Peeling back the layers

To the editor:

When I read The Chief’s headline “DC37 Sues City over Transfer of Union Members to Private Sector” (The Chief, this issue), I momentarily assumed that the story was a satire worthy of The Onion.

Alas no. Henry Garrido is asking the State Supreme Court to prohibit Mayor Adams and his administration from contracting out Job Training Participants (“JTP”) positions.

He is alleging that Local Law 63 would be violated due to the failure to conduct “statutorily mandated cost-benefit analysis.”

However, Garrido has no qualms or conscience to — along with fellow Municipal Labor Committee leadership — side with the city’s attempt to force retirees into privatized health care.

What hypocrisy!

They tried to 1) change a law (Administrative Code Section 12-126) in order to diminish retiree health benefits that were promised when hired, and 2) prevent passage of a new law (Intro 1099) that would preserve and enshrine retiree health benefits, by lobbying the City Council, replete with mob boss-style threats and falsehoods.

Such selective empathy.

Meanwhile, at a United Federation of Teachers delegate assembly meeting on Dec. 13, that union’s president, Michael Mulgrew, gave a PowerPoint presentation on planned health care changes for active employees. Included in the text was that “the chosen finalist must demonstrate that it can provide a plan that is the same or better than what we currently have.”

However, conveniently omitted from the presentation was that the request for proposals sought a 10 percent cost reduction. (Nor that Mulgrew drained the Health Stabilization Fund of $1 billion to pay for UFT members’ raises.)

The cost reductions will not be for employees, who may end up paying higher copays and premiums or losing care.

These are not tidings of comfort and joy.

Harry Weiner

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