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To the editor:
There's an old saying that goes "God save me from my friends. I can protect myself from my enemies.” And another from my Irish grandmother, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." I recalled both when I read the announcement of City Council Member Christopher Marte's introduction of legislation to protect NYC retiree health care. It has a big flaw. It removes our unions' leaders as integral to the negotiations for health care. I'd prefer someone I trust representing my interests than elected officials with "their own fish to fry," preferably not me!
Vincent Gaglione
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thePuma
Mr Gaglione, your assertion is woefully incorrect. I recommend you look into the issue a bit deeper and you should find a few nuggets of factual truth you've yet to uncover.
Wednesday, November 6 Report this
tinafg
Retirees don't pay union dues. Therefore, the Unions have NO RIGHT to do what they're trying to do. I will not pay my dues after 2025. Screw you, Gloria Middleton!
Wednesday, November 6 Report this
reenjoe
Mr. Gaglione, In what way do Unions "negotiate" healthcare on behalf of retirees? Simple answer - they don't.
Bargaining away earned retiree benefits to pay for current member raises is not only despicable, but should be, as Councilman Marte is proposing, illegal.
Those who would seek a little more from themselves at the expense of retirees are no better than muggers who target senior citizens. Shame on you all!
Friday, November 8 Report this
harryw
Mr Gaglione, you should read Marianne’s op-ed in this issue. Union leaders have betrayed retirees. Legislation has protected our health benefits for decades. These are the facts.
Friday, November 8 Report this
Kate8475
Unions do not represent retirees. They are not in the union anymore. You expect an elderly retiree to now be shifted (illegally) to a dis-Advantage plan? Who has doctors and hospitals that actually take her insurance? No pre-authorizations? An elderly person who has been retired for over 30 years who no longer has the capacity to understand what is happening, or indeed, not even know it happened? My 96-year-old Mom was covered by traditional Medicare with supplement through the City. If not for me paying attention as a caretaker, she could never have navigated this change on her own. She was bed-bound and had dementia. Sadly, she passed away this summer. Her medical/hospital bills have been coming in nonstop. Pages and pages. But within those pages and pages are zeroes and zeroes. Not tens of dollars of dollars that I would not have been able to pay for her comfort and well-being. Mr Gaglione, you need to do your homework.
Friday, November 8 Report this