LIVE BLOGGING FROM OCTOBER 2022 DELEGATE ASSEMBLY

The meeting started around 4:15 p.m.

President's Report

Michael Mulgrew welcoming everyone to the first DA of the 2022-2023 school year.  He asks for new Chapter Leaders and Delegates. He advises CL's to go to the CL training. 

Two important UFT people passed away this weekend. Barry Speviogal, and Joyce Hobes (sorry if I misspelled names). Was here on Friday, was arranging for phone banks and buses to go to Pa. Arranging for Florida trips. She became ill Friday night and passed on Saturday morning. Moment of silence for both.

Someone might stop by today. Teacher Union Day is November 6. Shelvy Young Abrams getting the highest honor. Para day that day.

National

Closer we get to the midterms, we are looking to elect people who support public education. Candidates must meet that criteria. If that matters to you, we look out for people who look out for children and our profession. If you vote on other issues, you should think about your profession. Many retirees in Nevada and Carolinas helping us. Mid term elections will get crazier. Big election in NY is for governor. She has done more in a term than anyone else and did it just in one year. PA is a tough fight. Healthcare, we are putting together in-service healthcare committee. It is a national issue. City workers have a plan different from everyone else. Thanks people for wearing pink to DA. Wear blue tomorrow. Many schools have strides teams. We raise more money for breast cancer than anyone else. Agreement with Memorial Sloan Kettering saved thousands of lives. We will wear blue tomorrow on Thursday. Sign pledge that you  will be involved in the campaign to get this contract done.  

DC 37 negotiated for first time last week. We go tomorrow. Mayor says city is broke but they have billions in reserve. DOE has to sit across negotiating table from people who do the work. Our members do the negotiating with the City of New York. This is going to be a tough negotiation, very difficult. Two years ago the city thanking essential workers, nurses, teachers, etc. We were going to get nice raises. That has not happened anywhere. Nurses not loved in negotiations. Teachers not getting big raises. We deserve a damn good raise. We kept the school system going when DOE people didn't come to work for a year. We are seeing effects of the teacher shortage. We need to pay teachers and not have silly paperwork and get us a parking spot. Frustration building every year. Superintendents and District Reps at 52 Broadway yesterday. DOE people said they love us all and want to be collaborative. Mark Cannizaro from CSA was here. Chancellor was here. Make sure what we do is relevant. Solve problems while DOE drags out problems.

Governor Kathy Hochul stops by. Mulgrew enthusiastically says she has done more in one year than anyone previously for education. Mulgrew continues on CFE case for equality started in 1992. Mulgrew lived through 14 years of it as UFT President. There were always excuses. This governor came into office. Case was not about politics; it was about children according to Hochul. We would fight for 1-2% increase in education funding but Hochul fixed that by fulfilling Contracts for Excellence and we got an increase in 7% in education funding this year. Hochul did it better than anyone's else. Best friend to public education that this union has ever had in the governor's office.

Governor Kathy Hochul:

Public education doe not exist without teachers. Mulgrew has done such a great job advocating for teachers. Proud to work with Mulgrew and other teachers across the state. Many teachers in her family. She will continue to be a friend in Albany. Proud to put setting CFE behind us. During the pandemic, omicron showed up last November while working on first budget. We got test kits. We saw effect the pandemic had on kids. Many don't have nurturing home life that you give them in the classroom. 92 million test kits. Mulgrew pressuring for these test kits. When leaders work together, we can accomplish so much. Teachers take on so many roles. Schools need more money, we need mental health counselors. Committed to having resourses to lift kids up. You have a right to be safe. Supreme Court took away no conceal and carry law we had for over 100 years. Certain places need to be gun free.  Have to deal with insanity this Supreme Court put in place for NY. Focus on teacher and student safety. We need more teachers. Thanks Mulgrew for smaller class sizes law. We need more teachers. Must get that spark everywhere. We will incentivize getting new teachers. Career and Technical education must be reinvested in. Thanks Joe Biden for delivering money. Kids need tangible skills to step into the jobs we are creating every single day. Company called Micron will create 50,000 jobs. Help train them. More women and children of color need to show up for those jobs. Gives teachers a group hug and thanks them. 

Mulgrew back: Let's hear it for Kathy Hochul. Thanks everybody and calls for another round of applause for Hochul. It is a whole different world when you have partners that respect you. The previous governor in State of the State messages would bash teachers. We had to fight crazy policies. Micron needs thousands of high tech engineers. Nice to have those discussions with elected officials. Do the work if you really respect teachers. Hochul did the damn work.

Negotiations-Mayor says he is broke. Negotiating Committee designing plans to engage the membership. Don't know how it gets done without members. Most of the 150 unions in NYC don't have a contract. Last week was the first negotiating session with anyone. The last Mayor (de Blasio) had nothing in reserves left to him from Mayor Bloomberg. We figured it out. The city has lots of reserves now. This will be a real political fight. Thanks negotiating team.

DOE policies:

Screens are back. Screens got twisted and perverted into things they were not designed to be. Screens are not just for high end academic programs. Screens turned into just a way to use test scores and attendance. That segregated school system. Told the Chancellor screens aren't the problem. Schools that only accept 4 students with 100% attendance don't look at everything. We have challenges. Reviews No Child Left Behind where Houston got a 93% graduation rate by only testing kids who could pass. We are helping migrant children. We need boatloads of psychologists and social workers in the schools they are being sent to. Meeting yesterday, we all love and respect each other. Everyone needs due process. The Chancellor said the superintendents are in charge of making things work. If there is a problem, they should fix problems. We are getting troubling reports that don't match with what the Chancellor is saying. The Principals were informed yesterday on Election Day as the Chancellor wants people to meet. We don't want them meeting on the computer. On budget, the Chancellor wants all schools held harmless. Safety, let's make sure all the front doors are locked. NYC can't get doors locked like every other state can do around the country. Tell people to lock doors. 

Healthcare:

Medicare Advantage is one small piece. The USA is in a complete crisis on healthcare and its cost. We can't find another group of workers outside of the city of New York municipal workers who have premium free healthcare. Healthcare is not free. We negotiate it. Nine years ago we saw healthcare costs were going up by a lot but there are no innocent players in healthcare. Doctors, nurses, and technologists not the problem. Hospitals, insurance companies and medical plans looking for profit and almost all are not for profit. We came together with the city to fight this costs out of control system. Unions getting contracts but losing money because of healthcare costs. People getting screwed because of rising healthcare costs. New administration wants to keep fighting the rising costs. Copays rise because we want to deter people from doing things like overusing the emergency room. We kept saying not to go to ER. They start by taking a temperature and charging $800. We talked to the AFT. Healthcare costs are all over the place rising. 13% increases not uncommon and kills a 3% raise. Things in Inflation Reduction Act that were taken out would help us. We have done analysis on New York Health Act would destroy the NY budget.  US spends almost double on healthcare than any other country and we do not have the best outcomes. It doesn't even come close. Enough is enough on this. We can't move forward with this hanging on us. Hospitals fought us in Albany. We at least are covered. 

(At this point, the feed broke and I could hear nothing. I am still on call but hear nothing. I am back on a few minutes later.)

Geoff Sorkin from Welfare Fund gives a presentation on healthcare. Premiums on healthcare are deductions from paychecks for healthcare. The average worker pays $7,000 a year for healthcare. The change must come from DC. Share stats. Hospital stays went up 73% in the last few years. One injection cost $600 several years ago now PICA costs over $6,000 from Humira. Two shots a month for a year costs $70,000 a year. Medicine is cheaper in Europe. Battle is to maintain premium free healthcare coverage. MLC leveraging our size with 1.5 million is a huge group. UFT Welfare Fund funded by our contract. Pharmacy benefit went for a Request for Proposal (RFP). Two big pharmacy companies wanted our business. We projected 55 million dollar savings by going to RFP. 90 day prescriptions at Walgreens. We are part of the MLC, an umbrella group of city unions. 106 unions bargain healthcare together. UFT is the only voice in the MLC. We have to talk and work things out. Stabilization fund created in the 80's. It funds healthcare costs with the exception of the Welfare Fund. Offsets the cost of optional riders. It makes sure widows of officers get benefits for life. Joe Ustach's wife had a new baby. Small copayment, rest comes out of stabilization. MLC has benefited from using the Stablization Fund. Medicare Advantage, we created a unique plan that was wonderful that allowed us to tap into government subsidies which would have allowed us to save $600 million for five years. That plan was stopped in court, the original company pulled out but we are trying to negotiate with the company that finished second. Judge said the city only has to offer one premium-free plan. We want to give you choice. That is why we are talking about revising the administrative code. We want to preserve choice. Four largest municipatities (LA, Chicago, Houston, and Phoenix) all paying premiums and getting coverage that is not as good as GHI or HIP. Line in the sand to preserve premium free coverage. RFP to see what insurance companies could do to replicate GHI CBP plan for non eligible retirees and active people. We will keep fighting. Thanks us for giving him their time.

Mulgrew returns and asks for big hand for Jeff. 

(I got cut off again at this time. Back on for Leroy Barr but I missed Staff Director's Report.)

Question Period

Question: Fear on healthcare on changing the administrative code.  Goes back to the constitutional convention that opening this up could make things worse for us?

Mulgrew Answer: We are constantly in contact with City Hall and City Council. This is not about Medicare Advantage. Judge said we as a union doesn't have a right to negotiate. Appeal could take us into next year. Retirees have HIP gold and GHI senior care. Something that diminishes collective bargaining has to be taken seriously. We are talking about putting a phrase in that makes it clear. Have to look at the healthcare where you live. Need flexibility, particularly for retirees who are in Georgia, Florida, etc. If we feel something is wrong, we will stop it. The judge changed our negotiating ability. We need options on healthcare.  

Question from Ilona from Exec Bd. Why wouldn't a change in the healthcare make it easier to have premiums?

Mulgrew answer: We are not going near that on premiums. We are looking at the part that says we can't negotiate. Judge ruled we only have to offer one plan and one plan only. We believe in Medicare Advantage Plus. We are not comfortable with Aetna yet. When people get information from social media, it tends not to be correct. We want our options. City has to only offer one plan if what judge said makes us only have one plan. There is much misinformation out there. 

Question: DC solution for universal healthcare from DC. UFT passed a resolution to support New York Healthcare Act. What is our position now?

Answer: New York Healthcare Act would blow a huge hole in the NYS budget. We can't lobby for something that would hurt every UFT member. We modeled it out and would look at changes. We are not lobbying for it. 

Question: PS 36-Conflicting information on visitor protocol. Do visitors still need to show vaccination proof to enter building?

Answer: Technically, yes, but nobody's checking for this anywhere. We will check with safety person Jeff Povelitus and check it. 

Question: New Utrecht HS CL asks about safety. In schools with more than one safety agent, only level 3 has access to school walkie-talkies so Level 3 texts agents after deans tell Level 3. CSA hates this. 

Answer: This administration's concern is over an imminent threat, an active shooter. The administration put safety agents except one on the citywide system. We think we can deal with both issues.

Followup: PTAs not aware of this. 

Answer: Set a policy for one issue, it will cause a bunch of other issues. We believe there will be more issues getting a response for other issues. 

New motion period

Support for migrant families with children in NYC public schools for next month.  Migrants bussed here from Florida and Texas. NYC greatest melting pot, we need to support these migrants in any way we can. We were refugees. Asylum seekers looking for peace, opportunity, and justice. We must repay the debt. Nobody speaks against. 

469 yes 78 no on the phone; I could not hear the vote in the hall but it easily carried.

Resolution to stand in support of Iranian protesters after woman Mahsa Amini was killed in police custody. The resolution is for next month.

Edward Calamia speaks against saying we shouldn't intervene in the internal affairs of Iran.

On the phone 224 in favor with 38 opposed in the hall; 348 Yes to 149 No on the phone. 

Time ran out before any special orders of business could be discussed. 

MULGREW MISINFORMATION ON HEALTHCARE EXPOSED

Marianne Pizzitola is the President of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees. She also heads the FDNY EMS Retirees.

Marianne is leading the fight to preserve municipal worker retiree health benefits. She knows one of her main adversaries is UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

Marianne put out a rebuttal to Mulgrew's latest email to retirees on healthcare:

Please watch this video Marianne posted last Friday where she explains the Mulgrew lies:

The plan to change the City Council Code is being fought by retiree groups trying to preserve a choice of premium free healthcare plans. On Wednesday, they will be at City Hall and then later outside the UFT Delegate Assembly.

In this video, Marianne explains Administrative Code 12-126:

In 2021, a judge ruled making healthcare savings on the backs of retirees by making couples pay an almost $400-a-month penalty to keep GHI Seniorcare or go into Medicare Advantage (Mulgrewcare) was illegal. The city is appealing but they know they don't have much of a chance unless they can change the law. Mulgrew and company are trying to change city Administrative Code 12-126 to limit premium-free healthcare choices. Mulgrewcare will then most likely be imposed first on retirees, and later they will do the same to active city workers. It will be managed care or big premiums.

Mulgrew is supposed to represent UFTers. It makes no sense for him to bargain away free healthcare options because UFTers are guaranteed by contract to have a choice of premium free healthcare plans:

3G. 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. 

It says "Choice of Health Plans," and then it states that "the Board agrees to pay the full cost of such coverage."

This will most definitely impact active UFTers because by law limiting retiree choice of free plans will require a similar reduction in benefits to be imposed on active UFTers.

This is from NYSTRS:

While there is no guarantee that retirees in the state have the same coverage as active employees, the state Legislature prohibits school districts and BOCES from unilaterally diminishing retiree health insurance coverage unless a similar reduction is negotiated for active employees. 

Mulgrew is coming to limit everyone's choice of premium free healthcare choices.

What should happen?

Mulgrew should be calling for gains so all other city workers will have the guarantees UFTers have by contract and law that he is eagerly attempting to bargain away. The MLC unions all need to admit they made a mistake by agreeing to recurring healthcare savings of $600 million a year in recurring savings in 2018 and use the 2021 court ruling to negate that clause of the 2018 contracts as the clause runs contrary to law. Instead, the unions are attempting to change the law so round 2 of Mulgrewcare can be imposed where Aetna will be the only free option. The same Aetna that the NY Times reported on their overbilling practices recently: "CVS Health, which owns Aetna, told investors its practices were being investigated by the Department of Justice." Active UFTers and non-Medicare eligible retirees will be next.

We knew major healthcare givebacks were coming. This is part of what we wrote in opposing the 2018 UFT Contract:

    Healthcare givebacks are for all of us in this contract, not just new teachers. 

The Municipal Labor Committee agreed to huge healthcare savings in June. This is from the City Hall Website article on the new UFT contract: “The agreement will provide total health care savings of $1.1 billion through Fiscal Year 2021 and $1.9 billion of annual savings thereafter.” Putting new teachers on HIP managed care for their first year, which is a major contractual concession as our contract says the city has to offer us a choice of free health plans, will not save the city $1.1 billion or $1.9 billion annually after 2021 as the city will still be paying their health insurance. Where are the new $1.1 billion in healthcare savings ($600 million must recur annually) going to come from? They will come from all city workers just like when we agreed to this kind of deal in 2014 to settle a contract and then in 2016 we received emails saying Emergency Room copays would rise from $50 to $150 and Urgent Care copays in GHI would go from $15 to $50. More to come like possibly tiered hospitals where we would have to pay more to go to certain facilities. The UFT is not being completely up front about our out of pocket costs probably rising. Why not?  The letter from the city Office of Labor Relations will become part of the UFT Memorandum of Agreement.  Even though the MLC negotiates healthcare for city employees, UFT members have the final say with our vote on whether to accept this huge concession as part of the contract.

The givebacks were easy to see but even I didn't think they were going to go after the Medicare eligible retirees first and then come after everyone else.

CONTRACT COMMITTEE MEMBER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOU WILL BE WILLING TO DO TO FIGHT FOR A GOOD CONTRACT

By Contract committee member 

The UFT contract committee will meet with the city for the first contract negotiations on October 13th. 

Mayor Adam’s would like 1 to 2 percent raises max per year according to our sources at other unions. 

He has shown very little willingness to even sit down with the entire unionized city workforce that has expired contracts. 

According to our brothers and sisters in DC 37 - one of the largest city worker unions, he is asking for high premiums for healthcare- in other words pay into health care which would offset any raise and actually mean a large pay cut for our members. 

The UFT position is clear: premium free, quality  healthcare and substantial raises because of inflation. 

We must have improvements in our working conditions and our students’ learning  conditions - safe schools so our youngest can learn , schools with AC as temperatures rise is way past due, class size compliance with the new legislation and more attention to special education to ensure that the city is actually serving our kids who need the most help.

We have to understand going into contract negotiation 2 major points: 

1. Contract negotiations are built on back and forth- compromise- we get some of what you want, the city has to get some of what they want. 

2. In order  to get even some of what we want, we need leverage- what do we hold over the city’s head that will actually bring them to the table and help us get some or even a majority of what we want?

That is a question the union leadership has to answer, the contract committee has to answer,  and each and everyone of you has to answer. 

What can you do, what can we do, what should we do to get what we want, what our students need? What are you going to do in your chapter that you want all chapters to do?

With inflation gone crazy, can we afford to live in NYC and the surrounding areas without a substantial raise? Can the city keep a work force without one? 

If you look at workers across the country right now; from Amazon, to Starbucks, now Apple, and Trader Joe’s - they have had to make sacrifices, they organized, they spent their free time after work, before work, on lunch breaks- risking their jobs to form unions, to have what we have now- a certified union that can collectively bargain for salary and conditions.

Some workers have been fired, other have had hours cut, many have had to hire lawyers and spend countless hours in court, while you walked into a job with a union already formed, but 50 years ago our brethren made those same same sacrifices- you have what thousands, if not millions of workers want right now- a union- nearly 200,000 strong. 

We can’ttake that for granted.

In Seattle and Ohio this past year teachers had to go on strike, they had to make the ultimate sacrifice of giving up pay, salary, food on their table, healthcare for their children, in order to get what they wanted -and they won. 

I’m not saying a strike is inevitable- what I am saying is that we have to be willing to fight for what we want, we will have to sacrifice, we will have to show the city and public our demands are real and fair. 

So we need to ask you,

the person in the mirror, if we ask you to wear blue will you do it? If we ask you to call local elected officials and the mayor will you do it? If we ask to join a rally before or after school will you do it? If we ask to join a march in the city to the steps of city hall will you do it?

To show this mayor we mean business, what are you willing to do?  And yes, if we ask you to withhold your labor, stop working, go on strike as a last resort, so we can retain our healthcare , get the raises we need and have the schools our children deserve, will you do it?

ZELDIN'S PLATFORM AND VOTING RECORD ON PUBLIC EDUCATION AND LABOR SHOW HE IS NO FRIEND OF OURS

Some have suggested that we vote for Lee Zeldin for governor because the Democrats completely take our votes for granted so they don't have to support us in any meaningful way. The record funding and the lower class size bill did pass this year but we should be fair and examine Zeldin's record.

I checked Zeldin's plans and his record on education and labor issues. 

From Chalkbeat:

Zeldin has expressed substantial support for school choice and charter schools. In fact, he first announced his education agenda last spring outside of a Success Academy school in Queens. 

Zeldin supports lifting the cap on how many charter schools can open in New York, which was reached in the city in 2019. He also wants to establish “tax credits for school choice” and create education savings accounts, but doesn’t provide more details. With an education savings account, parents can withdraw their children from public schools and receive tax dollars in a restricted-use account to pay for private school or other educational options like therapy.

On Mayoral control which is one of our biggest problems in NYC:

On the city level, Zeldin saw eye to eye with Mayor Eric Adams and Hochul on extending mayoral control of schools.

This is pretty much a complete anti- public schools as I would like them to be agenda. If there is choice, the private and charter schools get to choose who they take while the public schools have no choice but to take every student who comes through their doors.

On broad labor issues, let's look at some of Zeldin's votes as a member of the House of Representatives.

From Vote Smart:

07/29/2021

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022

(Zeldin's Vote) No

Bill No. HR 4502

Outcome Passage - Bill Passed - House (219 - 208)

Date 07/29/2021

03/09/2021

Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021

(Zeldin's Vote) No

02/06/2020

Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019

(Zeldin's Vote) No

This is from the AFL-CIO:

A 14% pro-labor record has helped sink his lifetime score of 32% which isn't very good. This is no centrist Republican.

I know he would have to work with a Democratic State Legislature if elected governor but Zeldin clearly plans on moving the needle against labor and public education.

Governor Kathy Hochul is not close to perfect as she extended mayoral control and wanted it extended further but she did at least sign the lower class size bill, even though she delayed it so that it does not have to be fully implemented until 2028.

ANONYMOUS COMMENTS OUT

 I have made a bloggers decision to disable anonymous comments. For now at least, you will need a Google account to comment. That should clear up somewhat who is who here.

Thanks to the commenter who suggested this. At least, you will have to take the time to come up with a pen name.

Let's give it a try and see how it goes. I can't spend most of my time moderating.

OCTOBER 3 EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORT

 The Executive Board starts with Secretary Leroy Barr reading a report on the UFT Election. Leroy announces that Michael Mulgrew won. There were complaints but it is with AFT and UFT lawyers.

Mulgrew Report

We are going to wear blue on the first day of negotiations. We will have citywide things but we want for things to work up organically. Parent are our biggest allies. Class size; polls went up when bill was signed. Want things to develop organically at the local level. October 13 is first negotiation with the city. State Receivership list came out. DOE didn't make plans for these schools the last two years because of COVID. They were supposed to have plans the first two years. There can be serious ramifications for schools in receiverships. 290 teachers and 75 in other titles still in excess. There were 1,200 before.

At the DA on October 12, we will come up with something for healthcare committee. What is going on in the US in healthcare is an absolute disgrace. Healthcare is getting worse. We have to be strategically smart with providers and insurance companies. Can't believe these institutions are not for profit. Down in DC listening to President Biden talk about accomplishments in the Inflation Reduction Act. Pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies got much out of the legislation. We are not accepting what insurance companies and hospitals say any longer. This is a national outrage. This issue, public and private, is destroying workers. List is growing of unions who are getting raises but healthcare costs are going up. We are fighting it a different way in NYC. Healthcare costs have doubled to $11.3 billion. We have held costs down. Costs are premium free but it is not free. City and we pay for it. We've put in more as have MLC unions. It's not sustainable at that rate. Stuff pulled out of anti-inflation legislation. Healthcare costs get put into spending on education in the USAs. Other countries all have universal healthcare. This is very complicated stuff. Simple procedure with the same machines cost 3 times more in one place as opposed to another. Should get yearly checkups in doctor's office but in hospitals it costs much more. We have to educate our members. It comes down to Citizens United and the unlimited spending. Hosptitals spending on commercials by gouging patients. Insurance companies blame hospitals who blame insurance companies. This can't be fixed at the state level. it would take money from education. It must be fixed at the national level. We need an in-service committee. Medicare Advantage is just part of it. We have to change the administrative code because of a judge's decision. We offer 8 plans to retirees. Forget about everything else, you never take away someone's ability to bargain away. We go to the doctor a lot. We go more than any other city employees. We like to choose. We like to offer options. Medicare Advantage is part of Medicare. GHI is a private company. We could start a Medicare Advantage plan and would have to follow Medicare rules. We could design a city Medicare Advantage. We will not try to change Medicare. We had to stop people from going to the emergency room as it was costing $5,500 per visit. We want good quality healthcare with no premiums. We are the only municipality to offer premium free healthcare. City looking at second company not picked the first time (Aetna). They have to offer what we were offered.

Class size

First meeting on class size reduction. First students who get benefit are the ones with the most needs. We need a whole new subset of people within the union to look at it. In the pandemic we found out we have much more square footage than we thought. We gave city data on schools enrollment with the highest poverty level and enrollments. Class sizes will be the thing that will change the school system forever. Law passed and was signed by governor and we will make it happen.

Leroy Barr continues on election complaint. On September 1, we had our first response to the omnibus complaints and moved them on. Recommendations for 11 complaints are acted on.

Election committee will be enumerated.

New rules for advertising in NY Teacher.

Committee for election reforms.

Complaint 12- Union reps used union email addresses. Union used emails for administering the election. It was not campaigning. They approved campaign activity. No allegation that they campaigned with UFT addresses.

15- No evidence of retaliation against candidate Christina Gavin. No showing of retaliation.

16-April 11 report that was provided to the Executive Board. No impact on votes. Members can attend meetings. 

21-Delegate Assembly do not violate Robert's Rules. These are issues of UFT governance, not the election. President's Report varies in length. No allegation that contents were not important topics. This is unrelated to election. UFT recognizes non Unity people. November 2021. Jan 2022 Amendment made on Jan 19. and second one made on Jan 19 then May 21. Another three amendments. voted on brought up by UFC candidates.

Procedural changes were added. New voting process takes up more time. 3500 delegates. Mulgrew is not aware of caucus affiliation of those who speak.

23-UFT did not inappropriately violate advertising space. WECU after order of ads were agreed to.

24-UFT did not promote Unity candidates in NY Teacher. None of the articles violated the LMRDA. These were newsworthy events. 

25-UFT is not required to have anybody on the committee. Constitution-bylaws don't mention this.

26-UFT complaint process not impartial. That has been appealed to AFT.

27. No impact on election of not having bylaws. 

31-Observers. Adequate ballot observers were there. DOL does not require that observers be present at all parts of process. UFC didn't ask to observe anything but the count.

32-No specific allegation. No impact is alleged. 

Report before you with Mike Sill chairing.

Nick Bacon-UFC did not exist in November. He was a member of Unity at the time. UFC didn't exist in November. Amendments only or points of order to be called upon. 

Question Period

Mike Schirtzer- Get members in front of cameras to say we want what familes want?

Sill Answer-It will be a part of a larger campaign.

Ibeth Mejia asks about health plans. Choice of free plans. Why are we discussing limiting choice of free plans when it is in our contract?

Jeff Sorkin-Says choices are based on HIP rate. We are talking about amending administative plan. We are championing a choice. We are looking to preserve healthcare. We are looking to maintain choice for premium free healthcare.

Ibeth-We will be keeping GHI and HIP? It looks like we are bailing out the city. 

Sorkin-We want more options. Money comes from stabilization fund. 

Ilona Nanay-Will we only receive raises if we cut benefits? DC 37 letter.

Sorkin-We are not looking to reduce healthcare benefits. City says they won't negotiate. We don't know about that. We are trying to preserve health benefits.

Ronnie Almonte-Screenings for middle schools. Shouldn't we have admission on an equitable basis? How does UFT feel about screenings returning for middle schools?

Sill answer- I don't know how the UFT feels about it as we are all the UFT.

Ronnie-Use our resources for a common good.

Sill-We have had committees in the past and we will have a report at the next Executive Board about that.

Lydia A- Clarify on why are we looking to change the administrative code to help the city? How are we helped?

Jeff Sorkin- It comes down to what the judge said. He said one plan. We say there should be choice. Changing the code will maintain our voice.

Alex Jallot - Universal healthcare, we are not supporting universal healthcare on the state level because of cost, will we only support federal candidates who support national universal healthcare?

Sill-You can raise it as a resolution as a condition for support.

A non exec bd member tries to ask a question but Sill refers her to the open mic period.

Question about OP 44 for termination pay.

Sill answer that electronic form needs signatures in the right fonts. It doesn't work. Give Sill the situations we have with OP 44 so we can get it. Whatever craziness is out there, we want to know about it so people get the money they deserve.

Question on budgets. 

Sill: City has more money from state and federal governments and still cuts in schools. We need class size laws because city doesn't do right with the money they have. Must hold them to account. DOE has more money than ever so no reason why they should have smaller budgets.

Lydia A: Article 5, Section 12 of Executive Board: How is UFT pulicizing Executive Board meetings?

Sill-We are all in this together. We are happy to hear suggestions on how to get more people to Executive Board meetings. 

Reports from Districts

Coat drive

Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund applications soon online. Fewer fields need to be filled out. Income numbers are higher.

Midterm elections-Campaigning here and buses going to Pa, a battleground state. Phone banks will be open. Will be calling Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. If we lose Congress, much that the Supreme Court has done can be codified into law.

Food pantries

Street fair rescheduled.  on 120th Street after it was postponed on October 1. Wear pink on October 12.

Mike Schirtzer reports on team high school events. Union event for students on trades. GAMA not working out well. Janella holding an event later this month. Articulate problems. Thanksgiving coat drive. Salute to Rich Mantell for this. It goes to right place.

CTE initiatives

Walk AIDS day Dec 1.

Amy Arundell-Reception with Queens UFT staff and superintendents. 

Legislative Report

Tom Murphy reported on this on Reports from Districts. Cassie Prugh reports on deadline to register to vote coming up.

Special Orders of Business

Resolution against privatizing Medicare. Nick Bacon introduces it. Medicare is a public program we worked our lives for. We shouldn't be promoting programs that privatize Medicare. This resolution says we shouldn't privatize in a Medicare Advantage Plan. We are against prior authorizations. We fought for public schools. Medicare Advantage is very much like charter schools. This is a public employee issue.

Jeff Sorkin opposes it saying resolution is misguided and inaccurate. Not saying what is in the resolution.

Ilona mother was on Medicare Advantage and she died with inferior care. Why is NY Health Act antithetical to us? UFT supported it in 2015. It would epand healthcare across the community. I can't understand why we are opposed to it.

Vinve Gaglioneopposes resolution saying we have to be careful what plan you choose.  MA is not private. Medicare Advantage around for 25 years. MAP+ was crafted by MLC. It mirrors Seniorcare.

Another Unity person opposes it. Prices going up. Medicare offers huge subidies for others to administrer plans. We wanted a plan to mirror seniorcare. We are one of the few municipalities to offer premium free healthcare. 

Alex Jallot supports resolution. If we give an inch, they will want to take a mile from us. This is part of the bosses ploy to keep us down. This will be the same fight, every couple of years. 

Ibeth- Responds to Mr. Gaglione.  Supports choice. We need free choice. It would cost almost $400 a month for a retired married couple to keep what they have now. We need Medicare for all.

Question is called.

Vote is overwhelmingly against resolution.

DC 37 BARGAINING IMPACTS UFTers

The city opened bargaining with DC 37 on their expired contract. These negotiations impact all government employees who work for NYC because of pattern bargaining. Once one union settles on a salary increase percentage, it sets a pattern. All other unions that follow receive basically the same raises that follow the pattern for the current round of bargaining.

The letter from DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido (see below) to DC 37 members makes it abundantly clear that healthcare givebacks are on the table for this round of collective bargaining. Even though the UFT Contract entitles UFTers to a choice of premium free healthcare plans, the umbrella group of municipal unions called the Municipal Labor Committee could give away a great deal in terms of our healthcare benefit choices for both active people and retirees. The UFT and DC 37 make up the bulk of the MLC's weighted votes.

Meanwhile, the UFT's 500 person Negotiation Committee met Wednesday to prepare for UFT contract negotiations with the City-Department of Education. I wonder if they had a discussion on possible healthcare givebacks or DC 37 setting a pattern the UFT will be stuck with. 

COVID NUMBERS

Latest USA COVID-19 numbers from the NY Times:

Is this a lull before the next variant hits or is this truly a positive trend? 

Before anyone says how bad a job Biden has done with COVID, it would be difficult to argue with you.

This is sobering.

This tweet kind of sums it up:

As for vaccines, I am no scientist by any means but the data below shows vaccines are holding up in keeping people alive and cases down but they were oversold as the be-all and end-all and vaccines ended up coming up short against the variants as there is waning immunity and too many people didn't take them. Again, I am not a scientist so my view is no more enlightened than anyone's but I can read numbers.

 

Update in Wednesday's Times on vaccines. Shots continue to keep people living and out of the hospital. (Full disclosure: I got a bivalent shot.)

Just my opinion but any mandatory mitigations would be useless now as so many people wouldn't follow them based on politics. The science is still evolving. 

Back to my area of some expertise: You should know you can get time off on the DOE's dime if you need a booster and have a reaction or if you have COVID.

NYC ECONOMY GROWING

 Gothamist reports on the state of New York City's economy. The city's economy is not in a recession.

New York City’s recovery has been sluggish and uneven. The city lags behind the country and other major cities when it comes to regaining jobs lost during the pandemic. The slowest recovery has been in sectors with lower wage jobs like hospitality and retail.

Nonetheless, jobs are steadily returning, according to James Parrott, the director of economic and fiscal policy at the New School’s Center for New York City Affairs.

In August, the city added 24,000 jobs, according to data from the city’s Office of Management and Budget. Parrott said the figure is in line with the average monthly growth so far this year.

The city’s unemployment rate rose last month. However, the uptick was driven by a rise in job seekers — a sign that people are feeling more encouraged by the job market.

City tax revenues have yet to decline, despite Wall Street’s lagging performance this year.

Data compiled by the city Independent Budget Office (IBO), a nonpartisan agency, shows that city tax revenues grew between 2019 and 2021.

The IBO is projecting that combined tax revenues will increase this year as well. Money collected from property taxes, however, is expected to fall.

Nobody is saying that there isn't a real risk of a recession but the city does not need to be that worried. One of the causes for optimism for the city is nobody is expecting municipal union raises to be anywhere near the inflation rate.

Some budget experts have cautioned against making sky-is-falling predictions about the city’s fiscal future, saying the recent shortfall projections represent worst-case scenarios and that the economic conditions are still fluid.

Two factors driving the multi-billion dollar deficits are inflation and the struggling stock market. Both could cause the city’s labor costs to skyrocket, via upcoming contract negotiations with unions and pension investments.

The state comptroller’s office has said increases in union wages would cost taxpayers an additional $3.6 billion in 2026 under the projected inflation rate. That’s in addition to the $10 billion shortfall.

However, George Sweeting, the acting director of the IBO, said union raises have not always matched the inflation rate.

“So the assumption that it would be the same as the inflation rate may not hold,” he said.

The projected $10 billion budget hole assumes that Wall Street’s recent slide will force the city to contribute billions of dollars into its pension funds to meet the level of payments promised to municipal retirees.

But the stock market could recover some of its losses, blunting the impact on the city coffers.

Parrott stressed that the state comptroller is obligated to take a cautious approach in its fiscal forecast, one that uses conservative revenue estimates and assumes conditions for the city will not improve.

“That’s the nature of the reports they do,” he said. “It’s a risk-assessment approach to financial management.”

We can count on the unions to settle for much less than what the State Comptroller is projecting. We have Michael Mulgrew leading us who as usual will look out for the city more than his members. Members need to stand up and fight for fair raises. 

CHAPTER LEADER WEEKLY UPDATE: CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS START OCT 13; AVIATION HS SIXTH PERIOD PAY GRIEVANCE WIN; UFT TRYING TO PRESERVE HEALTHCARE CHOICE NOT PREMIUM FREE HEALTHCARE CHOICE

Three stories in this week's Chapter Leader Update caught my eye. The first was on contract negotiations.  The UFT Contract expired on September 13.

Contract Negotiations

The city has agreed to sit down with the UFT for the first negotiating session on Thursday, Oct. 13. Under state law governing public employees, the terms of an expired agreement remain in effect until a new one is reached. Salary steps and differentials remain in effect, but we need a new contract to secure the across-the-board pay increases we deserve. The current DOE-UFT contract expired on Sept. 13. The union’s 500-member negotiating committee is meeting on Sept. 28 to prepare for the start of bargaining. The results of our all-member survey will direct their discussions. 

Aviation HS Sixth Period Grievance Win

For over twenty years, shop teachers and other non-shortage area teachers at Aviation HS were teaching an extra class all term but were being ripped off by getting paid at a lower daily coverage rate instead of the higher special per session rate. The UFT did nothing to stop the cheating until 2021 when new Chapter Leader Ibeth Mejia did the research on why this practice was improper and then mobilized the shop teachers to fight back. One of those teachers won a precedent-setting grievance arbitration case this summer. 20 others grieved. The DOE is still fighting but soon the teachers et.al. case will go to arbitration and the teachers should be getting back pay.

The UFT has won an arbitration decision confirming that the Department of Education must pay the shortage rate — not the coverage rate — to any teacher asked to teach an extra period every day as part of their program. While the practice is not widespread, we now have a precedent-setting decision that providing coverage pay for teachers who teach a sixth-period class on a regular basis is a violation of the DOE-UFT contract. A principal may offer a sixth class to a teacher only if they get approval from the schools chancellor and pay the shortage rate. The arbitration began as a grievance filed by an Aviation HS teacher with an aviation mechanics license who taught a sixth-period class every day and received coverage pay. The DOE argued that since the aviation mechanics license is not on its list of shortage areas, the principal had the discretion to offer a sixth class to aviation mechanics teachers at the coverage rate. The arbitrator sustained the grievance, stating that the DOE-UFT contract is clear that the coverage rate is for covering a class on a day when the regular teacher of the class is not available and a substitute teacher could not be hired. The shortage rate is the only rate available in the contract for teaching a sixth class, regardless of whether the class is in a shortage area or not.

UFT says the practice of principals shortchanging teachers who teach an extra class is not widespread. Are they right?

Oppose any Healthcare Givebacks

The Municipal Labor Committee (an umbrella group of over 100 city government unions) is working with the city to try to get the City Council to change the Administrative Code (city law) on city employee healthcare benefits. 

The UFT Contract entitles UFTers to a choice of premium free healthcare plans (see Article 3G1). The change in the law would make it only a choice of health plans. This is part of a checklist on what the UFT is currently doing that is part of the Chapter Leader Update:

Lobbying the New York City Council to amend the administrative code to state explicitly that the city must negotiate with the Municipal Labor Committee on all employee health care plans and must allow that city unions may negotiate for employees to have health care plan choices.

Notice they don't say choice of free healthcare plans.  A judge threw out the city-MLC's attempt to move Medicare-eligible retirees into a Medicare Advantage Plan (privatized healthcare or what we termed Mulgrewcare) or pay premiums for what they have now. 

The city is trying to change the law so they can easily end choices for premium-free coverage and impose the inferior Mulgrewcare. They could then charge around $400 a month for couples to keep traditional Medicare-Seniorcare that today costs $0 in premiums. Unions like the Professional Staff Congress are opposing the change. The city and MLC will be able to end premium-free healthcare choices for active UFTers and non Medicare retirees if the change passes in the City Council.

Go to the Professional Staff Congress (CUNY union) page for more information and to get involved in the fight to oppose healthcare givebacks. 

United for Change (opposition group in the UFT) had a resolution for the UFT to draw a line in the sand and oppose healthcare givebacks for UFTers. It had 49% support at the Delegate Assembly last year. Let's bring it up again and move it over to majority status to make it UFT policy.

EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORT (Unedited)

I got in during Mulgrew's Report. For a full report on the open mic, go to New Action for Nick Bacon's report. Michael Mulgrew reported that most unions are without a contract and the general feeling among the Municipal Labor Committee is that the state of relations between the unions and the city is not very good. Negotiating Committee will soon be meeting. 

MOSL people have to make the right choices. There are schools made choices that were not in their interest. CL's have to be involved. 

Funding: Fair Student Funding is not really fair. We don't do hiring in the Department of Sanitation based on salaries. They hire the people they need. We are back to talking to Bloomberg people. Will testify before the City Council on this. FSF has led to much more special ed non-compliance. We are back to the standardized test crowd. Chancellor says the formula is not right.

Questions on Mulgrew Report:

Mike Schirtzer asks if we will address children and bussing. Are we going to jump in because of DOE incompetence?

Leroy Barr: We will address issue.

Mulgrew: DOE trying to put their hands on everything. Quite concerned on fixation on a management system as opposed to reality.

Question on APPR and MOSL. MOSL opens on October 7. Will members have enough time to make those decisions?

Mulgrew Answer: We have to push the DOE on this. There were schools where every teacher was Highly Effective or Effective on MOTP but are getting Developing because of MOSLS. Citywide chapter Leader forum on MOSL. CL's who want to bring MOSL committee people with them is fine.

Alex from high school asks who makes fair student funding decisions.

Mulgrew Anwer: It is the mayor. It is not a subject of collective bargaining. Bloomberg wanted to treat every school as a separate store like a franchise. DOE should pay out of their budget for basic things a school needs and school budgets should only be about extras. We had a committee under de Blasio. They had recommendations. New administration has a new committee. We will take action against it if it is going the wrong way. Other city agencies don't measure experience factor when figuring out local budgets.

Nick Bacon-APPR consequences from last year law was passed that we could waive APPR. We signed off but city said no. Last year, we hadn't had testing for so long. Kids not ready when they came back. What can we do about teachers who were rated unfairly? Teachers with TIPs can get micromanaged. What is the UFT going to do with teachers who have consequences?

Mulgrew Anwer: We already have a system set up and we are going back at them. State gave right to waive APPR for two years but NYC wouldn't do it. Percent of people rated low is around .5%. System is set up. Members reaching out to us. 

Approval of Minutes:

Lydia A asks about election complaints. Why was the last meeting adjourned without a vote on the complaints? We ruled on that previously and they were voted on them. If you disagree, move to the American Federation of Teachers. Lawyer Beth Norton says those complaints have already been moved onto the AFT.

Minutes approved.

Staff Director's Report

Leroy Barr reports on Making Strides walk, negotiating committee, next Exec Bd and DA.

Question Period

Question: ENL coordinator, how is ENL testing going citywide? Uvalde, principal wants to know rooms where locks aren't working. Is there anything on that?

Leroy Barr answer: Jeff P will reach out to you. We will get back to you on ESL testing.

Mike Schirtzer: With storm situation in Puerto Rico and DR, is disaster relief already helping?

Barr Answer: AFT is having conversations on that. Power is out but Puerto Rico is near and dear to the AFT's heart. We will keep you posted on that. 

Karen Aford adds that we have gotten communication but we are already in conversations about helping out.

Question: In one of the 50 schools with messed up MOSLS, people getting formal and two informals. Why are we getting 3 or two observations?

Mary Vaccaro nswer: Put in a complaint. 168 have come in so far. Email we will get specifics about your school.

Ilona: Substitute teachers, can long term subs get on contract negotiating committee?

Answer: Yes

New teacher week rate of just over 51 dollars. How did we agree on that?

Mike Sill answer: This is is the training rate which has been in the contract for many years.  Negotiating committee can look at that for the next round of bargaining. 

Question: Early childcare workers, can they get a letter about covering transportation?

Mike Sill answer: Met with early childcare workers after the meeting and then we met with supervisors who gave their vision. We got a draft of a new proposal. We can't stop DOE from reshuffling central offices. DOE wants people to reapply for new positions. Responsibilities are similar to old positions. DOE looking like they are just trying to reduce people in these positions but the need is the same. DOE giving additional postings. People will either end up in similar position or in other opportunities. We are waiting to find out what other opportunities are. People are not in excess right now. They are still employed in that office. They could become excessed. We are looking over posting. Email campaign going. DOE, can we rescind letter? They are not being excessed right now. If they don't want to reapply, they can go back to old DOE positions in districts.

Ibeth Mejia: Grievance for sixth class. Thanks David Campbell and his team and Janella Hinds for testifying. When will UFT publicizes this so others schools can get involved? When will et al people who filed get paid? How will other teachers know?

Leroy Barr: We put it in Chapter Leader Update

David Campbell. You did a good job getting other people to grieve. DOE being who they are, we are going to have to put other people on grievance calendar as this will come up in October. Shortage rate for shortage area and non-shortage area needs to get special per session pay. This was a strong decision so going forward nobody should have this problem of getting coverage pay instead of shortage area. Principal doesn't have discretion to offer the class, they have to give the special per session rate.

Ibeth: What about schools that have non-traditional schedules?

Campbell: It is pro rated pay.

Edward Calamia: With all the federal money coming in, programs for latch key kids to come in early? What does Union object to in administrative code 121266?

Leroy Barr: It is important for latch key kids to have something.

Jeff Sorkin: Judge overstepped his bounds by ruling we couldn't get Medicare Advantage.  We want to preserve choices.

Lydia A: How can we fight to get our members in the budget fight?

Leroy Barr: We have been involved throughout the summer.

Mary Vaccaro: Fair Student Funding meetings have not gone well. You can see it on the Info Hub. We have spoken; meetings only exactly 1.5 hours. We will have borough meetings and we will figure out how to get our voices heard. 

Ronnie Almonte: What is in place to organize new members? Some hired on Bard line while others are on DOE line? Some schools have a long tradition of ora=ganizing. What can we do to organize unorganized?

District 30 Rep answer: Says we have organzing work done in her district. Can be for 1,2  or three year people. 

Janella Hinds: Agreement in Bard and other early colleges. Some CUNY PSC; some UFT. Particular realities at schools with different structures. UFT and PSC members have different realities. 

Alex: Smaller class sizes, committee formed last year. What are we doing to pressure Adams to honor that agreement?

Leroy Barr Answer: Pressure is the law. Thanks everyone who did the actions to get us where we are. We must make sure the city follows the law. Making sure 20% that get served first are for black and brown people.

Reports from Districts

Tom Murphy, tough week for retirees. We lost several people in the last week. Florence Fidell, original para organizer. Moved to Florida and organized ther. We lost Mona Davidson who organized Florida office. Town Hall with retirees will touch on issue of retirees' healthcare. Involved with Campaign 2022 on Senate. In touch with Amazon workers who won the union election on Staten Island. Trying to help. Inflation Reduction Act, monumental piece of legislation: drug companies can't raise rates beyond inflation rate; $2,000 annual cap for drugs, negotiations for highest price drugs, adult vaccines free and Affordable Care Act expanded.

Not sure the district: South Brooklyn school will be renamed after a principal.

Italian American Heritage person: Bocci tournament raised $1,400 for UFT Disaster Relief Fund.

Exec Bd At Large Person. Mural for K295 and 443 is now entrance.

D21: Schools raised thousands of dollars for Making Strides.

Servia Silva: D4 will be doing something for Hispanic Heritage Month. Flyers should be up.UFT members will be shaking it.

Mike Sill: DOE mishandled medical accommodation process. We brought this up last week. DOE moving on this. Getting accommodations.

Rashad Brown: LGBTQ history month, happy hour at place where movement began Stonewall inn.

David KL Retiree workshops coming up.

Lamar Hughes: Good start in D25. In PS 244 story. Pre k teacher made puppets out of people in the school community to teach children various tasks. d25 and D26 new members meet.

Janella Hinds: Care in time  for people with dimentia. March Oct 23.

Special Orders of Business

Mary Vaccaro on teacher center courses. Workshops on learning apple. Gooogle giving workshops too. CTLE courses going. Teacher Center sites can help for things like lamenating.

Resolution on Mobilzing for a Contract fight:

Nick Bacon asks for an Action Committee. Mulgrew said it's not looking good. We are without a contract. In the past, we've had Action Committees like in 2004. When we haven't had a contract in the past, we have had these committees.

Amy Arundell: Speaks against resolution and says we have an action committee called the negotiating committee. Action is part of their responsibility. Not against in theory, it isn't necessary.

Mike Sill follows Amy and says we have a negotiating committee. Why take authority of negotiating committee and give it to us. We are smaller in number. Mobilization is going to be needed as part of contract fight. 

Rashaad Brown: It excludes people. 

Carl Cambira: Things have changed since 2004. 

Mike Schirtzer: Can do both. Negotatiating Committee and Action Committee can also do actions to get things started.

Alex: This isn't an either or thing. Good for us to have an action committee that works in tandem with the negotiating committee. It can happen here and in the negotiating committee.

Ilona: This is not an either or but an and. More folks involved, better chance for us to get a contract. Negotiating committee off to a slow start. We need people to meet here to talk about things that aren't fleshed out at the negotiating committee.

Elementary school person: people not involved flocking to get to negotiating committee. It needs the chance to do what it was put in place to do. It indirectly undercuts what negotiating committee does.

\Question is called. 

Point of information on debate not being balanced.  Leroy said Robert's Rules doesn't call for one speaker for and one speaker against but does call for one other speaker for.

Ed Calamia: Action committee could keep members activated even when there is a contract settled. It is an independent committee needed.

Melanie: Point of order on speech not being in keeping with resolution. Leroy says it's not in order.

Nick Bacon: We could amend.

Vote to call question passes easily.

Vote on resolution: A few yes,overwhelming majority- No to forming action committee.

CROSS-UNION RETIREES ORGANIZING COMMITTEE PROVIDES CONTACT INFO FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

On Facebook CROC put a link to contact your City Council Member to protect our healthcare. 

Click on the link for each member and you can find their phone number.

When you find your Council Member's contact information, plesase take the time to make a phone call and/or email to urge your local Council Member to oppose the change to Administrative Code 12-126 that will give the city and Municipal Labor Committee leeway to weaken city government employee and retiree healthcare. This includes UFTers. If you reside outside of NYC, use your school's address to locate your Council Member. 

Retirees don't want privatized Medicare Advantage (Mulgrewcare). Active workers and retirees must oppose any healthcare givebacks. Right now UFTers are contractually entitled to a choice of premium free healthcare plans. Let's keep it that way.

Everyone has an assignment to contact their Council Member. We need to get active.

PSC PRESIDENT DAVIS CALLS FOR ACTION TO SAVE CITY WORKER AND RETIREE (INCLUDING UFTers) HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE

James Davis is the President of the Professional Staff Congress (CUNY union). They are one of the hundred plus NYC government worker unions that make up the Municipal Labor Committee. The UFT and DC 37 are the two biggest unions in the MLC.

The UFT and DC 37 are leading the charge to change city law so the city can charge higher costs and/or limit healthcare quality. For retirees who don't want to pay monthly premiums, the city and MLC were going to force them into an inferior privatized Medicare Advantage plan (Mulgrewcare) until a judge stopped them. If the MLC and mayor can convince the City Council to change the law, active workers and retirees can expect healthcare givebacks.

The PSC is leading the opposition to the changes in the law on healthcare. Ten other MLC unions voted no. President Davis in his latest email explains what's at stake. Here is an excerpt; you can read the full email below.

The proposed change to the Administrative Code section 12-126 means that the only premium-free retiree plan would be Medicare Advantage, and the current Medicare/SeniorCare plan will cost individuals at least $200/month. But it would also allow the City to renegotiate the “benchmark” reimbursement rate for active employees too. 

PSC says this on their website:

The City has an obligation to cover retirees' health insurance costs, and SeniorCare has done it well, without premiums, co-pays, or prior authorizations. The Council will vote on a proposed Administrative Code change that breaks this compact. The code change also opens a door to future changes to the quality or cost of active employee health insurance.

We have t take a stand: No healthcare givebacks! Please take action.

The full email from President Davis:

Dear PSC members and retirees,

This is an urgent follow-up on my September 9 email about the City’s attempt to weaken protections for municipal retiree health insurance. This is not just a CUNY retiree issue, it’s also an active employee issue. The proposed change to the Administrative Code section 12-126 means that the only premium-free retiree plan would be Medicare Advantage, and the current Medicare/SeniorCare plan will cost individuals at least $200/month. But it would also allow the City to renegotiate the “benchmark” reimbursement rate for active employees too. 

Here’s what you can do right now: Notify your City Council representative and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams that the quality of retiree health care is at stake now, and active employees could be next, if the City regulation changes as proposed. 

There is no time to lose. The City Council will soon be asked to conduct public hearings and reach a decision on the matter. 

There are alternative approaches to managing the City’s rising health care costs that should be considered. Instead of amending the Administrative Code - opening the door to reduced quality and/or increased costs to retirees and active members - savings could be achieved through measures such as going after the hospitals for exorbitant charges, addressing the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs, and auditing current insurance providers. The burden should not fall on workers, retirees, and their dependents.

The PSC was among the 11 unions that voted against this proposal because: 

• We do not support the privatization of Medicare, and retirees who opt to remain in traditional Medicare should not have to pay monthly premiums.



• The proposed Administrative Code change gives the City leverage to compel active employees to pay more for health insurance benefits in future negotiations or reduce their quality. 

We urge PSC members and retirees to send this Act Now letter to your City Council representatives and Speaker Adams. If you reside outside New York City or are retired from a CUNY college, please use the address of the campus where you work and adapt the Act Now letter to indicate your college affiliation. 

In solidarity,

James Davis, President

LIVE BLOGGING FROM CHAPTER LEADER MEETING

Michael Mulgrew started by calling for a moment of silence for three UFT activists who recently passed on.

Mulgrew Report

It isn't a DA. Class size legislation passed on the day the Queen passed so it was nowhere on the news. Class size bill has been a goal of the UFT for over 50 years. Paid Parental Leave was something we wanted for decades also. 25 years ago a court ruled the children of NYC were not receiving a sound basic education and class size was one of the reasons. That court case took 17 years. Legislature had to do it. Governor Pataki didn't want to do it. He didn't want to send more money to NYC. Legislature wanted to include other needy districts. Governor who settled this was Elliot Spitzer. He didn't last much longer after settling it with Legislature. Money was supposed to be phased in. Governor David Patterson said there was no way there was no money for Contracts for Excellence in 2009. Legislature finally funded Contracts for Excellence now called Foundation Aid that Governor Hochul signed. She said it was an obligation to the children. City said no to smaller class sizes from this state aid. Bloomberg never put money in. He wanted classes of fifty which he had so he has social-emotional issues. DOE doesn't want to take this work on. They want to put schools on their own. If class sizes are maximized, it increases central DOE budget. We had a big fight last year with City Council on class size but when state finally fulfilled its financial obligation, we went back to what the court said about how class size was part of a sound basic education. Bill on class size passed overwhelmingly in both houses. City said it can't be done. Governor looked at it. We gave her the information. We have the funding, we need the lower clas size to force the DOE to do it. Governor added an extra year onto the implementation. It is now the law of New York State to reduce NYC class sizes starting next year. Planning starts now. 20% of classrooms must meet the 20 K-3, 23 4-8 and 25 in high schools. It is not about moving children out, it's about building more seats, not forcing people to move. Used parents to say they would limit specialized high schools. Either build more schools or make specialized schools bigger. It is political to build schools. Parents and teacher make noise and new schools are built. Francis Lewis High School got an annex built. They should have had this done 15 years ago. Class size legislation will be a long process. There are waivers. For example, if a schools only has one physics teacher, they will get a waiver. They need to recruit more physics teachers. HR Connect telling people after waiting on hold to call the union. This will change the face of the Union forever. Ten years from now these lower class sizes will be the norm. Thanks for what people did to make this happen. This is historic legislation.

Contract

Notice that the contract expired yesterday. 98% of workers who work for NYC are without a contract. Legal department sent notification to the city. Process of scheduling first official negotiating session is going on. First negotiation will be in October. Probably in the afternoon. Trying to get over 500 people from negotiating committee to attend the first session so the city sees all of you. 

New hires

City made new hires wait outside in heat before entering new hires meeting. Chapter leaders need to make new UFTers feel welcome. Make them feel at home. They have phenomenal energy.

Safety

Borough response teams will be conduits. Protocols are changed. Everyone has a citywide radio. Not all have an NYPD radio. City has challenges. We want problems to be outside of schools. Jeff will send out more information. We need to do basics with a locked front door and a buzzer in every building. They have them around the country but not NYC.

Healthcare

Many unions getting raises but increased health premiums are eating away at increases. Teachers and other essential workers are in short supply. Paychecks not going up because of increases in healthcare costs. We are looking to keep a premium-free system for retirees and in service members. 13% increase in healthcare not sustainable. Record profits for insurance companies, pharmaceutical and others. We will have an in-service committee. $600 to take a temperature is real. Too many going to emergency rooms so we put a $500 copay on emergency room visits by setting up urgent care centers. Now they are raising rates for urgent care centers. That is a fight we are in. We need federal intervention.

Teacher's Choice

It is the same amout as last year. 

Accommodations

It is a mess. Those who have immune suppression issues still can get COVID accommodations. DOE on Friday before school left it to principals. Principals relying on DOE legal asked if people can do jobs. We are trying to get this rectified. 

All should get paid to set up digital classrooms. That has been negotiated.

DOE restructuring

It was supposed to be done in May, June and July. It didn't get done. It got done a little in August. They still haven't gotten it fully done. DOE still moving people around. Some palace intrigue still going on. Many still think the school is at the bottom of the food chain. We are pushing to make sure the school is at the top. Superintendents are in charge. They should fully support schools. They will fix special ed compliance issues. Consultations with principals is important. Are they trying to solve problems or cover their butts? 

It is tough to live out there. Members deserve a real raise. Nurses applauded two years ago; we were applauded. Now it is back to normal. We have to reach out to members to connect with them. We are more than an insurance policy. Between District Reps and Borough Reps and Field Reps working on ideas. Contract will be a big fight. Record reserves but mayor says we are going to fall off a financial cliff next week. City doesn't work without its employees like sanitation, us and the rest.

Making Strides

Wear pink to support this. Large crowd on Labor day. Mulgrew will scream and get arrested but we need to harness member passion. Parents and members like their schools. Problems are from the DOE. We have been there for children of NYC. Classrooms, guidance offices, nurse's offices are where work is going on. We have to go forward. 

Questions

Question on Class size: What are prek and 3K numbers?

Mulgrew answer: 15 for 3K and 18 for prek is already covered under state law.

Question: I Ready has lesson plans. Can I tell principal that is my lesson plan?

Answer: As long as it is applicable to what you are doing, what is the problem? Administration should be concerned with what you are actually doing. If you are teaching from the book they gave you, it should be alright.

Question: District 75 class sizes, are they covered by legislation?

Answer: They are already covered on class sizes. D75 should not be displaced to lower general ed classes. Law prioritizes greatest needs first. First 20% must be neediest kids.  60% could have met it by last year. We are not hurting students. 

Question: Principal removed last year who didn't do all of the observations for teachers. Was told teachers who didn't get observed would get S or U. Veteran teachers who didn't get observed, how many observations will they have to do this year? What about untenured people?

Answer: Many schools didn't do MOSLS. Small number, greater this year, who didn't do observations. Email Leroy Barr. Teachers did their job. If administrators didn't do their job, Contractual and policy issues. Tenure question is on law. For veterans, it is contractual question. We will get back to you after we do consultation with Chancellor on Monday.

Question: Senior members who got lump sum payments from last contract worried about getting big tax bill for retro checks?

Answer: Taylor Law takes away our ability to strike. A strike voids our contract. We don't like that and want the 2 days penalty for every day out on strike. Taylor law also keeps expired contract in place after it expires. We like that. Step and longevity increases stay in place. We knew under Bloomberg we would not have a contract for five years because Bloomberg wanted to make everyone an at-will employee. I do not believe it will take five years now. De Blasio came in when there were no reserves. This administration has largest reserve. We worked with de Blasio to figure it out. I don't expect it will be five years. Hopefully, everyone will get their retro money without an undue tax burden.

Question: Testing coordinator got a great deal of testing material. Is there a push to assign testing for MOSL's? Screens.

Answer: Baseline screenings are being done everywhere. We told DOE they are not part of the MOSL If they are trying to figure out where a student is, then it shouldn't be part of an accountability framework. We need to get together on MOSL. Many new people. The opening was quiet. We will get out different MOSLs to find out what is best for your school. We are fine with them baselining but it shouldn't be part of accountability system because it skews numbers like with special ed compliance.

Question: What is going on  with GAMA (grading, messaging attendance system) that does not work and will not work for a couple of years?

Answer: They have been building this for five years. Remember Schedula which was created by a group of teachers from South Brooklyn which people didn't like when it was sent out. Nothing should take five years to develop. They are creating stuff with ancient computer system that doesn't work. VP Hinds and VP Gordon should collect information on this.

Question: Trying to build a union in school with Professional Development Committee, we need PD for Gama. Principal said it is student engagement and nothing else and he wouldn't listen to us.

Answer: We know your school and ding dong company is coming. Did they propose PD on student achievement? Answer is no and Mulgrew responds that there will be multiple visits. Janella Hinds is informed to get in touch with this CL to talk about relevance. Teachers want to teach and have paperwork and PD that are relevant. This is across the country. CL says we will work to rule if we don't get PD. Mulgrew says we need relevant PD. You will be getting visitors before Friday.

Question: September Parent Conference tomorrow, it is the first full week of school. Some staffers don't have access to DOE accounts. Can we let DOE know it is a little early to have Parent Teacher Conferences?

Answer: We need to have those things in place to have meaningful interactions with parents. We will advocate on your behalf.

Question: New CL having a baby when Mulgrew came to school last year (Mulgrew congratulates her and family), morale low. Principal denied personal business day and said take a vacation day. Can he do this?

Answer: No and contact Mike Sill.

Question on negotiations

Answer: We deal with city Office of Management and Budget. They always say there is no money. One other union is about to start negotiations. Parents still like teachers. We will go from there.

(Sorry folks, I have another appointment and have to leave for the last ten minutes. Please help me get updated information.)