Editorials

The truth about health care

Nov 16, 2006 3:39 PM

The New York Times recently reported that Mayor Bloomberg wants to negotiate health insurance issues with the city unions, just as he has been saying his entire mayoralty. And the question was raised at the Delegate Assembly why the Memorandum of Agreement refers the issue of health insurance negotiations to the city and the Municipal Labor Committee. It was also mischievously suggested that this is some kind of ploy by the UFT leadership to prevent members from voting on possible changes in basic health insurance.

The question is worse than a distraction — it was asked simply to create fear. There is absolutely no difference between the proposed contract and previous UFT labor agreements going back 20 years. Health insurance has, for as long as anyone can remember, been bargained citywide by the Municipal Labor Committee and is the same for all city employees.

One of the UFT’s negotiating demands, adopted by the DA on Oct. 18, asks that this longstanding practice be continued. Why? Because negotiating together gives the MLC considerably more clout than any single union would have. We want to avoid what the MTA tried to do to the TWU and keep the city from negotiating a health deal with one union to the possible detriment of the others.

The MLC, which Weingarten chairs, has preserved and enhanced health benefits at a time when most employers, public and private, have been slashing them. For example:

• The PICA drug benefit, which the MLC established and then rescued when the city wanted to abandon it. This program covers very expensive chemotherapy and injectable drugs that are so vital for extremely ill members.
• Health insurance and benefits for unmarried domestic partners of active and retired city employees.
• Mental health benefits, increased numbers of participating doctors, and coverage for college students.

UFT members never voted in a contract ratification on any of these benefits. They came about when the MLC unions wrested them in citywide negotiations.

So, members can be assured that, as always, the municipal unions — all of them together in a united front — will fight for the best health care benefits possible and members will be kept informed every step of the way.