The 9 a.m. Shady Deal, Explained by Leah Lin

What every UFT member needs to know before the Delegate Assembly vote.

the_leah_lin

A post shared by @the_leah_lin

Good morning,

This is morning rush with Leah Lin and my clock starts now

I wanted to talk about something most UFT members might not realize. On September 29th tomorrow, a major healthcare deal will be decided and while chapter leaders and delegates technically get a vote, that vote is largely performative.

Why? Because the Municipal Labor Committee Steering committee of which Mulgrew is a member is meeting at 9:00 a.m. that same day, hours before delegates meet at 4 p.m. The steering committee will decide whether to take the healthcare deal to the entire MLC for a vote. If the steering committee of the MLC decides to do this on Monday morning at 9 AM, the deal could be locked in before our school-based reps even speak. That’s not democracy.

That’s why it’s so critical to Mulgrew that the DA vote yes on this deal. Feeling increasing pressure by the questions that members are asking that really can’t be answered, the UFT blasted out an email and dressed it up as if all officers were part of the negotiating process — because everyone knows members don’t trust Mulgrew. That email isn’t about informing members. It’s about silencing legitimate questions, painting dissent as ‘misinformation’ coming from disgruntled people, and pressuring delegates to fall in line. That’s not leadership — it’s desperation. And it’s an abuse of power.

Mulgrew Myth #1: “Premium-free.”

False. In 2018, the MLC promised the city 600 million a year — in perpetuity — in healthcare savings. That money comes straight out of our pockets in the form of raises that were lower than we needed and deserved, because we’re always on the hook for the city’s healthcare costs — costs that should be the city’s problem, not ours.

Here’s the reality: since 2018, the cost of living in New York has risen by more than 20%, but our pay hasn’t kept pace. That gap — the raises we should have gotten — is how this plan is funded. Calling the plan “premium-free” is like calling dinner free after they’ve already taken the cost out of your paycheck.

Mulgrew Myth #2: “More providers.”

‘Providers’ doesn’t necessarily mean doctors — it can include urgent-care chains, telehealth apps, and corporate middlemen. Leadership refuses to release contracts, network lists, or prior-auth details. They’re asking delegates to vote blind, and once UnitedHealthcare — notorious for denying claims — gets in, the consequences may be dire.

Mulgrew Myth #3: “Self-funded is safer.”

It means the city controls the plan and decides how to cut costs. The Healthcare Stabilization Fund — meant to protect us — is already bankrupt, and it was the city that bankrupted it. If they misused that fund, how can we trust them with our care?

Mulgrew Myth #4: “Leadership will protect us.”

Protect us from what, exactly? Because it sure doesn’t look like they understand the threats we’re facing. They’ve already agreed to allow insurance companies to deploy AI algorithms to deny claims faster and more often. They have made a deal with the number 1 worst health care insurance company in the business!

They’ve signed onto the idea that co-pays should be used as “behavior modification” punishing members for using the care they’re entitled to.

And let’s not forget Mulgrew’s push to privatize retiree Medicare , a betrayal that only failed because members organized and stopped it. This isn’t protection. It’s collaboration with the very forces undermining our healthcare.

This isn’t just about five year healthcare plan it’s about the future. Once this door closes, it’s nearly impossible to reopen. And it’s being rushed through at the worst time of year for educators when we’re too busy to fight back. Coincidence?

Here’s what to do: Talk to your chapter leader and delegates now. Demand a pause on this vote until full details are shared — and if leadership refuses, tell them to vote NO.

email Mulgrew directly. Tell him you’re paying attention and you demand to be heard not dismissed.

Our healthcare isn’t a line item on a city budget, it’s about whether we and our families live with dignity, security, and peace of mind. This vote will shape our wages, our care, and our power for decades. If we stay silent, we’re saying it’s okay for someone else to decide our worth. But if we speak up now — to our chapter leaders, our delegates, and to Mulgrew himself, we’re reminding them, and ourselves, that this union answers to us. And we’re showing City Hall that our labor, our money, and our collective power are not theirs to spend or trade away.

Our lives, our health, and our futures belong to us. We know our worth and we will fight for what we deserve.