The Way I See It

For 22 years of my life I was in service and employed by the City and State of New York. I was a once proud member of the DC37/AFSCME Union. My dad raised me to believe in the Union. He taught me that one for all and all for one meant something. He was a proud union card carrying Long Shoreman on the Brooklyn Docks. So I followed his teachings and joined the Union and soon after also became a Shop Steward. That is when my eyes were opened and I saw; and I heard first hand that the Union was no longer my father’s version.

There was not much I could do at that point. I was benefitting as a member because it covered my healthcare which my family and I needed. I remained a card carrying Union member even after I had to take early retirement in 2013 due to a permanent disability. I recently learned thanks to an organization I joined, called the NYC Public Service Organization for Retiree Benefits that the Union no longer represented me once I was retired. However, I am still paying Union dues from my pension check because no one told me at the time that I was no longer represented by the DC 37 Union. Now, naturally, I don’t know what would happen if I ceased to pay those dues. So I continue the small amount. However, I am no longer a former proud Union member, but an ashamed Union member because the President of DC 37 Henry Garrido and the President of the UFT, Michael Mulgrew have brought that shame to my doorstep! They are the ones who should be shouting Mea Culpa for their own shame in bringing this pain to their retirees!

Recently, the Union and its’ leaders, Garrido of DC 37 and Mulgrew of UFT, has backed the current NYC Mayor in his deviant plan to use Retirees as a Beta group to test the waters of their nefarious future plan by removing Retirees from the traditional Medicare they have always had along with the promised paid for Supplemental Insurance and bully us into a Medicare Advantage plan. We had no input in this plan. So this wonderful Retiree organization led by the marvelous Marianne Pizzitola started litigation on behalf of retirees in an attempt to stop the abuse of retirees many of whom are elderly and sick and disabled. She and the others like Michelle, Judy, Carol are leaders that should be recognized and praised. Their hard work, time and research has brought us to the forefront and even Media outlets are beginning to take note as well as politicians. NYC Council people have even begun legislation that could help us keep the healthcare we retired with and save many of our lives. But sadly, like in all things that are righteous there is no guaranteed justice. So we must continue fighting and donate to pay for the litigation attorneys who are supporting our cause. My true hope is that the momentum of this tragic eventful time to hurt retirees will not be overlooked.

We are tax payers and former City of NY workers who helped build this great City, rebuild this City after 9/11 and are now rebuilding it again after Covid in our own supportive, dedicated ways. We are civil servants,EMT, nurses, teachers, counselors, police officers, firemen and firewomen, sanitation workers, DEP workers and transit workers. Those jobs are ingrained in our blood even though we are retired! As our leaders have said, whether you still live here or not, once a New Yorker always a New Yorker. I know I take Brooklyn with me wherever I am.

My vision is that all the hundreds of thousands of retirees of this fair City will join the NYC PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATION FOR RETIREE BENEFITS and give it a National presence. We are the Beta group so if they hurt us here the whole Nation of Union represented public service workers in every City and State will be next in line! Help us help you! Pass this cause to all the retirees of public service you know. Let us Unite in true solidarity for one another. Let’s be what my father taught me a Union truly was meant to be, one for all and all for one! As Retirees we can show the future generations how not to be bullied, how not to be thrown out like an old shoe, how not to be taken advantage of because you got older. Together we can win this fight to end this plight on Retirees. Save the Retirees means saving yourselves! I want to receive my current traditional Medicare and my fair choice of a supplemental health insurance coverage because I want to live not die because some panel made of non-medical people and probably paid for endorsement doctors are deciding whether I need a test, or I have a condition they don’t want to pay for. These are not fair tactics and they are a part of Privatization Medicare advantage plans. They should be relabeled as Private Disadvantage to the Elderly Plans. Please as a retiree who has had to take earlier than planned retirement due to a physical disability ( I would have worked till I was too old to dress, if I could have), I am begging you … pass the word, join the organization, support the retirees. We are standing up for our rights, please stand with us.

And That’s the Way I See It, here in Jackson!

K