The Buffalo Teachers Federation has sent a clear message to administrators: Don't mess with retiree health care benefits. After district officials mailed a benefits questionnaire to retirees and demanded they complete and return the form within 10 days — or risk losing their health benefits — the BTF took administrators to the mat, filing an injunction to stop the district from cutting health benefits and a grievance on the grounds that union representatives weren't consulted before the mailing.

BTF President Phil Rumore, who learned about the issue after several worried retirees contacted him, termed the action "wrong, cruel, callous and illegal.

"I had one retiree who came to me nearly in tears over this," he said.

Even more panic-inducing was the 10-day deadline. "Just imagine — you're a retiree, you've been out of town and you think your health care is gone because you missed the deadline," said Rumore, who speculated that the action was merely an attempt to boost questionnaire response.

Thanks flooded in to the BTF from retirees. "I am sure there are 3,100 retirees who join me in this sincere thank-you," wrote Marianne Lopez.

Marie Vacanti agreed. "It is gratifying to know that we, retired teachers, are not forgotten by all of you," she said.

NYSUT has been working at the Legislature to protect retiree health benefits through annual extentions of the state Health Insurance Moratorium, which prohibits school districts from changing retiree benefits unless parallel changes are made to in-service teacher benefits.

NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue, who oversees retiree issues for the statewide union, praised the Buffalo union for its actions to protect retired members.