From editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org Sun Jun 2 23:56:32 2013 From: editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org (Single Payer News) Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2013 23:56:32 -0400 Subject: CLCs to AFL-CIO: Act to Expand Social Security Financing & Pass Improved Medicare for All Message-ID: <53c547ef7d237214060b70a21b842fe4.squirrel@unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org> CLCs to AFL-CIO: Act to Expand Social Security Financing & Pass Improved Medicare for All Four central labor councils have passed an identical resolution calling upon the September AFL-CIO convention to organize an offensive campaign for expanding Social Security financing and passing improved ?Medicare For All? legislation. The resolution, which was initiated by the Troy Area Labor Council, has also been passed by the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council, the Greater Green Bay Central Labor Council and the Capital District Area Labor Federation in Albany, NY. The resolution calls upon the AFL-CIO to organize a Solidarity Day march on Washington and on the West Coast ?to demand an expansion of Medicare to cover everyone and to defend Social Security by removing the cap on income and tax all income in a similar fashion.? The resolution calls for taxing all income for the purpose of Social Security including dividends, interest, capital gains, and rental income as well as removing the cap on wages and salaries now set at $113,700. Currently, those who earn up to $113,700 pay 6.2% in Social Security taxes on every dollar. Those who earn over that amount do not pay taxes on their earnings above that level even if they make millions. Currently the income of the wealthy in dividends, interest, capital gains, etc. is not taxed at all for Social Security. On Medicare the resolution calls for ?implementing a single Payer Medicare for All system as outlined in HR 676,? Congressman John Conyers? single payer legislation which has 42 House co-sponsors. The legislation would cover everyone for all medically necessary care without co-pays, deductibles or premiums. The removal of the private health insurance industry would bring costs under control while expanding care. In Minnesota, the Machinists? State Retirees? Council (IAM) is sending the resolution to all central labor councils in that state. In Pittsburgh, the president of a steelworkers local (USW) is submitting it to the Allegheny County Labor Council. The AFL-CIO convention opens September 8th in Los Angeles, CA. Central Labor Councils, Area Labor Federations, and State AFL-CIO Federations as well as international unions may submit resolutions. Resolutions can be sent to Elizabeth Shuler, Sec.-Treas. AFL-CIO, 815 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20006. #30# The resolutions can be found here: http://unionsforsinglepayer.org/tools/clc_resolutions Text of resolution: Resolution for Action in Defense of Social Security and Medicare Whereas: Both Social Security and Medicare are hard fought fundamental gains for all working people. And Whereas: Cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits would mean destitution for millions of workers and their families. And Whereas: The social insurance Social Security and Medicare provide is now under sustained attack by Wall Street interests which seek to direct these funds into private hands for private profit. And Whereas: Removing the cap on income taxed for Social Security would both solve any financial issues the fund might have and end the unfair advantage of those making over the current capped level. And Whereas: Implementing a Single Payer Medicare for All system as outlined in HR 676 would both cover everyone and save billions of dollars over the current private health insurance industry. Therefore: The Troy Area Labor Council AFL-CIO urges that the AFL-CIO, within this calendar year, organize a Solidarity Day of Action in Washington and on the West Coast which calls all affiliates and labor allies to mobilize their members to demand an expansion of Medicare to cover everyone and to defend Social Security by removing the cap on income and tax all income in a similar fashion. Distributed by: All Unions Committee for Single Payer Health Care--HR 676 c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO) 1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218 Louisville, KY 40217 (502) 636 1551 Email: nursenpo at aol.com http://unionsforsinglepayer.org 6/02/13 To STOP receiving these emails reply with REMOVE in subject line. From editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org Thu Jun 13 22:16:34 2013 From: editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org (Single Payer News) Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:16:34 -0400 Subject: USW Local 155 Endorses HR 676 Message-ID: Local 155, United Steelworkers, endorses HR 676 Rick Rigney, President of USW Local 155, reports that his union has endorsed HR 676, national single payer health care legislation sponsored by Congressman John Conyers. ?We just believe that every American ought to be afforded the right to have health care,? said Rigney, ?but there are a lot of Americans who have to choose between food or their medicine.? Local 155 represents approximately 450 members who work at Reynolds Aluminum and Eckert America in Louisville, Kentucky, and at Ryerson in nearby Shelbyville. In other news, with the addition of Congressman Paul Tonko, Democrat from the 20th District in New York, there are now 43 co-sponsors on HR 676 Tonko, who represents the communities of Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs and Amsterdam, signed on to HR 676 on June 3, 2013. #30# HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a greatly improved Medicare to everyone residing in the U. S. HR 676 would cover every person for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental (including oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics), mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care and correction, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable medical equipment, palliative care, podiatric care, and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save hundreds of billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs. In the current Congress, HR 676 has 43 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. HR 676 has been endorsed by 602 union organizations including 145 Central Labor Councils/Area Labor Federations and 42 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, NJ, NY, NV, MA, RI, & NH). For further information, a list of union endorsers, or a sample endorsement resolution, contact: Kay Tillow All Unions Committee for Single Payer Health Care--HR 676 c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO) 1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218 Louisville, KY 40217 (502) 636 1551 Email: nursenpo at aol.com http://unionsforsinglepayer.org 6/14/13 To STOP receiving these emails reply with REMOVE in subject line. From editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org Tue Jun 25 22:30:26 2013 From: editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org (Single Payer News) Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:30:26 -0400 Subject: Kentucky IBEW Local 369 Endorses HR 676, National Single Payer Health Care Message-ID: <9f006e874c37ad5e86a3bd9ef3358a37.squirrel@unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org> Kentucky IBEW Local 369 Endorses HR 676, National Single Payer Health Care Local 369 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has endorsed HR 676, the national single payer health care legislation also called Expanded and Improved Medicare for All. HR 676 was introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D. MI) and currently has 43 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. ?Insurance is the biggest problem in America. Anything the unions can do to help with health and welfare would be a positive for all Americans not just unions,? said Charles Essex, Business Manager of IBEW Local 369 in response to why his local took this action. IBEW Local 369 represents over 2,400 members across the state of Kentucky and six counties in Indiana. In addition to inside and outside electricians, Local 369 represents many maintenance electricians, TV Broadcasting techs, manufacturing workers, communications techs and electricians for the city of Louisville and dozens of other employers. The bulk of the members and their families have health care coverage through union-negotiated multiemployer plans. #30# HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a greatly improved Medicare to everyone residing in the U. S. HR 676 would cover every person for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental (including oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics), mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care and correction, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable medical equipment, palliative care, podiatric care, and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save hundreds of billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs. In the current Congress, HR 676 has 43 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. HR 676 has been endorsed by 603 union organizations including 145 Central Labor Councils/Area Labor Federations and 42 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, NJ, NY, NV, MA, RI, & NH). For further information, a list of union endorsers, or a sample endorsement resolution, contact: Kay Tillow All Unions Committee for Single Payer Health Care--HR 676 c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO) 1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218 Louisville, KY 40217 (502) 636 1551 Email: nursenpo at aol.com http://unionsforsinglepayer.org 6/25/13 To STOP receiving these emails reply with REMOVE in subject line.