Need help/ideas on how to remove a plastic pipe fitting

Hello all - first time poster - I need to remove a copper pipe dropping down from a brass t-connector in a copper pipe assembly coming from a steam generator to the steam bath.

Below picture shows the t-connector and the pipe needed to remove at the left, and at the right a close-up view of the connector I'm working with.

It is a beige, thin plastic piece connecting the copper pipe to the brass t-connector. the pipe turns freely and moves within the t-connector, so I know its not glued in. Any ideas on how to get this plastic piece from the t-connector?

thanks!

Push the plastic towards the fitting while pulling on tha pipe

shark bite or equivalent removal tool

gently push the pipe towards the fitting, then press the plastic piece towards the fitting, and while holding that,, pull the pipe out. 3 hand job. A horseshoe-shaped sharkbite tool makes it a one man job,

check this out...http://www.sharkbite.com/usa/how-it-works

Place a Crescent wrench over the copper tubing, then use it to push the ring inward while pulling on the copper tubing.