OPINION: NYC Teachers Accuse Union, DOE Of “Voter Suppression” In Pension Election, Silencing Votes Of Active Educators

NYC Teachers Blast Union, DOE Over “Voter Suppression” In Pension Election

“They Don’t Want Us Voting”: NYC Teachers Slam TRS Election Process

Editor’s note: This is similar to the accusations of silencing teachers’ votes that this same party leveled at the leadership of the teacher’s union, United Federation Of Teachers, where Michael Mulgrew was reelected, albeit by a much smaller margin than in previous elections.  Many teachers said that they were unable to vote due to the confusion and ensuing court case, which they did not win.  Many teachers felt effectively shut out of the process.    Many teachers felt that the current leadership also was not protecting their healthcare benefits when they reach retirement, meaning that many of them will face setbacks in obtaining medical care for any health conditions that may develop during their later years, since many such employees were forced into a Medicare Advantage plan, which is private, profit-motivated health insurance that provides inferior care and denies many procedures that should be covered, causing headaches to retired workers.  After reelection, Mr. Mulgrew has declared that he will not be pursuing or allowing the continued use of retired municipal workers as a way to plug holes in the city’s budget, instead insisting that what the City is said to have promised is a real benefit to workers.  It is unclear where this fight is right now, since the case was lost in New York’s highest court, and it appeared that the president has also signaled his own support for privatizing Medicare using Medicare Advantage type plans.  See below for details about that from The Center For Medicare Advocacy:

In recent days, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued policy – a Rate Notice and a final rule, both for 2027 – that significantly favor the Medicare Advantage (MA) industry, at the expense of both Medicare program finances and consumer protections.  The recent announcement about MA payment, which backtracks from a proposal to both give a smaller raise in rates and more accurately determine risk-adjusted payment, along with the recent rule relating to various MA issues are discussed below.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), an independent congressional agency established to advise Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program, has long warned about overpayments to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.  Most recently, in its March 2026 Report to Congress, the agency noted that for 2026, MA payments are projected to be $76 billion – or 14% more – above what spending would be in traditional Medicare for the same beneficiaries.  According to MedPAC, as outlined in a press release, this is largely due to two factors: 1) favorable selection of beneficiaries into MA plans – the tendency of beneficiaries with lower spending to enroll in MA; and 2) coding intensity – the tendency for MA plans to record more diagnoses codes for their enrollees, which increases risk adjusted payment to plans.

On April 6, 2026, CMS released the final Rate Notice for 2027 with an increase of approximately 2.5% – over $13 billion – in additional payments to MA plans, a significant increase from the proposed rate.  CMS also announced that the agency would not implement the updated risk adjustment formula.  While proceeding with the proposal to exclude diagnosis information from unlinked chart reviews from risk score calculations, CMS will allow an exception for beneficiaries who switch from one MA organization to another.  

 

 

New York, NY — New York City teachers are accusing the Department of Education and UFT leadership of effectively shutting members out of a key pension election by limiting voting to a narrow 3:00–5:00 PM window, a move critics say many educators cannot make.

The election determines representation on the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) Board, which oversees billions in pension funds.

Union members say the problems go far beyond the after-work hours voting window.

Many have told us they had no idea the election was even happening while others report wildly different rules being enforced from school to school, despite official DOE, UFT, and CSA guidance. The UFT leadership sends one message to chapter leaders that elections must be held between 3:00pm-5:00pm, while holding their own meetings for union insiders to support their endorsed candidate, telling them voting can take place when convenient.

“This has been the worst execution of an election from the very beginning. The NYC Department of Education has a responsibility to all of its employees to share information about the election process and the teacher members running in the election. People are in the dark and this poor execution has allowed Michael Mulgrew to lead this election instead of the DOE, pushing out his own chosen candidate and instructing UFT members about the process and timing of voting.” — Ashley Rzonca Former UFT  District 30 Representative and Current UFT Member. The backlash comes after a State Supreme Court ruling found the DOE failed to follow election law in the 2024 TRS vote—raising new questions about whether history is repeating itself.

A Better Contract (ABC), a union group representing well over 30% of UFT members, said the confusion plays into a rigged system where organized insiders have an advantage, while rank-and-file members—many of whom are unaware of the election—are effectively shut out. Whether by design or dysfunction, they argue, the result is the same: low participation in a high-stakes election. They have launched a petition and email campaign (https://tinyurl.com/fairtrsvote) demanding expanded voting access, clearer rules, and transparency.

Independent TRS Trustee candidate David Kazansky put it bluntly: “This is how it’s done. When the powers that be don’t want working people involved, they make it harder to participate.” Kazansky supporters argue the system protects insiders while shutting out everyday educators who fund the pension system.

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