WHEREAS the United Federation of Teachers bargains over healthcare on behalf of its members, both directly, and indirectly through its participation in the Municipal Labor Committee; and

WHEREAS healthcare is among the most important benefits for both in-service and retiree UFT members; and

WHEREAS the UFT Delegate Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the UFT, and

WHEREAS at times significant changes to healthcare have been approved without approval of the UFT Delegate Assembly, or without the Delegate Assembly having details of the proposed change, or without the Delegate Assembly having reasonable time to read, discuss, and question proposed changes; therefore, be it 

RESOLVED that any significant changes to members’ healthcare be submitted to the Delegate Assembly for approval, that the changes will be clearly outlined in detail, and that the Delegate Assembly will receive the details of the proposed changes at least one month before being asked to vote on them.

RESOLVED, that, in order to further prevent changes to healthcare without a vote of the Delegate Assembly, the UFT will fight arduously to enact federal legislation that will protect against any diminishment of Medicare or Social Security benefits, and the UFT will convene a permanent, UFT Healthcare Task Force, with retired and in-service members of multiple caucuses to review all significant changes to healthcare and make recommendations to the Delegate Assembly.

RESOLVED, that the UFT will never agree to forcing any retired member into a Medicare Advantage Plan.