor Committee giving the unions notice of its intent to enroll all Medicare‑eligible city retirees in a NYC Medicare Advantage plan and eliminate all other retiree health plans, including GHI SeniorCare. If the unions don’t go along with it, the city has threatened annual health care premiums of roughly $1,500 for all in‑service municipal employees.
Both alternatives are unacceptable. We will not allow the city to divide us by forcing us into a choice between premium‑free health care and health plan options for retirees.
Our fight to amend the city’s administrative code has been to avoid this exact scenario. We need the City Council to amend this code to preserve health plan choices for retirees and save premium-free health care for all of our members. The code amendment will affirm the Municipal Labor Committee’s right to negotiate health care for all municipal union members and the city’s obligation to offer health plan choices for retirees.
An immediate reaction from NYC Educator who said this in his piece:
So let's see if I've got this straight. If we don't agree that retirees must pay $5,000 a year per couple to retain the care they've had forever, in-service members will have to pay $1500 a year. It's kind of hard to see the union in that. In fact, it appears we're pitting one section of the union against another.
The City has no right to impose any change on any of us in the municipal unions. We printed the 1992 umbrella union Municipal Labor Committee-NYCAgreement earlier today and we will print it again tonight. The key line:
It is understood and agreed that the parties will continue to bargain over and determine by mutual agreement the terms and conditions of employee health benefits.
Our friend Marianne Pizzitola from the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees put out this powerful video in response to Mulgrew's healthcare givebacks email sent out on Saturday afternoon accusing Mulgrew of "destroying the labor movement."
Another video from Marianne:
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting thing about all this—is that back in March- until a judge put a halt on healthcare changes—over 25% and counting of all city retirees- had already opted out and were willing to pay up to $4800 per couple—according to NYC newspapers that included ongoing reports from the the Daily News. Even Adams had his doubts about these changes until he was elected Mayor. It just shows the lack of respect that Mulgrew has for retirees and the lack of respect that retirees have for the back room deals made by the MLC—and with Mulgrew saying —he had ‘no choice’ but to agrees with the other large unions. He kept saying healthcare costs have gone through the roof—but we are smart consumers and we will have something better and Medicare Advantage Plus is that healthcare program that you nothing to worry about. But it still just doesn’t make any sense that you can something better in healthcare or any product at a cheaper cost.
ReplyDeleteMulgrew keeps yammering about "the MLC is doing this and that". However, what he is failing to mention is THAT HE IS THE MLC!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand this threat. Under the current administrative code, wouldn't charging 1500 dollars be illegal? Wouldn't charging 1500 dollars only be possible by changing the administrative code?
ReplyDeleteBy making this threat to members, is the assumption that all are too stupid to understand it?
Unless, I'm wrong?
We are protected under the current code and 1992 Agreement.
ReplyDeleteHowever. The City is trying to use the 2018 Agreement that says disputes on savings (givebacks) go to Scheinman.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a bogus arbitration because the City-MLC essentially agree but their rank and files do not.
ReplyDeleteUnion leaders are elected to represent members, not the City.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how the city threatening to go to the arbitrator can circumvent the process that is currently happening in court. The appeal by the city was heard just 3 days ago and a decision by the judges has not yet been rendered. Who even knows when it will come (weeks, months). How dare the MLC/UFT try the divide and conquer strategy pitting actives against retirees! How dare they threaten and try to scare us! In the end, we will all get screwed and the union leadership thinks we are too stupid to realize it. There must be a reason why the City Council has not yet acted if changing Admin Code 12-126 is such a great idea. Perhaps it is because the law that has been in affect for decades to protect health benefits for actives and retirees is doing what it was designed to do.
ReplyDeletePro union blog?
ReplyDeleteNo way any of you could continue to stand by this "union."
This letter was coordinated between the city and UFT , as a scare tactic.
ReplyDeleteMike Mildew is a stain on the union.
ReplyDeleteIf this goes through I will offset the cost by opting out of union dues.
Also, don't forget to vote for our "friends" such as Gov. Hochul. She definitely has plans for state & local gov't employees and retirees!
ReplyDeletehttps://nypost.com/2022/10/30/hochul-administration-cut-access-to-life-saving-medical-care-for-1-2m-ny-workers-retirees-lawsuit/
ReplyDeleteFrom the Moose:
Is this holding us back from receiving a New Contract? Day 48 of "negotiations" where we receive Back Pay. That Back Pay is going to be a wash for when we have to pay for our Healthcare. I'll keep repeating it because it's true. I am in my 12th year, and this will be the MOST INFLUENTIAL contract I receive in the DOE. Inflation, cost of living, etc....The Democrats don't care about your pockets. The Republicans don't care about your human rights. It's very simple. Adams, Hochul, Mulgrew all come from the same school of thinking.
The Moose is talking in the third person now because he's so agitated by these dopes!
Very simple comeback to MUlgrew from all the members......
ReplyDeleteIf we pay 1,500 now because of how incompetent you have been then 1,600 we are paying as dues members will go right to that. Now it's not coming out of my pocket and the union will have to work harder for us not back room dealing with the typical dems in power.
Is it possible that I am leaning towards anon2323's view on this?! Oh boy, I must have a fever.
ReplyDeleteMulgrew and MLC and city don't want to impose $1500 on working members. But wants retirees in MedAdv. So the former is just a threat to hold a gun to our heads.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t been here for a while, but I am concerned about where the union seems to be going, in working against all of us. I don’t understand why Mulgrew would work against his constituencies unless there was something major in it for him. As for politics, I watched Hochul and Zeldin in their debate- Zeldin won the debate handily, but what really struck me was the question that was the answer both of them gave to, ‘will you lift the cap on charter schools?’ Both answered in the affirmative. There seems to be a concerted effort going on by all major parties (UFT - from both retiree chapter and in service chapters, NYC - including Mayor Adams and his former charter founder CEO and public school education chancellor -Dr.Banks , politicians in both parties, Democrats and Republicans - incumbents and runners) involved to screw teachers working in public schools. Perhaps the writing is on the wall that charter schools will start replacing public schools and Mulgrew is hedging his bets with insider information , and/or he’s also getting a big fat check from Medicare Advantage for all his help. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteSo City workers "may" have to pay for their Healthcare if Medicare advantage isn't passed?! Alls I know is that I contributed into traditional medicare since the age of 14. 42 years later the city wants to muck with it?! Nope. No way. Use any scare tactic you want: may!possibly!looks like! Whatever. Retirees have paid our dues. Mulgrew and the city need to figure it out. Why should retirees sacrifice? Figure the sh^t out. If I have to pay for traditional medicare, that money will come from somewhere. That somewhere will be from the union. Periodt.
ReplyDeleteLet me get this straight-
ReplyDeleteLydia and my CL are now sending emails telling us we should spend all day, just not during teaching time, calling all of these phone numbers to beg them not to rob us blind when it comes to medical coverage.
How pathetic. We are truly the lowest of the low.
It sure would be nice if we had a union collecting $66 per check to actually work with and for us. Some of you will never learn.
Is there any protocol or any by-law in the UFT election laws—that allows for a recall vote for Mulgrew’s removal. He appears to be a double agent—claiming to be working in the interest of all members—yet he is doing the bidding of the the city and a major player in the MLC. The same goes for Murphy for allowing Mulgrew and his healthcare experts to constantly shove this Medicare Advantage down the throats of retirees on a monthly basis since March of 2021-and not being totally honest.
ReplyDeleteAnd they have the audacity to send text messages encouraging members to tell our council person(s) to pass this hocus pocus mess. If they (Mulgrew Murphy) believe their behavior will have no consequences--they will soon learn that it does.
ReplyDeleteFyi: people move/act when they choose to move/act. When you make assumptions about what people may or may not know, you only look foolish