The United Federation of Teachers in New York City is the largest chapter in the American Federation of Teachers. The UFT was created in 1960. It represents nearly 200,000 city employees, including about 60,000 retirees.
Since 1960, the UFT has been run by the Unity Caucus, which controls the officers, the executive committee and the delegate assembly. The president of the UFT is a powerful figure in New York City, New York State, and national politics. Its best known leaders were and are Albert Shanker and Randi Weingarten (Sandra Feldman served between their tenures, first as UFT president, then AFT president; she died of cancer at age 65). Shanker was president of the UFT from 1964 to 1985, then president of the AFT from 1974 until his death in 1997. Randi Weingarten was president of the UFT from 1998-2008 and became president of the AFT in 2008. The NEA has term limits, the AFT does not.
Weingarten was succeeded as president of the UFT by Michael Mulgrew. Since the union’s founding, the Unity Caucus has won every internal union election by large margins. Splinter groups came and went. Some persisted, but none ever won an election.
Until last week. Until June 15.
The UFT retirees rebelled. At the union’s annual internal elections, a dissident faction called Retiree Advocate upset the Unity slate. The retirees are angry because Michael Mulgrew made a deal with former Mayor DeBlasio to switch the city’s 250,000 retirees from Medicare to the for-profit Medicare Advantage. This switch was supposed to save the city $600 million a year.
The city government and the UFT told the retirees that the MA plan was better than Medicare.
The retirees were skeptical. How does a for-profit deliver make a profit while delivering better care than Medicare, many wondered. The answer, they soon discovered, were these two tactics: One, the person cannot use a doctor who is out of network; but even more important, the healthcare company may deny services. MA is very profitable for its executives.
Medicare accepts all licensed doctors and does not require the patient to get prior approval before they can get the treatment or surgery recommended by their doctor.
The retirees found a leader in a retired Emergency Medical Technician in the Fire Department named Marianne Pizzitola. She began posting videos on YouTube against the switch and collected a large number of retirees who agreed with her. She founded the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees, Inc. She posted more videos, explaining that the city had broken its promise to retirees. Their contract promised Medicare, not MA. She argued that the city and some (but not all) unions were collaborating to deceive retirees. The city’s two largest unions—UFT and DC 37, which represents the city’s lowest paid workers—agreed with the city.
Marianne and her allies met with elected officials, organized rallies, and most consequentially, filed lawsuits to block the switch from Medicare to MA. All this activity was funded by retirees’ donations. Despite the huge disparity in resources, the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees won every lawsuit. Judges agreed with them that the city had broken its promises to provide Medicare and a low-cost secondary plan.
The Retiree Advocate slate won 63% of the vote at the June 15 meeting. A majority of the retirees voted against the Unity Caucus slate because of the Medicare/MA issue. They poked a hole in the ironclad dominance of the Unity Caucus (which still has all the officers, 94 of the 100 members of the executive committee, and the vast majority of the delegates. But the retirees now control the retiree caucus.
I have a personal connection to this battle. I wrote an affidavit for the court case. In 2021, I was told by my cardiologist that I had to have open heart surgery to repair a damaged valve. People with this condition are walking time-bombs. I arranged to have my surgery done at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell by an excellent surgeon. I got a second and third opinion. I did not need prior approval because I was covered by Medicare and my wife’s secondary (she is a retired NYC teacher, principal, and administrator). If I had been on Medicare Advantage, I would have been denied coverage because I was asymptomatic. I had no pain, no shortness of breath, none of the symptoms associated with a serious heart problem. But without surgery, I would have died. (P.S.: Al Shanker was a close personal friend. Randi Weingarten is a close personal friend.)
I wrote about the retirees’ most important victory in court here. Just a month ago, the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees won a unanimous decision in the New York Appellate Division. The city will likely appeal to the State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. I wrote “The NYC retirees’ group sued the City, on the grounds that the City was withdrawing benefits that were promised to its members when they were hired. Many had accepted lower pay because of the excellent benefits, especially the healthcare.”
The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees summarized their victory:
NEW YORK, May 21, 2024 — Today, the New York Appellate Division issued a unanimous decision holding that the City of New York cannot force its roughly 250,000 elderly and disabled retired municipal workers off of their
longstanding Medicare insurance and onto an inferior type of insurance called
“Medicare Advantage.” Unlike Medicare—a public program that has protected City retirees for the past 57 years—the City’s proposed new Medicare Advantage plan was a private, for-profit endeavor that would have limited
retirees’ access to medical providers, prevented retirees from receiving care prescribed by their doctors, and exposed retirees to increased healthcarecosts.
The Court confirmed what retirees have been arguing for months: that they are entitled to the healthcare they were promised for over 50 years. The Court wrote: “The City has made clear, consistent, unambiguous representations – oral and written – over the course of more than 50 years, that New York City municipal worker-retirees would have the option of receiving health care in the form of traditional Medicare with a City-paid supplemental plan. Consequently, the City cannot now mandate the proposed change eliminating that choice.”
The Court permanently enjoined the city from forcing the retirees to leave traditional Medicare and to transfer to a MA plan.
Here is a brief explanation of why the retirees fought against privatization of their healthcare.
Arthur Goldstein, who worked as a high school teacher for 39 years, celebrated the victory in a post called A New Dawn. He followed up with a description of the meeting where Randi spoke and the Retiree Advocate group won control of their caucus. He is a long-time critic of Unity; he’s now vice-president of the UFT Retiree Caucus.
The members and leaders of the Retiree Advocate group are passionately pro-union. They wanted their voices to be heard. The UFT’s acquiescence in the Medicare-to-MA was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. They could not believe that the Union would join with the city government to save money by puttting them into a for-profit plan.
Here is Marianne Pizzitola rejoicing on the day of the Retiree Advocate in the UFT meeting.
Here is Marianne Pizzitola talking about the ramifications of this victory on “Medicare for All.” About half of the nation’s retirees are in Medicare Advantage plans. MA represents the privatization of Medicare and will block Medicare for All.
It’s a shame that the retirees had to fight their own union to preserve their health care. It’s rumored that the city (and the unions?) might go to Albany to try to change the law. The unions should pay attention to their retirees. They may be old, but they are smart and relentless. They will not give up. And I will be with them every step of the way.
Diane, the link to this on your blog is broken – please fix so we can share it! Terry Kalb
Terry,
I kept editing and it posted in full at noon.
Medicare Advantage has NO advantages. It sucks.
Your article title is incorrect. The retirees did not turn against the union, the Union president turned against his members. The result of the vote shows a vibrant democratic union which will continue to fight not only for its members, but for public education and democracy. Power corrupts. How is it that the Democratic Party has not allowed for a Presidential primary?
As Randi Weingarten told the Retiree Meeting yesterday, this is 1928 and if we lose this election to fascism, there will be no do over. Our noble experiment in democracy will be over.
I’d argue we did not turn against our union, but simply against our union LEADERSHIP. I’d also point out that this whole MA mess was largely initiated by Michael Mulgrew. He spearheaded several boneheaded agreements to turn our health care funding over to the city.
I was a longtime UFT chapter leader. The worst thing they can say about a chapter leader is, “He’s in bed with the principal.” And the worst thing, I suppose, you can say about a nominal union leader is, “He’s in bed with Eric Adams.”
From down here in the cheap seats, that’s how it looks.
I agree Arthur. We did not turn against our union. Our union leadership turned against its retiree members. Thanks to Marianne and all the retirees who supported the lawsuits she brought and all the rallies organized by Retiree Advocate and CROC, we still have our traditional Medicare and senior care.
Arthur, I fixed the headline!
M y wife (the union member) & I were nearly taken in by this & had been prepared for the switch to MA to take place when it was delayed, then canceled, by the lawsuit. We’re glad *someone* who knew the fine print was looking out for us. We tend to be very savvy & generally spot a scam instantly, but this one was exceptionally sneaky. A lot of it was because we trusted the union to act in our best interests, as they generally have. If this had been a solicitation from outside we probably would have ignored it. This is an egregious breach of trust by the union, & we’re glad the leadership who perpetrated it have been ousted.
The union’s description of the plan breathlessly described how it was an improvement over regular Medicare. They deceptively glossed over the fact that it’s lower priced is because many reasonable MA claims are denied. We were puzzled at first when informed the start date was suspended, until we began looking to it.
It would have been a disaster for us. About a year & a half ago, my wife had the same heart valve surgery you did, Diane. We’re grateful to Marianne Pizzitola & the Retiree Advocates for their vigilance & hard work. We didn’t know the story behind the battle until you described it here. Thank you for posting this.
What a beautiful article. I was and I am a UFT member since I started teaching in NYC Feb. 1964 wherein Unity would win election after election except on occasion the high school teachers would vote with the Unity opposition known as th New Action UFT. I am absolutely blown away that the Retiree Advocates won. They must keep up the pressure.
Our work has JUST begun . . . .
Yaaayyy!
Olde folks – we get it done!
Yes, and we also set an example.
A fact not to be overlooked. The young people coming in behind us don’t know a profession from before ed “reform”. It’s up to us to make sure they learn. #AlwaysBeTeaching
One of the amazing things about this whole situation is the fact that down through the years Unity would absolutely own the Elementary division and the Retiree division of the UFT. On a pretty regular basis, New Action would win the high school and on rare occasions the Middle School Division. Now To be in charge of the Retiree Division, to control the reins is monumental since the Retiree leadership can be in constant contact with their supporters. Next up is to educate the young ones with the goal of throwing out Unity. This will take a grass roots effort school by school.
Can’t tell you how many of my colleagues at our six sites didn’t even know there was a choice other than Unity. And, once informed, quickly forgot about it.
The democratic process requires work and participation, as I’m sure we’re all aware. A constant uphill struggle.
From 1993 until I moved to Pa. in 2003, I was a member of the New Action UFT and its representative in School District 22 which had about 30 elementary schools and 4 middle schools for atotal of 25,000 students.The 4 high schools while geographically in the district were covered by other NAC reps. Nearly every school had a Unity rep who would be responsible for handing out its literature and indoctrinating the rank and file with Unity mumble jumble. I physically went from school to school which I did not mind at all placing New Action literature in the teachers mailboxes which by the way as a result of a Supreme Court decision gave ALL caucuses the right to do so. While each school had their Unity rep onsite, at least half of the schools I covered did not have a NAC rep. So getting justice is a continual comtinuous uphill grass roots struggle, but well worth the time and energy. One more thing, a LOUD SHOUT OUT to two NEW ACTION WARRIORS w Mike Shulman and Norm Scott who have been at for over 30 years.
Congratulations to the UFT retirees. As I said before, had they lost, it would have been a terrible precedent for the rest of the state. When people retire, they expect the conditions which were mutually agreed upon will be there for them when they are on a fixed income. Public employees dutifully pay into payroll taxes for years in order collect their Medicare benefit. There is no mention of paying for privatized Medicare Advantage which is not an equivalent benefit. Shame for Mulgrew for his “bait and switch” and trying to sell out NYC retirees.
I have seen Mulgrew in action for many years. Before I retired as a chapter leader, I was not allowed to ask a question or speak at the delegate assembly because of my critical views on some issues. I saw how Mulgrew bullied and denigrated people who had different ideas. I thought I was a member of a Soviet Politburo. I am one of the 300 elected to the DA from Retiree Advocate. I am proud to play a fundamental part in returning the UFT to its original ideals of being a democratic union that represents the needs of its members and not the city or any corporation.
Let us start with MA is not Medicare. And MA plans profit from denying treatment. However the framing of this discussion makes it sound that a corrupt deal was made by the leadership of almost all unions having contracts with the City of New York. That Leadership were receiving payola from the insurance industry. Or two consecutive Mayors were paying them off. As a member of a private sector union who represented some of those City Workers who were being pushed off of Medicare and onto MA .I do not believe that corruption or is the issue. So why did 18 or 19 Unions with contracts with the City agree to this? Was the leadership all lazy and or corrupt. Several of these Unions like mine represent mostly private sector workers. What is happening to their Cadillac Health Plans, in the Private Sector?
Great summary.
And, funny thing is, I’m actually on the phone, reading this post and typing this reply as I’m waiting on hold for an insurance rep to figure out why a claim from me has been denied since January -repeatedly and mistakenly.
Well, actually that’s not funny. But, you know, you gotta laugh or cry.
THANKS to the union brothers and sisters in NYC for the big assist to citizens everywhere.
Not mentioned is that Randi Weingarten publicly supported Mulgrew’s attempt to seriously harm retiree healthcare with his attempt to force retirees into MA.
Randi is a DNC superdelegate and did her best to keep the AFT from endorsing Bernie Sanders both in 2016 and 2020. I am not surprised that she went along with Mulgrew. Time for new leadership at the AFT.
Here is a great link and video!!!!!
Inspiring!
Elections have consequences.
Here’s the rub.
Not all union members across the country retire with health care.
I belonged to ARE, CTA, NEA, and ARE (the local branch) never negotiated health care for its members when we retired.
I retired in 2005, with no health care until the date I was qualified for Medicare (whenever that was). Still, the district did offer its retirees healthcare through COBRA that would have cost about half if not more of my monthly retirement benefit. I couldn’t afford it. When I retired, I took a 40% pay cut after teaching for 30 years.
I was eligible for medical care through the VA but didn’t know it until my wife had a conversation with a Navy vet during house hunting, who told her I was eligible.
Not long after that, I had health care through the VA. I don’t think the VA has death panels like for-profit health care does. All my medications (when needed) are free, and there is no co-pay.
Thank you for serving our country. I am sincerely glad you are getting accessible care. I wish the same for everyone regardless of their status.
Right. UFT Unity has done a lot for its members. Things that I can and do appreciate. It’s a strong union.
But we need to stay vigilant and speak up when things aren’t right. Which we’ve done in spades, here.
WARNING TO ALL RETIREES!!! So-called “Medicare Advantage” plans TAKE YOU OUT OF FEDERAL MEDICARE and put you into A PRIVATE INSURANCE PLAN!!! So-called “Advantage” plans are aimed at privatizing all of federal Medicare for the profit of private insurance companies.
Read pages 61 and 62 of your “Medicare & Me” booklet where it tells you that Medicare Advantage plans are PRIVATE insurance plans and that “each Medicare Advantage plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs and have different rules for how you get your [medical] services.”
In so-called “Medicare Advantage” plans you lose your freedom to choose your own doctors and you get hit with all sorts of out-of-pocket costs and copays. And you must use the “Advantage” plan’s so-called “Preferred Provider Organization” (PPO) doctors, specialists, and hospitals.
The only “advantage” in a “Medicare Advantage” plan is for the private insurance company’s profits.
More and more healthcare providers are dumping so-called “Medicare Advantage” plans and preferring Medicare Supplement (“Medigap”) plans.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/10/27/hospitals-terminate-medicare-advantage-contracts-over-payments/71301991007/
$600 BILLION MEDICARE ADVANTAGE FRAUD THREATENS THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF ORIGINAL MEDICARE
A new study published in the respected JAMA Internal Medicine reveals that privatized Medicare Advantage plans have defrauded U.S. taxpayers of at least $600 BILLION in recent years and calls for the abolition of the program before the ongoing fraud kills original Medicare.
“Medicare Advantage plans have, in effect, stolen hundreds of billions from taxpayers,” points out
Dr. Adam Gaffney, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the lead author of the new study, said in a statement that “Medicare Advantage is a bad deal for taxpayers.”
“Money that could be used to eliminate all copayments or shore up Medicare’s Trust Fund is instead lining insurers’ pockets,” said Gaffney. “And the private insurers keep Medicare Advantage enrollees from getting needed care by erecting bureaucratic hurdles like prior authorizations and payment denials.”
Citing data from the nonpartisan Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the report shows that Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have overcharged the federal government to the tune of $612 billion since 2007 — $82 billion last year alone.
PRIVATE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE BANKRUPTING FEDERAL MEDICARE — which is the purpose for which the Medicare Advantage program was set up in the first place, so that nonprofit government insurance would die and private for-profit insurance companies could go back to business-as-usual.
Gaffney says that the time has come to abolish Medicare Advantage plans in order to save government Medicare.
Today, seniors feel trapped in so-called “Advantage” plans: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/03/1222561870/older-americans-say-they-feel-trapped-in-medicare-advantage-plans
Another fascinating article!!!
https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/06/18/bitter-fight-inside-uft-over-nyc-medicare-advantage-proposal-propels-opposition-slate-to-victory/
In Illinois, public employees (including teachers) are only offered a Medicare $camVantage plan administered by Aetna. The company’s profits have dropped, and Aetna told investors it would be dropping at least 10 percent of its enrollees.
I hope someone can sue the parties who set this up. I don’t understand why the state just can’t just cut a monthly check to Medicare for our Part B premium instead of these profiteers.
Correction:
“Just a month ago, the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees won a unanimous decision in the State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. “ THIS IS INCORRECT. The win was in the Appellate Division, 1st Department. The City is expected to appeal to the State’s highest court, the NYS Court of Appeals.
Sorry to sound pedantic, but upon clicking on the several links in the article, there are repeated incorrect references to the current state of litigation in this matter.
Here is a synopsis:
Case Title: Robert Bentkowski et al v City of New York
Case was won in the original trial court (Judge Lyle Frank) and appealed by NYC to the Appellate Division, 1st Department. THIS IS WHERE A UNANIMOUS DECISION WAS RENDERED AFFIRMING THE LOWER COURT (4 Judges 1 recusal). The City is expected to appeal to the State’s highest court, the Court of Appeals. References to the current status as a win in the Court of Appeals are INCORRECT and MISLEADING.
Omar,
I corrected the error. Thanks for pointing it out.
Omar,
I fixed it.
When I started teaching for the NYCDOE, in 1992, the starting salary was roughly $28,500. If you wanted to make more money, you’d have to get a job in Long Island or New Jersey.
Through union negotiations, we now have parity with those regions. My daughter starts her first teaching job, here in Brooklyn this fall, at a good salary.
So I actually appreciate the work that both Michael Mulgrew and Randi have done for us. Both salary wise and in terms of influencing public policy. it’s a political theatre and you’ve got to play the game.
But Mike went over the line with this one. The agreement with DiBlasio was after 12 years of punishment from Bloomberg. We were starving for a raise and we even got retro pay for the raises other unions had received in that time span (and we had not). But it came at a steep price. The retirees were blindsided and Randi didn’t come riding to the rescue.
What bothers me most is that Mike continued to double and triple down on his claims of this plan’s superiority over our current plan and other Medicare Advantage plans. But the numbers just didn’t bear him out. I think he was caught between a rock and a hard place after making an agreement that turned out to be illegal. But he represents both retirees along with the rank and file. One does not have to suffer for the sake of the other. Blaming outside forces for pitting one side against the other was disingenuous, considering it was one of the tactics he used against us during the legal challenges.
Great recap of the situation, Diane. If I could add the name of Bennett Fischer, who won the position of Chapter Leader for our retirees. He’s been a close personal friend of mine for forty years and a colleague. He was an extremely effective chapter leader for our six special education sites in Brooklyn through much of Bloomberg’s tenure and afterwards. I saw how hard he worked on this campaign and I did all I could to help out (I’m a delegate). He’s very sharp and intelligent, a good listener, and a very (very) strong presence. He’s not intimidated by anybody. We couldn’t possibly have chosen a better person to represent us.
Let’s NOT forget what Albert Shanker (and Mel Aronson) contributed to our amazing pensions and health care plans. Very few workers in our country enjoy these kind of benefits. It is one of their legacies and we should all acknowledge what they have done for NYC teachers-both current retirees and FUTURE retirees too!!! It is shameful that our own union would support a switch to a medicare advantage plan.
Ironic, isn’t it ? The scammers (Mulgrew, Garrido, Nespoli, et al) thought they would slip one in and the old fogies would be helpless to fight back. Not only did they get nailed on that, but they now face widening consequences such as unprecedented election losses. Who knows what’s next for them ? There’s a new phrase circulating with the youngun’s: FAFO.
After listening to Randi Weingarten speak at the last UFT RTC meeting where she “heard us ” let’s ask her what she will be doing to support the retirees in their health care situation. She is on sold ground because of the court case victories. Perhaps she could come out for the retirees and support Marianne’s bills/legislation and ask Mr. Mulgrew to do the same and support his retirees. I would welcome Randi’s input at this crucial juncture.
As a retired teacher
Randi Weingarten , do not say you want to pass a law AFTER Biden is re-elected on NATIONAL level when service starts at HOME. WE ARE on the national stage? Where have YOU been? Y’all blocked our City & state legislation and want us to trust you to help us nationally when you could help fix what you started right here in New York . . .
Diane is incorrect when she wrote that the switch to Medicare Advantage would save the city $600M. The $600M will come off whatever budget line pays for retiree healthcare but go right back out on another budget line to a fund controlled by the unions for any purpose they want (with the consent of the city). In other words, retirees are being forced into a medical plan they don’t want in order to fund increased benefits mostly for actives. It’s a decade old scam hiding in plain sight on the website of the Office of Labor relations. Diane is not the only person to miss this point. Most newspaper articles also misstate this as a savings for the city. It is most definitely not!
I go on Medicare next month. I did my research and worked with a reputable broker. The reality is that for the same coverage I would pay almost $500 per month for Medicare and $180 per month for advantage. I know that the Advantage scheme is Cash cow for the insurance industry, but I can’t afford Medicare the way it is currently structured. The entire insurance boondoggle gives the industry complete control over consumers. The ACA set this in stone. My wife would be paying $700 per month at our current income if she chose ACA. Although more are covered since ACA passed, Americans are still getting screwed.
ACA was out of reach for me. I opted for a MA plan because the hospital stay co-pays were much, much cheaper, and the co-pays for Tier 1 and 2 prescriptions were zero. But then they denied payment on a $27,000 hospital bill. Still fighting that one.
Our healthcare system remains a travesty and few seem interested in fixing it.
Keep appealing, Bob. 80% of MA denials are overturned. I think the first pass is handled by AI.
I am.
Is ACA the same as Medicare?
ACA is Obama care. My point is that for those of us moving up in years there aren’t good options.
Affordable Care Act. It wasn’t and isn’t affordable.
Thirty-five years ago the High School teachers elected all six of the High School Executive Board members as well as the Vice President for High Schools from the opposition. High school members had the ability to meet during the school day and in those pre-internet days were able to stand up successfully. Pace Ms. Ravitch, she ignores the president between Al and Randi — Sandy Feldman. Because of the success in opposing Unity back in that time, Sandy engineered an election rules change that pushed the High School membership into a common voting pool with the rest of the members. I suspect something of that sort will be attempted to attenuate the strength of the retirees looking out for their interests.
I was a good friend of Sandy Feldman too! I skipped her for reasons of brevity, not malice. But because you are the second person to comment on Sandy’s omission, I added her.
Well done Diane, thank you for a very clear statement of the issue.
Michael Mulgrew we’re coming for you next!!!
Michael Mulgrew we’re coming for you next!! You made a big mistake, huge. in underestimating us.
thank you, Diane , for writing this clear and very important piece- these past three years have been an uphill battle, but with Marianne and our amazing attorneys we have beat the competition odds- it’s not quite over yet , but our position is in a good place- it’s an exemplary show of support and wisdom which we have learned and show up for- thank you for your past service and I’m thrilled you got the medical care you needed – till next time- Laura Brodsky UFT