Please join this email/letter campaign to UFT RTC leadership and Mulgrew:

We, the undersigned members of the Retired Teachers Chapter, are writing to express our concerns over the recent pension deferral proposal and the need for stronger union advocacy in defense of retiree healthcare, specifically through Intro 1096.

We haven't heard from you yet. Where does our newly elected leadership stand?

As retired educators, our hard-earned benefits—both pension and healthcare—must never be bargaining chips for shortsighted political deals. We thought this was something our chapter leadership agreed with and that is why we were elected. We need our chapter to be more responsive to the members who elected us by taking a firm stance against continued underhanded maneuvers by Michael Mulgrew and his leadership team.

What actions have been taken so far?

What is our chapter leadership doing about the UFT’s continued lobbying against Intro 1096? Despite a resolution overwhelmingly passed back in December, we’ve seen no evidence of RTC’s work to help pass it. It appears the RTC leadership is failing to act, not only leaving retirees in the dark, but also leaving our benefits unprotected.

Our Concerns

1. Dangerous Pension Deferrals/Amortization
   Governor Hochul’s plan to defer $11 billion in pension payments until 2044 could leave members on the hook for $18 billion—threatening not only Tier 6 members who already face reduced benefits but also retirees counting on fully funded pensions.

2. Lack of Union Transparency
   Once again, union leadership seemed poised to sign off on pension legislation that directly affects our financial security, only stepping back after rank-and-file members, NOT the RTC, exposed the issue. Retirees deserve candid, timely updates, not after-the-fact spin.

3. Healthcare Under Threat
   Amid ongoing healthcare controversies, Intro 1096 was created to protect retirees from erosion of our healthcare benefits. Yet there’s been insufficient public pressure from our union to fortify this legislation and to ensure it remains enforced without loopholes. In fact, it is our understanding the UFT leadership is actively lobbying against it.

4. RTC’s Leadership Role
   We expected the Retired Teachers Chapter to take the lead in resisting any moves that jeopardize our pensions or healthcare. Instead, we’ve seen an overly cautious, non-confrontational stance that leaves us vulnerable at a time we need the strongest advocacy possible.

Our Requests

1. Public Opposition & Accountability
   Any proposal that risks our pensions—like this deferral plan—or undermines retiree healthcare must face decisive, unequivocal opposition from Day One. Silence or half-measures only embolden those looking to shortchange retirees. We know what Michael Mulgrew’s position is. We fully expected the leaders of RTC were going to be strong advocates for our concerns after a brief grace period to get their feet wet but it is now March and time to push our agenda of resistance to the UFT leadership more aggressively.

2. Proactive Member Education
   Fear-mongering thrives where information is scarce. We call on the leadership of the RTC to organize open forums, publish clear updates, and stand visibly against any pension or healthcare deal that compromises retirees. An informed membership is our best defense.