I've been reading your blog for quite a while now, and although I teach in upstate NY and am not affected by the shenanigans you experience, your words serve as a warning. I am now more aware of the issues you write about, and they have allowed me to critically examine my own union's negotiations and my own union's communication with its membership. I am awake now, and as I'm close to retirement myself the issues you raise are very important to me now.
Thank you for your untiring, important pieces Arthur! Mulgrew and his Unity loyalists may keep hoping we don't notice their sneaky agendas - but we've got such tenacious warriors like you who keep calling them out. Like you so powerfully show, Mulgrew felt he could assure us with his 'about-face' empty words and inaction. And as a reminder, or for those who don't know, I thought I'd add two other ways Mulgrew is betraying us with every passing day which Marianne Pizzitola noted: Not only has Mulgrew NOT yet written a UFT amicus in support of each of our retiree legal cases, but, as one of the most powerful MLC Heads, why hasn't he even demanded a withdrawal of the MLC amicus - that brief his Alan Klinger (attorney for both UFT & MLC) submitted to support the City in overturning our 1st Campion Case (to redefine our protective Code 12-126) - as well as the MLC amicus against us retirees' 3rd or Bentkowski Case (re: NYC Aetna MA PPO Plan) And, YES-YES-YES! Mulgew's silence as to co-pays speaks huge and ugly volumes. I got to attend the Supreme Court Hearing for the City's appeal to lift the injunction on the 2022 Senior Care co-pays. And get this: To help legitimized their arguments these co-pays, both the City and Emblem attorneys even stressed how actives don't complain about their co-pays)!! Insane but true!! -& Marianne's verified this. I say loads of unthanks & shame to Mulgrew and his smart people (not to mention his unholy lawyer) -that words like those even made it in that court room!!
Thanks Laura, for the great points you make. I can tell you, though, that I only retired a year ago, and a lot of people complained about the exploding co-pays. They didn't do it to the extent we do, and we will. But it's disgraceful how he says a few words, lays back, does nothing, and thinks we won't notice. You'd think he'd have learned something from his crushing loss. Clearly he has not and we have more to teach him and his army of paid sycophants.
Great column!!
Thanks Keith!
Thank you for taking such a strong stand, and may it be known by all in the UFT and elsewhere.
Thanks for your kind words. I appreciate that, and feel free to share my work with anyone and everyone.
I've been reading your blog for quite a while now, and although I teach in upstate NY and am not affected by the shenanigans you experience, your words serve as a warning. I am now more aware of the issues you write about, and they have allowed me to critically examine my own union's negotiations and my own union's communication with its membership. I am awake now, and as I'm close to retirement myself the issues you raise are very important to me now.
Thank you and good luck in your struggle!
Thanks for your kind words. I hope your union's leadership turns out to be doing a better job than mine.
This is going on with civil servant retirees ALL OVER the STATE! Fact!
Very sorry to hear that. Time to fight back.
Thank you for your untiring, important pieces Arthur! Mulgrew and his Unity loyalists may keep hoping we don't notice their sneaky agendas - but we've got such tenacious warriors like you who keep calling them out. Like you so powerfully show, Mulgrew felt he could assure us with his 'about-face' empty words and inaction. And as a reminder, or for those who don't know, I thought I'd add two other ways Mulgrew is betraying us with every passing day which Marianne Pizzitola noted: Not only has Mulgrew NOT yet written a UFT amicus in support of each of our retiree legal cases, but, as one of the most powerful MLC Heads, why hasn't he even demanded a withdrawal of the MLC amicus - that brief his Alan Klinger (attorney for both UFT & MLC) submitted to support the City in overturning our 1st Campion Case (to redefine our protective Code 12-126) - as well as the MLC amicus against us retirees' 3rd or Bentkowski Case (re: NYC Aetna MA PPO Plan) And, YES-YES-YES! Mulgew's silence as to co-pays speaks huge and ugly volumes. I got to attend the Supreme Court Hearing for the City's appeal to lift the injunction on the 2022 Senior Care co-pays. And get this: To help legitimized their arguments these co-pays, both the City and Emblem attorneys even stressed how actives don't complain about their co-pays)!! Insane but true!! -& Marianne's verified this. I say loads of unthanks & shame to Mulgrew and his smart people (not to mention his unholy lawyer) -that words like those even made it in that court room!!
Thanks Laura, for the great points you make. I can tell you, though, that I only retired a year ago, and a lot of people complained about the exploding co-pays. They didn't do it to the extent we do, and we will. But it's disgraceful how he says a few words, lays back, does nothing, and thinks we won't notice. You'd think he'd have learned something from his crushing loss. Clearly he has not and we have more to teach him and his army of paid sycophants.