Where does The ABC slate fall on the NYHA debate?
Our focus must be preserving active & retiree healthcare. Restore the current union leadership's givebacks that have diminished our healthcare - including making sure traditional Medicare is preserved
Current top UFT leadership opposes the New York Health Act (NYHA). The opposition caucuses support some form of it. As do many within the Unity caucus, the administrative caucus currently controlling our union, as reflected by the two Delegate Assembly resolutions that passed overwhelmingly in 2015 and 2017.
So where’s A Better Contract on this issue?
Our survey data and subsequent feedback from our Member Assemblies strongly indicate that while UFT members are unhappy with the decline of their healthcare under Michael Mulgrew and his pal Mayor Adams, there are significant reservations about implementing NYHA.
Our partners in NYC Retirees are particularly concerned with how its passage into law could impact retired UFT members living outside of NYS.
In deference to all of this member feedback, we are not taking a position supporting or opposing NYHA at this time — instead, we’re listening to you.
Our tentative platform calls for protecting and strengthening the current healthcare framework, especially the existing plan retirees and active members have enjoyed for decades — such as Emblem/GHI and SeniorCare with traditional Medicare.
Our slate consists of those who may have personal views against or for NYHA, and still, our commitment from ABC’s inception has been that individuals’ personal or partisan views must come second to the collective will and best interests of all union members.
As for NYHA, we are open to working with state legislators and other stakeholders to get more information and provide more member input to ensure that any eventual legislation has the informed approval and consent of UFT membership.
This position is in particularly strong contrast to the current leadership, who was directed by the Delegate Assembly in 2015 to lobby lawmakers to support NYHA but has refused to do so because it doesn’t gel with Michael Mulgrew’s personal politics.
Needless to say, we don’t think one person should arbitrarily and unilaterally get to make such a momentous decision.
Healthcare is an important issue, and no one has all the answers. We’d love to hear from you — what are YOUR ideas on healthcare for UFT members? How would you like to see our healthcare improved?
Send us a message at info@uftmembers.org
To learn more about A Better Contract, go to: http://abettercontract.org
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