Calls, Language, Questions, and Answers about 12-126
The City and the Municipal Labor Committee have joined forces to lean on members to lobby the city council to change the administrative code 12-126.
Their amendment would divide us, let the City kick in less for our insurance, and allow Adams, Mulgrew and Nespoli to force our retirees out of Real Medicare and into Medicare Advantage (yuch).
So, obviously, we need to stop them.
To do today, or soon
Call your NYC City Council member. Or email them. Or tweet at them. At least one. The call may be most effective.
Numbers are at the bottom of this page.
You can also reach other council members, but you are most effective with your own.
Some short messages
Protect our healthcare. Protect Real Medicare. Do not change Administrative Code 12-126
I like my healthcare and I love my family. Do not amend Administrative Code 12-126
The Administrative Code, which states, “The city will pay the entire cost of health insurance coverage for city employees, city retirees, and their dependents, not to exceed one hundred percent of the full cost of H.I.P.-H.M.O. on a category basis,” (of individual and family) protects us all. Protect it.
Let’s protect health care for retirees AND in-service members. Do NOT modify administrative code 12-126.
Choose one, or edit one, or make your own. There are longer letters as well – but I think the “Don’t Amend 12-126” impact comes from the number of constituents, not the number of words.
Commitment
If you get on the phone with your council member (more likely, a staff member) try to get a commitment to vote no on any amendment to 12-126. They may try to divert with a values statement. But if they say something positive, but vague, such as “I understand. Health care is a very important issue. I want to work in the best interests of our seniors” press them to say that they understand this amendment will hurt city workers and retirees, and that they commit to vote against it.
Language
Say “protect” and say “preserve our healthcare” – those are phrases that tug on the politicians the right way.
Use the word “constituent” if you can. More impact comes from a message from a constituent, and if you fit the bill, remind them of that.
Differentiate between “Real Medicare” and “Medicare Advantage” (or “Privatized Medicare Advantage”). But call the real program “Real Medicare” – pretty much all the time. Underline that they are different. We have heard UFT officials and employees try to confuse the truth by saying “Medicare Advantage is part of Medicare.” Let’s be clear. “Real Medicare”.
A Couple of Points
If you are in the room with Unity people (or MLC, or City), and they are blathering on about their amendment creating choice, like some used car salesman / charter school shill / snake oil huckster, don’t let them!
12-126 sets a specific amount the City has to pay for our healthcare. The amendment would take that away. No! Not okay. We do not want that amendment.
Mulgrew / Nespoli / Adams were trying to force retirees out of Real Medicare, but Judge Frank blocked them. Then they wrote this amendment, to get around Judge Frank’s ruling, so they could force retired city workers (or UFTers, depends who is there) out of Real Medicare. No. That hurts us. We need to oppose that amendment.
City Council Contacts
Don’t know who your Council member is? Look it up.
JD2718 
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