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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, 2024 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, 2024 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, 2024 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, 2024 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, 2024 Report this