President's Message
Winter Newsletter 2025-26
October 20 saw the first official Retiree Recognition Day. But that was back in NY where new retirees are joining Retiree Councils close to home or in the districts they worked in for decades. Our Retiree Council faces challenges unfamiliar to all the other RC's: FL not only doesn't recognize retirees, but our potential new members may be seasonal, may not be aware of our existence and certainly don't originate locally. Recognizing our dilemma, NYSUT is trying to help us by circulating our new brochures, featuring us in NYSUT United and promoting us in the other RC newsletters. Meantime, WE ARE OUR BEST recruitment tool! Please take every opportunity to promote your unit, its activities, our connection to NYSUT and our welcoming nature.
We strongly encourage everyone to take advantage of all NYSUT and our affiliates' benefits, such as:
- access to NYSUT Member Benefits including insurance, legal/elder care advice and many savings opportunities
- staying informed through publications
- connecting with retirees at multiple social and informational events
- maintaining a strong voice in all educational and pension related matters through political action
- go to www.nysut.org frequently for updates on MANY topics & opportunities
- VOTE COPE is NYSUT's non-partisan action fund; it supports candidates that are pro public education, pro-union. NYSUT and its affiliates & partners work to improve our lives as retirees (defend pensions, SS, Medicare, etc.). It also funds the Committee of 100
Ron Gross, NYSUT 2nd VP advises us all to be aware: the Big Bill has serious consequences for retirees. Among them are a provision to access Medicare through a “back door”. A change in Medicare processes will be rolled out as a pilot and implemented in Jan 2026 in 6 states. You are asked to call your lawmakers to protest this roll out. Private companies using AI to require prior authorization requirements is key to the pilot program. To make it easier for you go to https://mac.nysut.org/action/977.
Also mired in the current political unrest are other retiree concerns. Our guaranteed benefits are under attack. There are challenges to Social Security (funding, court cases, cuts in staff, privatization, etc). The tax and budget plan implemented will hasten the insolvency date of the Social Security Trust Fund; the SS Administration's ability to support its recipients has been impaired by 20% in staff reductions, closed offices and changing rules. Similarly, Medicare and Medicaid have been harmed; the ability to negotiate drug prices legislated by Biden have been removed by DJT. With more people enrolling in Medicare Advantage, the original Medicare's finances have been weakened and the shift toward privatization has taken its toll. The largest cuts to Medicaid in its history have endangered nursing homes, rural hospitals, senior centers community services and cost workers their livelihoods.
We may have different political views, but we must be united in defending against the threats to our earned benefits, health, and threats to public education.
As we face these challenges TOGETHER...let us welcome 2026 in SOLIDARITY.