Theatre Local and Health Care Union Endorse HR 676, Conyers' Single Payer Health Care Bill

The membership of Theatrical Protective Union Local One of the International Alliance of Theatre & Stage Employes (IATSE) voted to endorse the Single Payer Health Care legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers.

The union, one of the oldest entertainment labor unions in the U.S., acted on recommendation of the Executive Board as well as the Benefits and Political action committees. The motion to endorse HR 676 also calls upon the international union to endorse the legislation.

In Pennsylvania, SEIU District 1199P, a statewide organization of healthcare workers with headquarters in Harrisburg, also endorsed the Conyers bill. The union represents workers in both private and public sector health care throughout the state.

In Northwest Ohio, the Executive Committee of the Wood County Democratic Party has Endorsed HR 676 and written the state's two senators and members of congress urging them to pass this important legislation. The resolution was brought to the floor by a BLET member during 'Cover the Uninsured Week '. Robin Weirauch, democratic candidate in the 5th CD who seeks to replace incumbent republican Paul Gillmor, whole heartedly supported the resolution.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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UAW, IAM and AFT Locals Endorse HR 676 Conyers' Single Payer Health Care Bill

UAW Local 1155 in Birmingham, Alabama, voted May 6 to endorse HR 676. The local represents 900 workers at PEMCO. Local President A. B. Thomas was involved in organizing an earlier visit to Birmingham by Congressman Conyers who spoke about his single payer health care legislation.

IAM Local Lodge 1145, representing railroad machinists who work for CSX in Selkirk and DeWitt, NY, waged a five year contract battle largely over health insurance issues. The local was forced to accept a monthly health care deduction while learning that the CEO of their health care insurer pulled down millions in compensation. Lodge 1145 endorsed HR 676 at its March membership meeting.

AFT Local 2334, which represents more than 20,000 faculty and staff at City University of New York, has also endorsed HR 676. This is the third large New York City union to endorse the Conyers legislation.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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Six Southern SOAR Chapters Endorse HR 676

Birmingham, AL- Six steelworker (USW) retiree chapters in the union's southern District 9 have endorsed HR 676, legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) that would implement a single payer healthcare system in the U.S.

The SOAR (Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees) chapters, located in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida, responded to a letter sent to all District 9 SOAR affiliates by District 9 SOAR Coordinator Jim Swindle. Swindle said he expected more chapters to endorse as their regular monthly meetings were held.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Convention Endorses HR 676

Conyers' Single Payer Health Care legislation

Pittsburgh, PA, April 6th - The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO became the second state federation to endorse HR 676 a bill that would implement a single payer health care system in the U.S. Delegates voted unanimously to endorse the legislation introduced by congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and co-sponsored by 68 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Janet Hill, secretary of Pittsburgh CLUW and a member of United Steelworkers local 3657, spoke for the resolution reported by the Legislation Committee with a favorable recommendation. The resolution was submitted by the Pittsburgh CLUW chapter which, along with Philadelphia CLUW, had earlier endorsed HR 676.

The endorsement by the state AFL-CIO, which represents 900,000 members in over 1,400 local unions, comes after 4 Central Labor Councils in the state made their own endorsement of the Conyers legislation. In October, 2005 the Kentucky AFL-CIO became the first state to endorse HR 676 by convention

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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Midwest Steelworker Region endorses HR 676

St Paul, MN-Over 500 steelworker delegates at the USW Region X Spring Conference voted unanimously to support The National Health Insurance Act HR 676 introduced by congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

The resolution endorsing HR 676 was characterized in its presentation to the delegates as a "mandate and an action plan". It urged delegates to go back to their local unions, and their communities to build for passage of HR 676.

The Conference, which was held March 24-26th, drew steelworker delegates from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota and South Dakota.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, prima ry and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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Big AFSCME District Council Endorses HR 676

New York, NY-The union representing the largest number of New York City employees, has endorsed John Conyers' Single Payer Health Care bill, HR 676.

The Executive Board of District Council 37, AFSCME, which represents 120,000 current and 50,000 retired city workers, voted to endorse the legislation also known as "the expanded and improved Medicare for all Act".

AFSCME DC 37 joins DC 5, a statewide district in Minnesota, DC 62 in Indiana/Kentucky and other AFSCME local unions endorsing the Conyers legislation. AFSCME local 2629 in Louisville, KY was instrumental in getting the Kentucky AFL-CIO to endorse the Conyers bill.

Elsewhere in New York City the Organization of Staff Analysts (OSA), a large independent union of professional city employees, also voted to endorse HR 676. OSA represents professional employees at more than 50 city agencies.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers Jr. (D-M I). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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19th and 20th Labor Councils Endorse HR 676 Single Payer Health Care Bill

The endorsements by the Tri-County Council of Labor in Henderson, KY and the Greater Bangor Area Central Labor Council in Bangor, ME bring to twenty the number of central labor councils (CLC) that have gone on record in support of HR 676.

The Bangor council represents 28 local unions with 3,000 members in three counties in eastern Maine. An article on its endorsement and the need for single payer health care was printed in the council's newspaper.

Before the vote to endorse HR 676 at the Tri-County Council meeting in Henderson, a delegate from an Alcan local reported meeting fellow union members from Canada. He told Council members, the Canadians were very satisfied with their single payer health care system.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare sys tem to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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ATU Local Urges International To Get On Board For HR 676

River Edge, NJ-Local 825 of the Amalgamated Transit Union has "wholeheartedly endorsed" John Conyers'(D-MI) legislation for a single payer health care system and urged its international union to do likewise.

Local president Muhsin Rasuul has sent a letter to ATU International President Warren S. George informing him of the endorsement by both the Executive Board and membership of Local 825 stating "we believe this is a very important program and we urge our international executive board to consider endorsing HR 676."

Local 825 represents bus drivers, mechanics and other employees at NJ Transit Co a major commuter system between northern New Jersey and New York City.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all ne cessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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Statewide Locals in Washington and Michigan Endorse HR 676 Conyers' Single Payer Health Care Bill

Two big statewide locals in Michigan and Washington have endorsed HR 676, legislation to establish a single payer health cares system in the U.S.

In Washington, the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 17 voted to endorse HR 676. The local, based in Seattle, represents 8,200 public employees statewide.

In Michigan, UAW local 6000, a statewide local of public employees based in Lansing also voted to endorse the same legislation. The local 6000 retirees organization had earlier voted to endorse the Conyers bill.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, prima ry and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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Three More Labor Councils Support HR 676, Single Payer Health Care

In big urban industrialized areas and small rural communities, and in cities in between, Central Labor councils continue to voice support for a Single Payer solution to the health care crisis as embodied in legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

Latest to endorse HR 676, Conyers' legislation, is the Cleveland AFL-CIO Federation of Labor with 146 local affiliates representing 42,000 members.

Just before Cleveland acted the Butler (PA) County United Labor Council in the southwest part of the state made its endorsement. The Butler CLC has 15 local affiliates with 8,000 members and is the fourth CLC in Pennsylvania to endorse HR 676.

In Albany, NY the Central Federation of Labor voted unanimously to recommend that the national AFL-CIO endorse HR 676. The Albany Federation represents over 12,000 workers in 50 affiliated local unions. The Albany Federation joins it CLC neighbor in Troy in taking favorable action on HR 67 6. Doug Bull, Albany CLC first vice president and maker of the motion to support HR 676, also reported that the Working Families Party of Albany has endorsed HR 676.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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UAW State CAP Council Endorses HR 676

Dedham, MA--The United Auto Workers (UAW) Massachusetts State CAP Council has endorsed HR 676 a bill to legislate a Single Payer Health Care system. The resolution was introduced by UAW local 2322 in Holyoke which had already endorsed the legislation. The Community Action Program, CAP Council, is the legislative and social action arm of the UAW.

The Massachusetts CAP Council joins the Southern Indiana CAP Council and the Kentucky 3rd & 4th Area CAP Councils in calling for the passage of the bill introduced by congressman John Conyers (D-MI)

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preven tive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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Steelworkers, SOAR, Continue Endorsing HR 676

In Michigan and Alabama, active Steelworker locals and retiree chapters continue to endorse legislation filed by John Conyers (D-MI) to establish a Single Payer Health Care system in the U.S.

Hard hit by outsourcing, Trenton, Michigan USW local 196 voted to endorse HR 676. Citing the pioneering leadership of the late Tony Mazzocchi and the late senator Paul Wellstone, who was made an honorary member of the USW, the resolution stated; "Americans pay more for healthcare than any other country in the world and yet we rank 28th in infant mortality, 24th in life expectancy and our freedom of choice and access to services is controlled by the profit driven dictates of HMO's and 'managed care'." The resolution concluded, we "…shall continue to lead a nationwide organizing and educational effort to establish cradle-to-grave single payer national healthcare where individuals select their own providers and where there are n o premium costs, no co-pays, no deductibles, no insurance forms, no hassles and where there is Just Health Care."

In Gadsden, AL steelworker retirees in SOAR chapter 36-1 unanimously voted to support HR 676. The District 9 Steelworkers Organization Of Active Retirees chapter is the third SOAR chapter to endorse HR 676.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annu ally by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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Union Retiree Groups Continue to Endorse HR 676

Three Ohio union retiree organizations have endorsed HR 676, legislation to implement a Single Payer Health Care system in the U.S.

The Retiree Council of the Cleveland Painters District Council 6 representing 3,000 retired members; the Retiree Council of the Ashtabula County AFL-CIO representing 5,000 union retirees; and AFSCME Retirees Chapter 1184 sub-chapter 109 in Toledo have all passed resolutions endorsing HR 676.

The Ashtabula Retiree Council's resolution said "…HR 676 would save billions annually, by eliminating high overhead costs and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMO's, and would apply these savings to health insurance and prescription drug coverage for all U.S. residents."

The resolutions have been forwarded to the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), the national ARA and the Ohio AFL-CIO which has its state convention in July.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to Jo hn Conyers Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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Three More Labor Councils Support HR 676, Single Payer Health Care

In big urban industrialized areas and small rural communities, and in cities in between, Central Labor councils continue to voice support for a Single Payer solution to the health care crisis as embodied in legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

Latest to endorse HR 676, Conyers' legislation, is the Cleveland AFL-CIO Federation of Labor with 146 local affiliates representing 42,000 members.

Just before Cleveland acted the Butler (PA) County United Labor Council in the southwest part of the state made its endorsement. The Butler CLC has 15 local affiliates with 8,000 members and is the fourth CLC in Pennsylvania to endorse HR 676.

In Albany, NY the Central Federation of Labor voted unanimously to recommend that the national AFL-CIO endorse HR 676. The Albany Federation represents over 12,000 workers in 50 affiliated local unions. The Albany Federation joins it CLC neighbor in Troy in taking favorable action on HR 67 6. Doug Bull, Albany CLC first vice president and maker of the motion to support HR 676, also reported that the Working Families Party of Albany has endorsed HR 676.

HR 676 now has 68 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers Jr. (D-MI). It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

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