Retirees Must Vote Unity
Protect Our Union and Fight for the Future - Ballots are out and its time to turn out the vote!
Ballots were mailed on May 1, and here’s why every UFT retiree should vote UNITY!
This election falls at a crucial time in this country. We are facing federal attacks like never before: unions, our medicare, social security, education: everyday, a new threat emerges. But we are part of the strongest union in the country, and that’s not by accident. Unity is committed to keep fighting to protect our retirees.
We know that, as retirees, our healthcare is the most important thing we have. Let’s pause and talk about what we have, thanks to years of careful union leadership:
Health plan choices with ZERO premiums.
Pre-Medicare health plan choices with NO deductibles for in-network care
Defined low copayment structures.
Access to virtually every major NYC hospital.
Strong prescription drug coverage.
A Welfare Fund that covers dental, hearing aids, optical, and optional rider reimbursement.
In cities across America, public workers pay thousands in annual premiums. Here? Zero. That came from hard-won negotiation by the MLC and Unity leaders who knew how to deliver results.
We stand firmly against Medicare Advantage– and have passed a resolution in its opposition. We are the only union that has sent court papers to the MLC, the lawyers, and the judge stating on record that we OPPOSE any form of Medicare Advantage plan for our retirees.
Remember: as your current leaders, our choices show exactly what we’ll do. Other slates are delivering election rhetoric in an attempt to gain power.
Here’s what they haven’t done:
Explained how they’d protect you from premiums without any savings measures in a city that’s ALWAYS trying to take what we’ve earned.
Kept our pensions safe and strong, no matter the financial climate.
And anything else, for that matter.
Here’s what they have done: They’ve supported New York Health Act, which is in direct opposition to protecting our current benefits.
If NYHA were to pass, we would stand to lose:
Our traditional medicare
Our doctors
Our seat at the table in bargaining for our health care
Our out-of-state coverage and networks
Our money in increased taxes to pay for this
We cannot allow that.
UNITY leadership is tried and tested.
The noise from others seeking power is more dangerous than it seems.
Opposing slates running against us have been using the same dangerous tactics that threaten us and our democracy: smear campaigns, disinformation, and straight lies. They use retirees as political pawns. They say your healthcare is being taken, your pension is at risk.Time and time again, we’ve responded with facts that have shattered their lies. Because they bear no responsibility for the members of this union, they have no obligation to be truthful. Their behavior under that freedom shows us a lot about who they’d be if they were in charge. Dividing, instead of uniting. Trying to induce fear by any means necessary in the people they seek to represent, for their own political gain. They throw slogans like “we need change” but offer no policy. And for all of their talk, they keep silent about the divisive and scandalous history of their candidates.
The most dangerous thing about them: The company they keep. They’re working closely with non UFT organizations–outsiders– who are trying to use our election process to gain control of our union for their own political schemes. Do your research to see who they are backed by. We’ve worked too hard to give up everything we’ve earned to people without our best interests at heart. Our union should be led by us– all of us– not by these outsiders who have never taught a day in the classroom. In national elections we rail against and condemn outside interference from Russia and China. We should rail against and condemn the two caucus’s running against us for the same reason. Vote unity to fight outside interference and keep our elections our own.
The most important thing you can do in this election? Vote.
Every single one of us needs to vote. We need the turnout for this election to be the highest ever. Look for your ballots. Mark the box that says “UNITY” and throw it in the mailbox. We’ve been building for 63 years to be strong enough to face this national moment; Let’s use the power of democracy to tell people: we are paying attention. We worked our whole lives and deserve every benefit we were promised.
VOTE UNITY!