Dissent

To the editor:

The Municipal Labor Committee is at a crossroads. With the retirement of Chair Harry Nespoli, there is a power vacuum. Having operated with secrecy and unaccountability, his successor has a chance to pursue democratic reforms. Executive Vice Chair Michael Mulgrew might not be suitable. He has taken a page from the authoritarian playbook.

Similar to the purge at federal agencies — firing perceived enemies of Trump — Mulgrew has dismissed six union staffers who were open rivals or suspected critics. Among them is Amy Arundell, his challenger in the recent UFT election.

Marianne Pizzitola, the president of the New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees, warned: “These actions are antiunion, undermining the democratic principles of the union by silencing dissent and consolidating power.”

Co-Chair Henry Garrido had also embraced Trumpian tactics. Just as the president has threatened to “primary” any member of Congress not supporting his agenda, Garrido had vowed to withdraw political support or oppose any City Councilperson who supports legislation that would preserve retiree health benefits.

It should be noted that Mulgrew’s and Garrido’s unions have used their political action funds, partially paid by retirees’ voluntary contributions, to lobby against both city and state legislation that would codify their health benefits. This was confirmed by public records from the City Clerk’s Lobbying Bureau and the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government.

Retirees would do well by cancelling those deductions from pension checks and alternatively donate the dollars to the Organization of Public Service Retirees.

NYCOPSR has our interests at heart. Our former unions certainly don’t. 

Harry Weiner

The writer is a member of the Council of Municipal Retiree Organizations