Retired NYC teachers toss out union prez’s crew in furor over Medicare coverage
NY Post
Retired city educators furious over proposed changes to their health care have toppled a union slate allied with powerful United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew.
The Mulgrew-linked United Caucus’ Retiree chapter sent a notice to its supporters Saturday saying unofficial results showed it lost the recent election to the dissident faction Retiree Advocate.
The loss of control of the UFT’s Retired Teachers Chapter by Mulgrew’s camp means the renegade faction will now be overseeing about 300 union seats carrying crucial voting and administration powers while repping tens of thousands of retired teachers and other educators such as guidance counselors and paraprofessionals.
Tampering with retirees’ health coverage was “a big mistake,” a union source said.
“This was cuckoo. Why were we messing with retirees’ health care? It’s like a bomb has been dropped on the UFT,” the source said.
Bennett Fischer, the new Retiree Chapter leader, said in a statement, “Wow. It’s a new day in the UFT Retired Teachers Chapter and a new day in the UFT. A good day. A very good day.
