Labor & Healthcare Confidential

Hello? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani ignores #nycretirees like a bad #tinder date when we asked for a meeting. We ran this city #zohranmamdani #nycmayor #WeRanThisCity #swipeleft #ignore This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

#PensionPonziSchemes explained. Who wants to do it, who does it impact, why is one union pushing it, The Re-amortization of the Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) and the Pension Obligation Bonds explained. But! the Constitution protects our pensions! Yes.. BUT.. Listen. #NYCretirees #zohranMamadani #callme This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

TWU Local 100 MTA Bus TA/OA Part 2, discuss Pension disparity. They are not in Tier 4 or 6 and their retirement income is less. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

NYC Bus Operators explain about the disparity in their benefits. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Larisa is a NYC Parks Retiree dealing with cancer possibly from her work exposure and struggling under the Copays for that treatment that our former unions assessed on us to fund raises for active workers. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Hear the MLC Lawyer telling union presidents that retiree legislation was not illegal, but if the city had to pay for retirees, it would be less it would pay for them. And many of those unions agreed to sell off the healthcare of retirees no longer in their unions, to fund active workers. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Reeves Eisen was the Chief of Staff for Brooklyn NYC Council Member Lew Fidler. Her pension is under $1000 a month. Unions, she was never in, immorally bargained away her benefits to pay active workers raises. Today, she is in copay hell. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Hard truth - we need responsible powerful unions. What we do not need are corrupt unions, and that includes morally corrupt. Never in our lives did we think we would have to fight our former unions and City to protect us. #PromisesMadePromisesKept. Anything less, diminishes the need for a union. We don’t need to stab ourselves by doing this - there are enough people trying to destroy unions! Retirees are not in unions anymore - but you don’t diminish retiree healthcare and assess costs to retirees on fixed incomes. Unions should be protecting retirees. We are on fixed incomes, COLA’s do not keep up with the cost of living, and now you want to assess a copay tantamount to a car payment on a monthly basis to finance active workers?! No. We will not stand for that. In 2026. If a retiree receives an $18,000 pension, they will see a 1.2% increase, equaling $216 for the year, or $18/month. But now the MLC assessed copays totaling hundreds of dollars a month in many cases. You are taking their COLA and their pension creating an affordability crisis- a few ill informed labor leaders created instead of protecting us from. Let’s be better labor leaders - and I will never stop trying to educate them! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

March 2, 2026You can find him on Hardball Press and his books are also on Amazon - a must check out if you love mysteries! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Evelyn Jones Rich is an activist, NYC Retiree, Healthcare and Civil Rights Warrior, debated Malcom X and yes you can hear her on YouTube do it! Wrote a memoir, Civil Rights Warrior and it debuts this week! You can buy it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Book Shop. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

What is a Union Welfare Fund Fiduciary? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Health Data Privacy. Yours Is Being Shared! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

We speak to a retiree who has been experiencing Medicare fraud and reported it to Medicare - and it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Twice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Thom Hartmann and Joe Maniscalco are my Guests. Let's talk Labor and Healthcare! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Evelyn Jones Rich, Civil Rights Warrior, Advocate, Union/Labor supporter, Medicare Fighter, Malcolm X debater! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

MLK Speeches, Labor, Healthcare, Union This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Bryony Gilbey, Director, Producer, Writer, Honorable But Broken - EMS In Crisis: . #FDNY #EMS #union #Bloodlines #Nursing #LawEnforcement This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Bob Hennelly and Joe Maniscalco are my Guests! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Author and Union Organizer Phil Cohen, and Independent Journalist reporting on Labor & Workplace Justice, Joe Maniscalco This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

David Schwartzer, Long Term Care Policy Holder Advocate and Joe Maniscalco Labor Journalist Work Bites This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Patricia Hills, Art World Feminist This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

SUNY Reconnect Bill Hohlfeld This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Guests John Blau and Ellen Rieser on Long Term Care Plan Premiums skyrocketing This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

with Marcia Biederman discussing NYC Retirees and two of her books This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Joe Maniscalco reports on the Chelsea Elliott Fulton housing crisis and we report on the Trump Administration Government shutdown and its impact on the federal workers and air travel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

TWU Local 100 Retirees This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Bil Schmidtknecht talks to us about his advocacy for patients fighting Pharmacy Benefit Managers skyrocketing costs of life saving drugs making them unaffordable and costing his son Cole, his life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

John Feeney, a lifetime of service in Plumbers Local 1, NYC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

October 13, 2025, Guests: NYCHA Housings Advocates for the Chelsea Elliot Fulton Community This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Taysha should not be working full time at a deficit and not be able to be a mom to her two beautiful babies. After hearing her story, please email the Office of Labor Relations: email them here, and demand they pay EMS a livable wage and then call City Council and demand the same! Find your councilmember here. The next Mayor must protect those who protect us! We need our first responders! Post below any responses you receive! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Follow the money they say. This one was easy. We follow the paper trail.. and the Videos. And Board Minutes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Listen to John describe his expansive Work history and Labor Relations, being put into Aetna Medicare Advantage and having the insurance company deny the treatment his doctor was doing in the operating room so the doctor had to stop. He has lasting limitation to his shoulder now. Joe updates us on the Procurement Policy Board’s lack of transparency and the fight of the Chelsea Fulton Elliot Housing Seniors to keep their homes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

The Municipal Labor Committee, an umbrella organization of unions, made decisions to implement massive medical costs on former #union members to finance raises in contracts that don’t benefit retirees. Her union, the #UFT United Federation of Teachers, #AFLCIO put Margaret in medical debt. Listen to her story.The Joe Maniscalco from Work-Bites gives us an update on the #NYCHA Chelsea Elliot houses struggle with their seniors being kicked out of their apartmentsSeptember 29,2025 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Why was the UFT Healthcare Committee of about 80-100 members allowed to review the redacted contract for the active/pre Medicare retiree health plan known as the NYCE PPO for TWO HOURS and the other 101 unions in the MLC did not have that opportunity? And those who did, had an hour and last minute notice? Why are we rushing again? Why weren’t other unions this impacts who are NOT in the MLC, not given any notice of this new plan either? Transparent? Democratic? No. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Join me speaking with Council Member Chris Marte about his run for Council Speaker and his platform. You can find it on his website as well: https://www.marte4speaker.com/We need #democracy and #transparency in government!The B Block of our show has Guest Joe Maniscalco, an independent journalist from Work-Bites https://www.work-bites.com/support speaking about the latest articles he produced on Labor in NY and nationwide This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

As a retiree, you need to fund our own battle! One your former union started if you are DC37 or UFT. And now add AFL-CIO and AFSCME> ALL of them are using your political action dollars known as COPE, PAC, PEOPLES or DRIVE money against you. Watch here, we prove in their filings they are working against you. AFSCME’s Substack AFSCME Local 1674 AFSCME Utah #aflcio #dc37 #uft (other union affiliates will be tagged - as it is important to educate other union brothers and sisters what is happening to us here in NYC by our former union instead of protecting our earned and vested Medicare benefits they are selling us off to fund their raises and lobbying against our legislation to protect what we earned!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Stop funding your former union to Lobby against you and make our job harder! You should be funding OUR lobby effort. Since so many of you asked for just that, we created the UFT COPE to Fund NYC Retirees Political Action Page. https://nycretirees.app.neoncrm.com/forms/uft-cope-for-nyc-retirees-legislation-campaignChange starts with you! And when you have proof your money is being used against you, take action! And to Leo Casey I challenge you to an open debate on this and our organizations endorsement process any time you want. Standing invite since you think you know who I am, what our organization does, and finds no issues maligning me with false narrative. It is a small man that has to do that. You are entitled to your own opinion - not your own facts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

Family of Union Members ARE FAMILY! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

The video speaks for itself. We need union leaders who will protect a union worker and retiree. Not Mulgrew/Unity. I thank the retirees who send me these videos. When someone tells you who they are, listen..Thank you to Joe Leone for the music. “Don’t Speak!” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

But when retirees, a progressive comptroller and right think tank all agree the pension deal these two hair brained unions were trying to sneak in is a bad deal - we can’t be wrong. Pensions should be as fully funded as possible. So should healthcare but that is another video. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com

We said it a million times. A union who thinks they created a “custom” MA plan made especially for their members isn’t only lying to the people, they are lying to themselves. MA allows you to “customize” perks - like a debit card, silver sneakers, cab rides, etc, but these are at the DIRECT EXPENSE of access to ANY doctor or hospital in America that accepts Medicare - and that is about 99%. In NYC, Aetna’s sales rep told union leaders the only thing that was custom about their plan was it allowed Hospital for Special Surgery and Memorial Sloan Kettering in the network. While that is unusual as most specialty hospitals refuse to accept an MA plan, they did it as part of a business decision - most likely a temporary more favorable reimbursement. Kaiser Family Foundation and Department of Justice Found MA plans wrongly delay and deny prior authorizations - Aetna was about 13%. that is MILLIONS.. While the city finally agreed to temporarily “suspend” some, they never were honest about the number and they could be re-evaluated every two years by the city and our former unions. That is something we will never trust after what they did. In traditional Medicare, there are RARE prior authorization. If your doctor wants to treat you, they can! Listen to what this doctor’s office has to go through to fight for their patients. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mariannepizzitola.substack.com