Does Mulgrew have a Plan B?

UFT members, in-service and retired, have been calling our City Council members with a clear message: “Do NOT Amend administrative code 12-126” By the way – there’s still time to write or call.

Why do we have to protect this law?

Because 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. That’s Mulgrew and the UFT leadership, and DC37, and a bunch of other union leaders.

What are they doing? The unions have promised the City that they would generate $600 million in health care savings, every year. They made the promise in the contract that just ended, but the promise goes on indefinitely.

Health care savings? Means we get less service. Or we pay more. Cuts is what regular people call them.

Anyhow, the route the MLC and the City (Mulgrew, Nespoli, Adams) are trying to take is to amend 12-126 so they can force retirees onto a medicare advantage plan.

Who’s Winning?

Regular folks are saying “don’t amend” – the politicians and the union leaders are saying “amend.” Both sides can’t win.

Right now, believe it or not, the workers and retirees seem to have the upper hand. In this country, the little guy winning? Wow. That’s a movie. (or it would be, if it were sexier than New York City Administrative Code 12-126). And in the UFT? It’s been almost three decades since the rank and file did anything like this, defeating a contract with zeroes in it.

What Happens Next?

If the amendment is defeated? Or if it is never even voted on? (which seems more likely)

There are some scary threats from the City. I might write about them. But I don’t know that they are really coming.

What’s next? Honestly. If they lose their amendment, they will have to come up with something.

If Mulgrew is on the hook for six mil, and he can’t get it from retirees, he’s going to need a back-up plan, a Plan B.

What is Mulgrew’s Plan B?

I think we have to ask him. I think he needs to tell us. Because that is in all likelihood where we are headed.

“Looks like your amendment’s failed. What’s your Plan B?”

Oh, and if you ask him, and he answers, please let the rest of us know.

Any ideas out there?

Yup – there is a resolution out there – apparently not yet introduced – to restore the stock transfer tax, stock buyback tax, and bring the corporate tax back to where it was in 2017, and create several other taxes on super-wealth (luxury Manhattan second homes worth $14M should pay something, right?). We could use that money so that regular people don’t get less healthcare, and don’t have to pay more for what they do get. Anyway: Interim Resolution to Address the Rising Cost of Health Care (scroll down for it).

And if you have other ideas, please share them. Explain them clearly, and simply. Mulgrew really does need a Plan B, and maybe we can help.