CWA 1180 - Solidarity Works

New York State AFL-CIO Endorses HR 676

New York City, NY. On August 18th, the 31st Constitutional Convention of the New York State AFL-CIO unanimously endorsed HR 676 and called upon the national AFL-CIO to support the single payer legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI). The 2.5 million member NY State AFL-CIO is the 37th state federation to endorse HR 676.

Resolution 2, “Single Payer Healthcare--Expanded and Improved Medicare For
All (HR 676),” came to the floor of the convention with the recommendation
of the state federation’s Executive Board. The Board combined four pro
HR 676 resolutions that had been submitted by IATSE Local One; Capital
District Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO; United University
Professions/AFT; and AFSCME Local 154/DC 37.

Delegates from the Capital District Area Labor Federation distributed to
all convention delegates a four page brochure supporting their resolution.

The brochure was prepared by Troy Area Labor Council President Mike
Keenan. It quotes the March, 2007, national AFL-CIO Executive Council
statement citing Medicare as “One concrete plan that meets the test of
comprehensive, universal health coverage….” The brochure also includes a
list of “Ten Problems with the Private Health Insurance System.”

Robert Score, Recording-Corresponding Secretary of IATSE Local One, who
was instrumental in organizing for the passage of Resolution 2, said in an
August 19 letter to his membership: “We now look forward to the
endorsement from the NYC Central Labor Council and the New York City
Council.” Score has been in touch with City Council President Christine
Quinn.

In July Score worked with IATSE’s International President who wrote to
Denis Hughes, President of the NYS AFL-CIO, urging support for “…any
Resolution before them to endorse HR 676.” The letter states: “Only a
streamlined efficient and universally accessible system that puts the
basic needs and health of American families before the interests of
corporations will suffice. The fundamental liberties and protections that
we as Americans are entitled to, are simply unrealized in the absence of
real universal healthcare.”

Copies of the NYS AFL-CIO Resolution and the Capital District ALF brochure
are available at:
http://www.pefencon.info/HR676/NYS_AFLCIO_Endorses_HR676.htm

HR 676 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.

HR 676 currently has 91 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. Co-sponsors
and bill text are here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.00676:

HR 676 has been endorsed by 455 union organizations in 49 states including
112 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 37 state
AFL-CIO’s (KY, PA, CT, OH, DE, ND, WA, SC, WY, VT, FL, WI, WV, SD, NC, MO,
MN, ME, AR, MD-DC, TX, IA, AZ, TN, OR, GA, OK, KS, CO, IN, AL, CA, AK, MI,
MT, NE & NY).

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