What is amazing is that at a time when the city has a huge surplus, we have to make the retirees whole, at a cost that extends out into the future.... Comment on MORE listserve in response to Arbitrator extending latest UFT contract in order to pay retirees, as reported by James Eterno, ARBITRATOR RULES ACTIVE PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY FOR RETIREE LUMP SUM PAYMENTS.Look for a comment soon along the lines of, "It's only a month extension, what are you guys complaining about?"
Peter Lamphere pointed to the real underlying issue:
This is very interesting. Although the modifications are relatively minor, they do involve a financial loss to active members. Most importantly, the power of this arbitrator over contract provisions has been decisively demonstrated, which will come into play in a major way if the magical 3.4 billion in health care savings promised fail to emerge.Ahhh, that magical 3.4 billion, which doesn't have to be settled until AFTER Mugrew has to run for re-election - with the support of New Action, of course -- for which they will get their piece of the Ex Bd.
Eterno today added to the point today at ICE:
ARBITRATOR MIGHT NOT YET BE DONE REWRITING UFT CONTRACT
The arbitrator who decided last week to lengthen our contract by a month and delay one of the raises may have another crack at rewriting the agreement. If the city and the union can't agree on the UFT's share of $3.4 billion in heath care savings, then guess who gets to decide on the savings? You are right if you guessed it is the same arbitrator who just extended the contract. With our union's track record, most are expecting to experience some kind of healthcare giveback in the not too distant future.
Pissed Off teacher also commented from the perspective of making sure retirees are kept happy and voting for Mulgrew:
Courting Votes
Mulgrew loves his retired teachers. They sing his praises at meetings and, since they are not working they ask nothing in return. He doesn't have to waste time defending them or answering their questions.
Mulgrew might be in for a rude awakening. The new bunch of retired teachers don't remember or care about the union Shanker created. They and their colleagues have long been neglected and abused by the union of today.
Ms. Tsouris on POT blog ...It's been the usual dog-and-pony show. The orginal $180 million was suddenly "not enough" as if the UFT and the DOE didn't know all those teachers were going to retire, given the "retire by June 30th" incentive. That of course is total baloney. Of course they all knew that many teachers were going to retire. The decision to extend the contract by a month and restructure the raises was imposed by the arbitrator. Retirees really shouldn't be voting at all, but that's how the corrupt, mean spirited and bloated Unity caucus maintains its stranglehold on what once was a great union.And Chaz:
Yes. Better visit the doctor soon.
ReplyDeleteatr adventures blogspot
Unbelievable....more Tweets Please!
ReplyDeleteAll the misleadership of the UFT cares about is keeping the retirees happy enough so that they can keep collecting their 6 digit salaries and double pensions.
ReplyDeleteDont all teachers on max make 6 figure salary?
DeleteI'm not exactly sure what Anonymous 11:33's point is but it seems as if he is trying to argue that working teachers shouldn’t resent the union’s payroll and double dipped pension because teachers, who survive for 22 and obtains an MS plus 30 at their own expense, earn 102K. This isn’t Kansas. 102K in NYC is not a win fall. I’ve said it before---If union leadership truly worked for the best interests of those on the frontlines of the classroom, I’d argue they were entitled to more money. But the fact is they don’t. They work to line their own pockets and get that glorified “seat at the table.” Members in the classroom are expendable as long as they can be replaced by college grads who pay the same amount of union dues. So if anonymous 11:33 expects me to be grateful to Mulgrew et al for my 102K and ignore their self-centered ways, I hope he holds his breath waiting for me to change my mind. Roseanne McCosh
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