Oppose Intro # 874 to Protect 12-126

Local 768 Executive Board opposes Intro # 874* due to its potential to divide the city workforce and the city’s municipal labor movement through the creation of different medical benefit classes of employees, retirees and their dependents. We believe that maintaining the strong foundation of benefits established by Administrative Code 12-126 in its current form affords us a better bargaining position and a more secure healthcare future for all city workers.

*Intro 874: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to health insurance coverage for city employees, city retirees, and their dependents”

In Solidarity,

Local 768 Leadership

Important dates for this Bill

• Jan 4, 2023 - Intro # 874 was introduced by Committee on Civil Service and Labor Chair Carmen De La Rosa (at the request of Mayor Eric Adams)
• Mon. Jan 9, 2023 (9:30am) - Committee on Civil Service and Labor held a hearing on Intro # 874
  • Only if the Bill is approved by a majority of voting Committee members does it get sent to the whole NYC Council for a vote
  • Members of the public testified (in person and through written testimony) on this Bill at this hearing. Read the Hearing Testimony submitted (including that of Local 768 and other DC 37 members), watch the hearing itself, and learn how to provide testimony on future bills to make your voice heard.
• Thurs. Jan 19, 2023 (1:30pm) - NYC Council regular meeting
  • If this bill is voted out of Committee, the whole NYC Council will vote on it this day
  • The 10 days between Jan 9 - Jan 19: In the case that the Bill gets voted out of Committee, this is the period that's most important for you to contact your own councilmembers (find link below) to express Opposition to Amending 12-126

Click here for a primer on the NYC Council Legislative Process

What can you do to Protect 12-126?

1. Call and email your own NYC Councilmember in addition to the Speaker of the Council Adrienne Adams and tell them that you Oppose amending Administrative Code 12-126. Ask them to not amend the law from its current form.
   • Get directly connected to your Councilmember using this phone and email tool or find their contacts here.
   • Speaker Adrienne Adams (District 28, Queens)
     • Email: [email protected] | Phone: 212-788-6850 (Legislative office); 718-206-2068 (District office)
     • The Speaker of the Council is a powerful figure that (among other roles) sets the Agenda for Council meetings and influences what legislation gets considered for a vote
   • If you get a reply from them (or if you'd like to let us know that you contacted them), inform the Local of their stance by emailing us at [email protected].
2. Contact the members of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor (using chart below) and express your Opposition to Amending 12-126. Ask them to vote Against changing the Law.
   • If possible, email/call all members of the Committee, but be sure to at least contact The Chair - Carmen De La Rosa. The Chair of a Council Committee holds considerable power in setting the agenda for that Committee.
   • If you get a reply from them (or if you'd like to let us know that you contacted them), inform the Local of their stance by emailing us at [email protected].

Further reading

• Council will take up Medicare matter: Proposed amendment would allow the city to charge retirees for health coverage (Chief-Leader, 1/3/23)
• Retirees’ Medicare fight has Council ally: Brewer is first to publicly address issue in detail (Chief-Leader, 12/27/22)
• ‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Insurers Exploited Medicare for Billions (NYT, 10/8/22)