Message from the Chair

By Tom Pappas, RTC chapter chair

tom pappas It’s been a very busy year and it’s kept all of us on our toes. We fought off an administration that never stopped trying to privatize Social Security and Medicare, finally elected a president who listens to and supports working families and felt the shock waves from the collapsing economy.

But we have stayed focused, worked hard and managed to secure some important victories.

The election of Barack Obama and a Democratic House and Senate is certainly a very big win for all of us and we’re optimistic that we’ll see the country regain its footing and address the needs of working families and the middle class again. We’ve not only saved Social Security, we’re all waiting for the $250 check designed to boost the economy as a result of the One Time Economic Recovery Act.

While we were not as successful in fully protecting Medicare from the privatizers, we have protected those of you who have been impacted by the means-testing provision of Medicare Part B, one of the most controversial parts of the deeply flawed 2003 Medicare Modernization Act. Through the efforts of the UFT, in conjunction with the Municipal Labor Committee, the city agreed to reimburse the full amount of the means-testing surcharges that are being phased in over three years.

So far we’ve prevented means-testing of Medicare part D.

While President Obama has indicated his opposition to the Medicare Advantage plans and is pushing Congress to “get serious” about real health care reform this year, what we need most urgently is reform of Medicare Part D. The reform must include closing the donut hole that is such a financial burden for retirees taking expensive drugs for long-term illnesses. They fall right through the donut hole. And the reform must also include the right to negotiate drug prices and import drugs to ease the burden of soaring drug costs for millions of retirees.

Even as the country deals with economic disaster, UFT retirees remain secure. Pensions are not in jeopardy, and the required minimum distribution for retirees over 70½ was waived.

So far so good.

Take a bow because we helped make it happen. We phone banked, signed petitions, joined the March 5 rally of 70,000 at City Hall, traveled to Albany on Lobby Day, kept the heat on our representatives and contributed to COPE. But we can’t stop now. We still have to keep our eye on health care reform, especially Medicare reform, and on the Employee Free Choice Act, among other issues.

Stay tuned.