CONTRACT TEACH-IN SUNDAY AND MONDAY

We had a wonderful time on Sunday night along with I'm told 230 UFTers to pep everyone for the contract teach-ins on Monday. People from MORE, ICEUFT, New Action and even the ruling Unity Caucus were on the Zoom panel, including of course Ibeth Mejia (Chapter Leader Aviation HS) and me representing the Independent Community of Educators.

The video on YouTube from Educators of NYC:

City and State covered the Teach-ins.

Heard around town

By Sahalie Donaldson

Teachers at hundreds of New York City public schools laid the groundwork for a contract bargaining process with a series of “teach-ins” across the city today. Members of the United Federation of Teachers gathered before and after school and during their lunch breaks to chart their priorities, make signs and bring attention to educators' plight. Educators came to school wearing the union’s trademark blue. Someone brought a cake with the words “fair contract now” to an East Village elementary school. It was an expansive effort – underscoring the union’s attitude amid the first time that public school teachers will negotiate raises and benefits since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“People at this moment are paying attention to the world around them and we see a lot of workers in motion,” said Amy Arundell, UFT borough representative for Queens and an organizer for Monday’s teach-ins. “People are saying I want to be in motion too, I want to participate in my own survival as a worker and as an educator and make things better for myself and for my students.” 

UFT leaders began the bargaining process with the city in October, although neither has submitted their list of demands yet. The vast majority of the city’s 300,000 employees, including teachers, are working under an expired collective bargaining agreement.

Got tips? Email editor@cityandstateny.com

UFT CONTRACT TEACH INS: CAN WE AT LEAST ALL HAVE THE SAME SET OF FACTS TO WORK FROM?

The UFT in 2023 is confusing if nothing else. I can't understand why an organization that usually encourages as little involvement from its members in confronting management is now suddenly promoting contract teach-ins for Monday, January 30. NYC Educator is not excited. Is he right? His conclusion:

A teach-in could be a great thing. But it's based on the premise that leadership is actually interested in what we think. I am not persuaded that's true. I therefore do not believe this teach-in, however genuine the sentiments of its creators may be, is done in good faith. I believe, and the evidence bears out, that leadership goes behind our back to make stupid deals that benefit no one in rank and file. 

I believe, therefore, that leadership needs to be replaced. And if by any chance I should get a voice in any teach-in, that will be my message to my union brothers and sisters.

As a 28-year dissident in this Union, I agree wholeheartedly with those sentiments. NYC Educator uses the recent retiree healthcare debacle to support his case that UFT leaders don't want to hear from us. President Michael Mulgrew, as one of the two main voices in the Municipal Labor Committee (Umbrella group of City Unions where the UFT has an outsized role because of weighted voting), tried to force retirees to accept a privatized Medicare Advantage Plan (Mulgrewcare) instead of public Medicare combined with a GHI Medigap supplemental plan. Mulgrew attempted, and may still be attempting, to force retirees into Mulgrewcare or stick them with copays or premiums but he has been stopped in court and by the City Council. We need to be skeptical about what the UFT is planning as active and non-Medicare-eligible retirees' healthcare is being negotiated behind closed doors by the MLC and City. In that atmosphere, we have  Monday's Teach-ins at the schools.

If you want to teach something at the UFT Teach-in in your school, how about an honest discussion? Share with the teachers and other UFTers how we need to go in with our eyes wide open. If Michael Mulgrew says again there are no givebacks, be skeptical. He said that in 2014 and 2018 but we know there were major healthcare givebacks, some that Mulgrew is still paying off now.

Honesty and openness are not usually strong traits at the UFT. When the UFT put out its slides and they said healthcare isn't a subject of UFT negotiations, I scratched my head and said, WTF?

Here is a look at the UFT's two slides on what is on the table in contract negotiations and what is not:

We will now take them one at a time. For reference, here is the Contract.

• Salary increases are negotiable but any raise is subject to pattern bargaining. When one City municipal union settles a contract for a round of collective bargaining, it sets a pattern and all of the other unions then follow that pattern and receive basically the same wage increase. DC 37 is negotiating with the City as of this writing as is the UFT. DC 37's last contract expired in 2021 and is long overdue. They set the last pattern in 2018 of around a little over 2% per year that the UFT and every other union pretty much adhered to. The UFT set the previous pattern of 10% total over 7 years in the 2014 round. That Agreement was extended twice but that is a whole different posting. You have to go back to 2008 when DC 37 set a 4%+4% pattern to find a decent one that today still wouldn't come close to keeping up with inflation. Do you think maybe we should talk about some other union like the PBA going first this time to set the pattern? NYPD officers start at $42,500. They never settled their last round of bargaining. City police make less than cops in surrounding areas and they want to catch up. Another idea you probably won't see in UFT literature would be to bargain financial terms as a coalition of City unions since we all get the same increases basically anyway. Should we push for cost of living adjustments like Social Security gives (5.9% 2022, 8.7% 2023; UFT's last increase was in 2021). Members should be openly talking about these salary issues. 

• Working conditions are negotiable. The UFT made numerous gains in its first 40 years (class size limits, duty-free lunch periods, prep periods, etc.) but has been on the defensive mostly since mayoral control in 2002. In 2005, the UFT made major concessions. The Union gave away the right to grieve inaccurate/unfair letters in the file in 2005 and the right to have a separate grievance at the superintendent's level if a grievance was not resolved at the principal's level. We also surrendered the right to preferred placement if a school was closed or redesigned, the right to a position if excessed, and the right to have a real professional assignment where the Chapter Committee had to agree on a professional menu to pick from. We can negotiate here and should.

• Teacher evaluation and observations are in the Contract but they are subject to state law which governs teacher evaluation. We can negotiate within the state guidelines.

• Contract enforcement is subject to negotiation for sure as we could get a  better grievance process. The UFT won changes to expedite the grievance process in some instances in 2018 but it was a small gain. It is up to the UFT, not an individual grievant, whether a grievance proceeds to the Chancellor's level or an arbitrator. It should be at least up to a grievant to challenge a principal's judgment somewhere beyond the school. Furthermore, there are some provisions of the Contract the UFT does not bother to enforce. For example, it was agreed to go to a biweekly payroll as opposed to semi-monthly in 1996 in Article 3L:

L. Salary Payment 

1. The parties agree that a biweekly payroll gives employees a date certain for receipt of their pay. Therefore, the Board will convert the pedagogical payroll to a biweekly payroll from the existing semi-monthly payroll as soon as practicable. 

It's only been 27 years. What's the rush? The DOE and UFT need some time to work this out or take it out of the Contract. Our younger members weren't even born when this unenforced provision went into the Contract. We are still waiting. Another example is Article 3G1 (see below) which gives teachers the choice of free healthcare plans but the UFT through the Municipal Labor Committee gave that choice of free plans away in 2018 for first-year teachers. The Contract has to be enforced by members and by the UFT leadership to mean anything. Otherwise, it is not even worth the paper it isn't printed on anymore as the UFT no longer prints it out for members.

• Career Ladder positions are negotiable. Honestly, are you really so worried about this that it gets a prominent place in what can be negotiated?

• The configuration of the workday has been renegotiated on numerous occasions since 2002 when extended time was first negotiated into the Contract. It is up to the members to get rid of marathon Mondays (sometimes called teacher detention) if you want to. 

Now for the real head-scratchers:

• Pension changes are subject to state law but they can still be a big part of contract negotiations between the UFT and the City. If the Union and City agree, both sides can go up to Albany and seek pension changes and it often ends up in the Contract. For example, 25 years of service-55-year-old retirement was put in the Contract in Article 4C:

 C. Pension Legislation

The parties have agreed to jointly support pension legislation as set forth in the letter attached as Appendix K.

For those who want some specifics on 25-55 pension in the Contract:

APPENDIX K PENSION LEGISLATION

October 17, 2007

Dear Ms. Weingarten: 

This letter will confirm certain mutual understandings and agreements of the parties. The parties agree to jointly support legislation to amend current pension provisions that will contain the following elements in order to implement an optional "25/55" retirement program for current employees in the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) and the below listed UFT-represented members in the Board of Education Retirement Systems (BERS) and to provide a revised retirement paradigm for newly-hired employees in TRS and newly-hired UFT-represented members in BERS listed below.

There is more in this letter but you get the idea. Early retirement incentives in 1991 and 1996 were agreed to in the Contract and then Albany approved them. On the downside, the reduction of the TDA fixed interest for UFTers from 8.25% to 7% was agreed to at the City-UFT level and then approved in Albany in 2009. Why aren't we demanding that the City go with us to Albany to end Tier VI and get 25-55 for all?

• Tenure is also a state law but Mayor Michael Bloomberg's anti-teacher Chancellor Joel Klein made denying tenure a crusade in the late 2000s and hired hundreds of lawyers in part to help deny tenure. The UFT, had it chosen to, could have demanded contractual provisions to limit observations and otherwise limit principal power so tenure would be less onerous to achieve. 

• Student Discipline. What is the UFT talking about that this is not negotiable?

Let's start by reading Article 9 and part of Appendix B of the Contract. Student discipline is there and subject to negotiation.

ARTICLE NINE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING SPECIAL BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS 

The Board agrees that the procedures and policies concerning the problem of disruptive children, embodied in the Special Circular which is reproduced in Appendix B following this Agreement, will not be changed during the term of this Agreement, except that the Chancellor may modify the circular, provided that the Union finds such modification acceptable. The provisions of the circular shall be subject to the grievance procedure and to arbitration only for the purpose of determining whether there has been a failure to comply with the procedural steps prescribed in the circular.

Appendix B is on page 208:

APPENDIX B SPECIAL CIRCULAR 

1. A child who threatens or engages in physical violence to himself, his/her fellow students, or a teacher may be directed by the teacher to report immediately to the principal or other designated supervisor under such escort as is prescribed by the school. Such pupil shall not be returned to the classroom without consultation between the principal and the teacher. 

2. Pupils who so seriously disrupt the classroom work as to impede effective instruction may be reported by the teacher to the principal or other designated supervisor. Such report shall be in writing and shall contain substantiating data on the behavior of the child.

There's more if you want to read it.

Or how about Article 10A?

 A . Assistance in Assault Cases:

Or 10B:

B. School Safety 

The principal is charged with the responsibility of maintaining security, safety and discipline in the school.

How about 10C?

C. Citywide Security and Discipline Committee 

1. The Union and the Board shall establish a joint committee which shall meet on a regular basis to discuss and consider appropriate means of resolving safety and discipline issues. Other city agencies will be invited to participate when the Union and Board deem it appropriate.

• DOE allocations of school funds are in the Contract too. This is another one where the slides are just patently wrong. Read Contractual Article 8C:

C. School Allocations 

Before the end of June and by the opening of school in September, to involve faculties and foster openness about the use of resources, the principal shall meet with the chapter leader and UFT chapter committee to discuss, explain and seek input on the use of the school allocations. As soon as they are available, copies of the school allocations will be provided to the chapter leader and UFT chapter committee. Any budgetary modifications regarding the use of the school allocations shall be discussed by the principal and chapter committee.

UFT chapters have contractual input into the use of school allocations.

• Healthcare: Here again, the people who wrote these slides need to be schooled on the Contract they are supposed to be enforcing.

This is contractual Article 3G1:

G. Health Insurance and Welfare Fund Benefits 

1. Choice of Health Plans 

The Board agrees to arrange for, and make available to each day school teacher, a choice of health and hospital insurance coverage from among designated plans and the Board agrees to pay the full cost of such coverage.

Yes, the umbrella group of City unions called the Municipal Labor Committee can make changes to healthcare but they should conform to our Contract. Why again are we paying copays for HIP and GHI? Why is the City threatening premiums for GHI now for UFTers? This goes back to what I said before about the Contract not being adhered to and the UFT leadership not saying a bloody thing.

As for the MLC, they have over 100 unions but they have weighted voting as mentioned earlier. The UFT and DC 37, by far the biggest unions, make up over 60% of the MLC. If you think the UFT doesn't have a say on healthcare in contract negotiations, you would be wrong. 

Ultimately, the members of each bargaining unit (teachers, paras, secretaries, OTPT, etc.) have the final say in the Contract because you vote to approve it or reject it.

If you want to hear more of my insights (some would say meandering), join me as part of the panel on Zoom when Educators of NYC hosts a pep rally (I would call it a pre-teach-in) on Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m.

Register here.

EXEC BD REPORT: HEALTHCARE UPDATE; CHARTER COLOCATIONS WITHDRAWN; UNITY TABLES MOTION FOR NO PREMIUMS FOR GHI

 This is from Educators of NYC from tonight's Executive Board meeting:

Educators of NYC

@educatorsofnyc

Tonight, it seems that

@UFT

Mulgrew is now moving from pitting retirees vs actives and healthcare vs raises to … It’s healthcare versus education. Is he an agent of the

@NYCMayorsOffice

or the Zero Sum Game Champion?

6:38 PM · Jan 23, 2023·

54

Views

On healthcare, the UFT is still licking its wounds from retirees winning in court to stop UFT endorsed Senior Care copays and the UFT losing with the City Council, who are not changing 12-126. A change would have permitted the City and unions to legally charge more copays and premiums.

However, when it comes to charter schools, it looks like a big victory in that Eva Moskowitz is not getting her way on new Success Academy colocations inside NYC public schools. The UFT is confirming the reports that proposals to colocate Success Academies in a number of public schools have been withdrawn. The Union is praising the community collaborations. 

Back to healthcare, Unity tabled (didn't act upon) a motion that the United for Change High School reps made to fight any premiums for GHI.

For a full report from Nick Bacon, head on over to New Action.

CITY CONCEDES AND SUSPENDS SENIOR CARE COPAYS

 This is from the City's official site:

If the law says the City pays the full cost of our healthcare up to the HIP-HMO rate (about $918 per month), one has to ask this: Why are there copays on active employees who choose HIP-HMO? 

LIVE BLOGGING FROM JANUARY 2023 DELEGATE ASSEMBLY

 President Michael Mulgrew begins by stating how the school year is at half-time in January.

President's Report

State Budget

Governor Hochul has proposed a 13% increase in school funding. Push for Career and Technical Education. Federal, they want college preparation. Data shows CTE has closed the achievement gap and students are more likely to graduate. Governor believes in CTE. Good proposal for budget out of Albany. The budget comes out in February. Then Assembly and Senate put out one house bills. Then there are discussions, fights. Some little things we don't like but mostly it is good. Big lobby day in March. This is not like what happened under the previous governor (charter schools, extension of tenure).

City Budget

It is the opposite of the state. $80 million increase. Everything else is flat. State giving historic increase in funding. How can the city be flat? $8.3 billion surplus is growing. Mayor talking about city falling off a financial cliff. 

Federal

Debt ceiling crisis. Wall Street will react in a negative way and the mayor will say this is the financial cliff. This will get settled eventually. We are negotiating a contract under these circumstances. 

We must take care of Albany which looks positive. Then, we need to work to get City budget to where it should be. This is focus of the work along with getting a contract. We also have special ed, principal and migrant issues. 

Contract

400 trained in teach-in yesterday. Members don't really understand what goes into getting a contract. We are training people on what goes into getting a contract. Costing, value, and pattern bargaining need to be understood. Mayor saying City is broke. We have to make members understand there are record surpluses. We must understand the rules of the game. Members of the UFT tend to be reasonable people, unlike what is going on in DC. Teach-ins to drive our own narrative of what we do. Some think we just sit in a chair and kids learn. Not true. We do more than we have ever done before. We want to take care of our families, live somewhat close to where we work, and not be harassed. We'd like support too. The public will not disagree with us. Good schools and challenging schools. Some schools are mismanaged. We are doing a damn good job. 

Someone thinking of quitting because they can't help a migrant child. We are on the front line doing this work and need the public to back us up so we have the teach-in.

Negotiating committee coming in February 1. We are moving into the serious stages of negotiating. 

Member Hub

Who signed up? We have over 5,000 completely enrolled. There are no technology problems, unlike the DOE. Basic info is in the member hub.

Substitutes

We brought it to consultation with DOE. Thank Michael Sill and his team for getting 70 people pushed through. We are going to get 600 more. DOE principal didn't call sub-central so we can't get nominees through. If a school is uncomfortable with sub-central, that shouldn't stop hiring to aleviete sub shortage. We have many absences and vacancies. If everyone works an extra period, people burn out much quicker and get more tired. We are going to get nominees through.

Colocations

Eva Moskowitz schools getting through. Three coming up for a PEP vote. Every politician and CEC has told the DOE not to do this. There is no space in these three buildings. We knew when Eric became mayor that this could be a problem. If they jam these schools through, we know there will be problems. Documented problems with Eva not taking challenging kids and then forcing someone who becomes a challenge out.

Early Childhood Educators

Chancellor's been great about early childhood sites. He is talking to the people who do this work.

Staff Director's Report

Chapter leader training late January, trailblazer awards Feb 3, CTE awards on Feb 4, something else coming up that date, migrant first book event on Feb 4, nomination for Academic HS awards up to Jan 30, Black History Film Series Feb2, 9, 16, and March 2. Happy Lunar New Year. Feb 15 is the next DA.

Mulgrew Report continues:

Healthcare: Many on the active healthcare committee. RFP moving right along for in-service people. The goal is premium free, high quality healthcare. Retirees, we have been negotiating with Aetna. The arbitrator said the possibility of in service premiums with Aetna. At this moment, we don't think we are going to get a contract with Aetna. Mulgrew doesn't do well with regressive bargaining. Doesn't believe we are going to get there with Aetna. We must protect each other. Healthcare is out of control. Federal program known as Medicare Advantage gives us a chance to get a good plan but we need the right partner. We are moving forward on the in-service RFP. We have been straight up throughout. We are going to keep premium free high-quality healthcare for actives and retirees. We are going to dig in and fight to get what we need. 

Question Period

Question: If it doesn't work with Aetna, can we renegotiate with Emblem?

Mulgrew answer: We need a new RFP to go back to Emblem that has to have significant changes but it can be done.

Question: D75 person is overwhelmed with work and there is no time in the day. Work two hours at school and then bringing work home? Why?

Mulgrew: Get a list of everything they are doing in D 75 and we will bring it to consultation with chancellor on Monday.

Question: D79 teacher has no substitute teacher so the school puts pressure to cover absences. Many teachers absent and students have to take care of two or three students. How to compensate teachers?

Answer: We have to figure out the substitute problem. In terms of additional work, we are in negotiations on stuff like this. We will find out from District Rep the specific issues and move ahead.

Question: When do resolutions expire? Union takes opposing policy?

Answer: Resolutions don't expire.

Point of order: You stated that resolutions won't unilaterally be opposed but you opposed the NY Healthcare Act.

Mulgrew: Resolutions can become moot. The issue may be resolved. Saying someone unilaterally opposes you is really saying they don't agree with you. This is harming democratic process. This is degrading society. 

Question from Nick Bacon: Arbitrator's decision not binding, in what situations would we have to pay premiums when 12-126 protects us up to HIP rate?

Answer: We have saved money and added benefits. HIP rate protected. Vast majority is in GHI which is at risk.

Question: Tottenville teacher asks about the contract negotiation process. Members looking for a timeline?

Answer: We don't have a timeline but we would like to have it done as soon as possible. You should be part of teach-in training.

Motions to the agenda

Motion to move Resolution 7 up to 1 for timeliness (colocation resolution opposing Success Academy colocations.)

It needs a 2/3 vote. Online 743 Yes to 59 No. In the room, 216 Yes to 7 no. 959 Yes to 66 No. 94% yes so it is moved to top of the agenda.

Resolution for next month to support NY Public Library.

Libraries are vital to our communities. Thriving community centers. Actual books are still a vital part of our well-being. Library offers City ID, passports and more. Mayor proposing $13.6 million in cuts. All NY residents will be harmed. Join with City Council to keep libraries open. Libraries are for everyone. It is one of few safe spaces.

Nobody wants to speak against it.

Online 752 Yes to 24 No

Live 230 Yes to 5 No

Total 97% yes so it is placed on the agenda for next month.

Resolution in support of Amazon workers in Kentucky for next month. Amazon Labor Union won recognition from the National Labor Relations Board. Northern Kentucky hub doing a union drive. We know of horrific conditions for Amazone workers. KCBG looking for $30 an hour and better working conditions.  Inflation eroding everybody's pay. November 16, UFT supported Amazon and Starbucks unions. Resolution ask to help this organizing union expansion.

Nobody wants to speak against.

Online 673 Yes to 66 No

Live 210 Yes to 14 No

Total Mulgrew doesn't give numbers (883-80 by my math). It is on the agenda for next month and Mulgrew will speak to the AFT if this passes.

Special Orders of Business

Resolution to oppose Success Academy colocations. D 28 Chapter Leader says schools have had strong opposition to Success Academy colocations. School communities oppose them in multiple districts. DOE underestimates building utilizations. Schools need more space with the lower class size law. New programs will be cut. UFT has supported schools opposing charter expansion. This resolution expands that.

Amy Arundell follows speaking in favor. Queens and Bronx and other communities are galvanized by this fight. Eva Moskowitz is saying there is space in these schools. Success wants to take classrooms. Our schools will have no clubs, meeting space, etc. Email the PEP to show how our schools are utilized. PEP members will vote on this.

Matt Driscoll amendment: The UFT will mobilize members and parents to show up at the PEP. Mulgrew says that is already there so this is moot. Matt says this is only in the whereas, but not in the Resolved clause. Matt says that we should specifically add in the resolution to flood the PEP. Someone says we don't need this amendment. We don't do this alone. All of us includes not just the members and parents. We are in the community. 

Another amendment: Support these schools by lobbying at all levels including the PEP members.

Point of information: Could these be considered friendly amendments? 

Mulgrew says there is no such thing as a friendly amendment.

Martina rises to support amendment one. She goes to every PEP meeting. We need to show up and speak against. It would be really powerful if we had our whole force to counteract the Success people who will talk for hours at the PEP.

Someone calls the question on all matters before the house.

Vote on closing debate:

Online Yes 596 to 23 No

Live 194 Yes to 13 No

Total Debate is closed but numbers not announced.

Vote on the Second amendment on lobbying PEP members

Online 561 Yes to 38 No

Live205 Yes to 13 No

Total 766 Yes to 51 No

Second amendment passes.

First amendment to mobilize members and parents to be at the PEP

Online Yes 537 to 43 No

Live 137 Yes to 71 No

Total 674 yes to 114 No

Vote on Resolution as amended twice

Online 594 Yes to 22 No

Live 204 Yes to 3 No

Total 798 Yes to 25 No; Resolution carries

Resolution to support Iranian protestors. This is about women, life, and freedom. Women should not be stripped of rights because of religion. Women repressed. As a union we need to condemn what is happening in Iran. We stand for women and freedom. Quotes MLK on silence of good people being bad.

Nobody wants to speak further.

Online 510 Yes to 47 No

Live 184 Yes to 9 No

Total 694 Yes to 56 No

Tom Brown reports that the next resolution is moot because DOE pension system is already being investigated and audited.

Next resolution is to hold the DOE accountable for not meeting the needs of students with disabilities and English language learners. Our most vulnerable students are not getting the services that are mandated. Resolution calls for the City Council to get involved to help the students in need.

A District 3 Chapter Leader supports the resolution and speaks in favor of helping our most vulnerable students. She adds that these are legal requirements and the Chancellor pledged to help these students when he took the job and yet nothing has been done. 

Nobody else wants to speak.

Online 565 Yes to 7 No

Live in the room  the numbers were not announced.

Total 774 yes to 7 No. Resolution carries.

Janella Hinds speaks in favor of the newly arrived Dominican teachers exploited by the DOE. Teachers need to be treated with respect and the salary and benefits they deserve. 

Nobody else wants to speak on the resolution.

Online 514 Yes to 18 No

Live 201 Yes to 1 No

Total 715 Yes to 19 No. Resolution passes.

Resolution opposing blood donations not being allowed from LGBTQIA+ community. Rashad Brown gives history of people not being allowed to give blood. COVID rules changed things from 1 year down to 3 months for homosexual men. Only 3% of eligible people give blood. These policies are discriminatory. World Aids day celebrated on December 1. Past policies and present policies are all wrong. Demand FDA stop this discriminatory policy. 

Nobody wants to speak in favor or against.

Online 383 Yes to 84 No

Live 190 Yes to 13 No

Total 473 Yes to 87 No. Resolution passes.

Meeting ends. 

NO CITY COUNCIL VOTE ON AMENDING 12-126 TOMORROW

The latest from Marianne on Facebook is good news: No City Council vote tomorrow on amending 12-126.

It may only be a matter of hours before Michael Mulgrew attempts to pull defeat out of the jaws of this major victory. Does he threaten us or on the other hand, maybe he takes credit.

Good Morning/ Good Afternoon

My name is ________________________and I am a retiree. The purpose of my call is to “Thank” the City Council Member for not supporting the passage of Intro bill 0874 from the Civil Service and Labor Committee. By having this bill laid aside, you have restored some of our faith in the system. We appreciate that your member heard our message to not listen to the Mayor and that retirees should not bear the burden of the city's budgetary issues.  The Medicare Advantage Plan will not provide us with proper healthcare coverage and we should not have to pay more to receive less care. We discovered there are several funding programs totaling over 300 million dollars that can be used to help balance the budget. There will be a bill introduced soon that will protect the status of our future healthcare, and we hope that your member will continue to stand with us and support it.

Thank you for hearing my statement, and being the voice for retirees. Thank you for listening.

Respectfully,

(Your name), retiree # year

****************************

List of City Council Members on the Civil Service and Labor to be called:  (CALL BOTH NUMBERS)

28 Speaker Adrienne E. Adams  Legislative Office: 212-788-6850 District Office: 718-206-2068

10 Hon. Carmen De La Rosa  Legislative Office: 212-788-7053          District Office: 917-521-2616

3 Hon. Erik Bottcher District Office: 212-564-7757

5 Hon. Julie Menin  Legislative Office: 212-788-6865

11 Hon. Eric Dinowitz Legislative Office: (212) 788-7080          District Office: (718) 549-7300

15 Hon. Oswald Feliz Legislative Office:212-788-6966         District Office: 718-842-8100

21 Hon. Francisco P. Moya  212-788-6862         District Office: 718-651-1917

22 Hon. Tiffany Caban 718-274-4500

37 Hon. Sandy Nurse  Legislative Office:  212-788-7284       District Office: 718-642-8664

40 Hon. Rita Joseph Legislative Office: 212-788-7352       District Office:718-287-8762

49 Hon. Kamillah Hanks  Legislative Office: 212-788-6972      District Office: 718-556-7370

EMAIL THE CIVIL SERVICE & LABOR COMMITTEE:

Copy/Paste these email addresses into your email:

aeadams@council.nyc.gov

CDeLaRosa@council.nyc.gov

ebottcher@council.nyc.gov

JMenin@council.nyc.gov

edinowitz@council.nyc.gov

ofeliz@council.nyc.gov

tcaban@council.nyc.gov

fmoya@council.nyc.gov

SNurse@council.nyc.gov

RJoseph@council.nyc.gov

KHanks@council.nyc.gov

This is the Council List for the Common Sense Caucus! EMAIL & CALL them with the same thank you!

Hon. Adrienne E. Adams Legislative Office: 212-788-6850 District Office: 718-206-2068 

Hon. Vickie Paladino Legislative Office: 212-788-7250 

Hon. Robert F. Holden Legislative Office: (212) 788-7381 District Office: (718) 366-3900 

Hon. Joann Ariola Legislative Office: 212-788-7069 District Office: 718-738-1083 or 718-318-6411 

Hon. Kalman Yeger Legislative Office: 212-788-7357 District Office: 718-853-2704 

Hon. Ari Kagan Legislative Office: 212-788-7045 District Office: 718-373-9673 or 718-307-7151 

Hon. Inna Vernikov Legislative Office: 212-788-7360 District Office: 718-368-9176 

Hon. David Carr Legislative Office: 212-788-7390 District Office: 718-980-1017 

Hon. Joseph C. Borelli Legislative Office: (212) 788-6989 or (212)-788-7159 District Office: (718) 984-5151

aeadams@council.nyc.gov

VPaladino@council.nyc.gov

rholden@council.nyc.gov

JAriola@council.nyc.gov

kyeger@council.nyc.gov

AKagan@council.nyc.gov

ivernikov@council.nyc.gov

DCarr@council.nyc.gov

jborelli@council.nyc.gov

PROPOSED RESOLUTION CALLS FOR COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN NEW UFT CONTRACT

Ultimately, UFT members have the last word on whether we accept a new contract agreement. Right now, the UFT and City are negotiating a contract to replace the one that expired in September of 2022.

The UFT is stating that we should say yes to a fair contract. What would a fair contract look like?

In terms of wages, UFT Executive Board member Mike Schirtzer and I thought about what it would take to keep up with inflation. We did some quick research and looked up the Social Security cost of living adjustment for the last two years. UFT members had their last salary increase in the spring of 2021. The Social Security COLA for 2022 was 5.9%. For 2023, it is 8.7%. We thought this would be a good place to start for UFT salary increases so UFTers could just keep up with increases in the cost of living. 

Mike and I along with Camille Eterno and Daniel Alicea came up with this resolution that we would like UFT Chapters to endorse. Daniel added in that raises should not be paid for with healthcare concessions.

Whereas,  members of the United Federation of Teachers have not had a raise since May of 2021; be it therefore

Resolved, that the directly elected representatives of the UFT Executive Board and Delegate Assembly recommend to the UFT Contract Negotiating Committee that our union settle for nothing less than raises aligned with Social Security cost of living adjustments of a 5.9% raise for 2022 and an 8.7% raise for 2023 without any concessions on our healthcare benefits.

Any thoughts, readers?

Will you ask your school to endorse these salary demands leading up to the January 30 contract teach-ins that the UFT is organizing?

NYC RETIREE ORGANIZATION ADVISES PATIENCE FOR NOW; MARIANNE ON WBAI WITH DANIEL SUNDAY AT 7:00 PM

WBAI has moved Talk out of School to Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. One of tonight's guests will be Marianne Pizzitola. Marianne, according to the promo ad, will be taking calls.

The latest email from the New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees is copied in full below. They are advising us to be patient.

The most important paragraph from the email in my opinion:

We have asked you all to NOT call City Council.  We are allowing them to absorb this week quietly, and we will advise you to our strategy next week.   Monday is a holiday, and we will be in meetings on Tuesday.  We will advise you of our next steps soon.   In the meantime, look back on all we accomplished together!   You wanted to be heard, and boy did they hear you!   Things are looking good...  just give us a few days..  Be hopeful!   WE ARE!   

The full email:

Greetings!   The City Council hearing on Monday went very well.  We filled the Council chamber with about 250 retirees, plus we had about 300 people outside chanting, "Let us in!"  Our government liaisons were able to get the retirees into 250 Broadway so they were warm and could hear the hearing.  As people left the chamber, retirees were permitted to come across the street to the chamber to testify. We had retirees testifying until 9 pm!  We were heard.    We were also blessed to have Wendell Potter testify with us.  Wendell, is a nationally known whistleblower in the insurance industry.  Here is his newsletter about the hearing.   The hearing lasted almost 12  hours long.    If you want to hear the full testimony of the day click here.  HEARING VIDEO   We have asked you all to NOT call City Council.  We are allowing them to absorb this week quietly, and we will advise you to our strategy next week.   Monday is a holiday, and we will be in meetings on Tuesday.  We will advise you of our next steps soon.   In the meantime, look back on all we accomplished together!   You wanted to be heard, and boy did they hear you!   Things are looking good...  just give us a few days..  Be hopeful!   WE ARE!    Trust me when we say, doing nothing is the hardest thing we have been asked to do!  We understand... Keep January 19th open, as we will update you as to the call to attend the hearing next week.   ******************************************** Target Dates January 19th @ 1:30pm City Hall: Stated Meeting ( we do NOT KNOW if they will vote on the bill yet)   If you are on Twitter and Instagram, please comment and share our messages. We also created an OPEN FaceBook Page https://www.facebook.com/NYCRetirees And Please send your donations in to continue this fight!  We have THREE lawsuits running concurrently, and if the Mayor eliminates all health plans, we WILL have a 4th!!   The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees filed a lawsuit to stop the copays in the GHI Senior Care plan that the MLC (the UFT is a majority player in the MLC) and City imposed January 2022.   WE, the retirees filed that suit!

Thank you to all the retirees who came to City Hall and fight Goliath to save our health care!   *************************** Your friends, and retirees in SOLIDARITY... The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees   **************  Donations are Needed! If the Mayor pulls the "nuclear option" we will have 4 lawsuits going on at the same time!   TO DONATE TO THE LEGAL FUND Donation Instructions to Support Our Class Action Suit Against the City To Protect Our Retiree Healthcare: We worked decades for our benefits! Let’s make sure the City and the MLC don’t take them away! A suggested $25 Donation* will help start the fight to keep our current benefits. *Give more if you can, and/or often!  If you cannot meet the minimum suggested donation, we appreciate whatever you can give towards this fight for our benefits.  We also added the option to make your donation recurring (monthly) as was requested.  The fundraiser group is incorporated as a Non-Profit. ALL proceeds go to fund the organization and its legal challenge. Volunteer retirees are running this effort.  TO DONATE, HERE ARE 4 SIMPLE WAYS! 1.Zelle using email NYCOrgofpublicserviceretirees@gmail.com 2. Make your check out to: NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees PO Box 941 Venice, FL 34284 (our treasurer lives in FL) 3. Or click on this Paypal link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=Q4VWJEYVJ9HTW&Z3&fbclid=IwAR0pEOc51x9xhc-CBb8vqAIkX97Bgg1Z02f1r9gQh9S3dOsVmAdob5jBbw8 4.  We Now Accept Donations via VENMO VENMO is a Phone App or can be used on a PC or Tablet You can download and install the Phone App from the Android Play Store or Apple App Store. There may be fees involved using this method. Our ID is: @NYCRetirees If you are on this list, it is because you subscribed to hear what we are doing as an organization that represents all NYC Municipal workers in protecting their Health benefits in retirement.   Currently, we have a FACEBOOK page located here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/888622578669131 If you are not on FACEBOOK, we will be updating you here. And Check our website for FAQ www.nycretirees.org Thank you for signing up for our newsletter and pass this to a friend to sign up too!