The most labor-friendly President and Congress ever are facing tough mid-term elections. We should help our friends.

As we measure our own behavior, we are apt to see patterns and motivations. We also see that the role of the human individual is intertwined with others. Sociologists call it group dynamics. In the labor movement, we call it solidarity.

Elections can be valuable measurements of the trust that rank-and-file union members have in the leaders they choose.

The new New York City Medicare Advantage Plus Plan brought challenges, but a court decision led Michael Mulgrew to demand that the city pause implementation of the plan. This pause means we can exhale over the next few months, and edge back to our daily “normal” lives.

So much information about this new New York City Medicare Advantage Plus Plan has by now been disseminated through meetings, webinars, town halls, email and regular mail that I hope members have evolved in their views. 

This year, the new New York City Medicare Advantage Plus Plan conspired to pull us apart. But the unity of spirit of UFT retirees is stronger than any such stresses.