There are FOUR DAYS left to vote.
And that's counting TODAY.
This is just a reminder—if you are retired UFT, you need to VOTE for RETIREE ADVOCATE right now. If you haven’t received a ballot, you can still call the American Arbitration Association at 800-529-5218.
They’re counting votes on June 14th, and AAA has to have your vote before then. If I hadn’t already voted at this point, I would drag my carcass to AAA and hand-deliver it right now.
I remember, as chapter leader, members bitterly complaining about how awful this or that contract was, and how indifferently Mulgrew and his salaried sycophants did this or that. I’d ask them, “Did you vote?” and often they’d say no, I did not. I remember one member told me he’d posted the envelope on his refrigerator, and by the time the deadline passed, it was still there.
If we ever could, we can no longer afford that.
Voting, for my money, is essential. If you don’t participate, you void your right to complain. Mulgrew is in place for at least another year. If you want to jolt him into reality, you need to vote. NO ONE wants to be dumped into inferior health care.
Mulgrew’s number one retired toadie, Tom Murphy, loves to boast about his civility. Sure, my opponents will fight for you, but I’m a nice guy.
Tom Murphy is indeed civil. He is so civil, in fact, that over the entire school year, he has not held a single motions period. From his point of view, evidently, shutting out the desire of members to make changes is very civil. Certainly Eric Adams appreciates it.
MOTION:
Whereas, Medicare Advantage is a for-profit entity that places the profit of companies above the needs of patients, be it therefore;
Resolved, that the UFT Retired Teachers chapter opposes any imposition of an Advantage plan on our members, and be it further;
Resolved, that we support real Medicare, along with a supplement, for all city workers, and will actively fight any attempt to take it from us.
That should’ve been proposed a long time ago. That would be an immediate vote requiring no daunting voyage to a mailbox.
But Mike Mulgrew very much appreciates Tom Murphy quashing our voice and vote. He appreciates it so much that he’s put Murphy up for a new term. The important thing for Mulgrew is that his agenda, blocking genuine discussion or progress on health care, be kept in place.
Retired members cannot afford Medicare Advantage. We need to stand up for ourselves, and send Mulgrew a clear message. Here are our immediate priorities:
VOTE
Make sure you deliver your ballot.
Tell your friends to vote.
Make sure they deliver their ballots.
Tell your friends to tell THEIR friends to vote.
Make sure your friend’s friends deliver their ballots.
On June 14th, there will be a ballot count over at AAA. We need to make sure our ballots are there to be counted.
Please do your part, and make sure your friends to theirs.
Our very lives hang in the balance.