UFT Delegate Assembly and RTC Meeting Updates: Part 2 Script Revealed, TRS Election Staged Endorsement

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 

 

It's been a few days since Part 1 - UFT Delegate Assembly and RTC Meeting Updates:

 

Too much Olympics and old movies. And trying to keep up with Marianne, Arthur and Daniel. And I'm about to leave for an in-person meeting with a group connected to the good ICE - which we are now referring to as Independent Educators (community). We will be talking about the TRS election, Is Unity weaker than a year ago or stronger?, and the state of Retiree Advocate and its new membership and "democracy" plan and the prospects for next year's chapter election.

 

We know from our Unity friends that they rehearse for the DAs through what they call the Speakers Bureau - Mulgrew fakes like he's looking around when he knows where the Unity plants will be sitting. You see, they prep for meetings while most of the oppo play it by ear, which is why they often look so ineffective. What used to be a 10 minute new motion period where rank and file get a chance is now dominated by feel-good leadership resos to use up the time.

 

This time to make sure, the Unity plant had a big arrow on her head and started reading the script she was given -- ooops - she actually said it was a script. 

 

The big issue was the Unity push to endorse Tom Brown for TRS pension board. Former pension board member David Kazansky is running against him and some of his supporters attempted to get his name out there and succeeded but failed in their reso to get him to be considered -- in the past the claims that oppo people were not experienced won't work since David had 9 years experience. 

Daniel Alicea was successful in asking for the union to put things in place so the DOE actually conducts an election that is competently run -- 2 years ago both sides sued the DOE over the way the election was run. As the vote for the endorsement ran past 6PM -- Mulgrew didn't manage the script by not finding the person who was to call the question in time - and a quorum call was made - you need 20% for a quorum and the seargent at arms must have done a super calculation with her immediate ruling. Daniel asked her afterward about that ruling and she said she does what Mulgrew tells her to do. Nice --  

 

A lowlight of the Feb. 5 RTC meeting was the Leo Casey rant at Marianne to which she has responded. 

Hypocrisy Roars: Leo roars, but there is no substance; it is purely a spectacle scream for relevance when that ship long sailed. Proud the retired unionists saw through that at the RTC meeting this past week. Bravo! Marianne Pizzitola Feb 08, 2026

Retirees Deserve Facts, Not Fear

Leo Casey’s posts accusing me of “union-busting” and warns of calamity if retirees are no longer treated as union members for healthcare purposes. That framing is emotionally charged — and fundamentally misleading and completely unsubstantiated, but when has Unity cared about any of that? What retirees deserve instead is an honest discussion of what rights we actually have, what protections actually exist, and what has actually happened in recent years. Not facing all that -you are still lying to yourself. Don’t worry, I will tell you and cite it and there is plenty to share on that in the next few posts! 

When I posted one of her responses to Casey on the Retiree Advocate listserve, Jonathan Halabi, an officer of the RTC, wouldn't approve it and it was taken down. Funny, but when Leo went on his diatribe with 1000 people on line or in person, there was no objection - and as a believer in free speech, I do not object to whatever drivel he offers, but the attitude of some members of RA organizers to censor things they don't like, is offensive and counter to democracy.  

 

I have lots more to say but have to catch the subway for the IE (formerly ICE) lunch. And sorry, no rice pudding photos of me today as my blood sugar spiked last time.

 

 

 Arthur's recent post:

Can UFT Welfare Fund Afford to Eliminate Retiree Prescription Premiums?

It sure looks like it.

 

Here is an excerpt from his DA report: 

I am flabbergasted at how Mulgrew tripped all over himself saying how fair the elections for trustee are. The fact is that the last election did not take place at all. This is because Mulgrew’s Very Smart People had Ben Morgenroth tossed from the ballot on a technicality. Last I heard, Morgenroth was pursuing legal remedies, but I’ve not spoken with him for a while. I have to admire his calmness tonight while addressing the guy who screwed him.

Leo Casey’s resolution to protect Social Security and Medicare from everyone (except Michael Mulgrew) has now, for the second month in a row, not come up. Casey would’ve had retirees believe that we ought not to spend one moment protecting ourselves from the person who already tried to take our Medicare away—Michael Mulgrew, his cult leader. Casey’s criticized retirees for trying to protect ourselves rather than blindly endorsing his Great Leader’s agenda.

Clearly, the leaders of the UFT do not share Casey’s priorities. Most important to them is keeping their peeps in power. That’s why Unity member after Unity member got up today to endorse Tom Brown, who comes to retiree meetings to tell us how wonderful things are, who makes it a point to speak as long as possible so as to join Casey and other Unity Cult Members in their never-ending mission to preclude our actual business—protecting retirees.

I tend to believe Mulgrew when he claims he isn’t telling the trustees how to invest UFT money. If that’s the case, though, it’s likely because investing is not his thing. Every single sitting trustee is bound by the Unity Loyalty Oath. They will golly gosh darn do whatever Mulgrew tells them to, financially or otherwise, or they will be purged, just as David Kazansky was.

Kazansky will be running against Tom Brown. Like most retirees, I’m very interested in the pension. As Unity hack after Unity hack got up to tell us how wonderful Brown was, none bothered to mention that retirees, alleged union members, get no vote on who our trustees are.

I didn’t hear anything about Tom Brown, or Michael Mulgrew, or any Unity member working to get us a vote. Of course, Unity indulges its members when they float ageist memes at the DA, and rather than censure them for their blatant bigotry, applauds them.

So it surprises me not at all that they can’t be bothered extending us the vote, even as they lecture us on how we’re full union members.

Emily ?—Most of you know what’s going on. 2750 people signed to go to rally, still growing. When link stops working we get calls. Will try to make registration push. Members will get texts tomorrow. Try to get one more person. Whole class of people against this, think public workers bankrupting city. Use memes and post online. CL hub shows names of people in your school who have registered. Have pom poms and t shirts you can wear in school.