IATSE is Twenty-first International Union to Endorse HR 676

IATSE is Twenty-first International Union to Endorse HR 676

Orlando, Florida.   The 66th Quadrennial Convention of IATSE, the
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees became the
twenty-first international union to endorse HR 676, national single payer
healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

On July 29, 2009, over 800 delegates, representing more than 100,000
members nationwide, voted unanimously to endorse H.R. 676.  Since a
campaign to endorse HR 676 began within IATSE last January, over
seventy-five individual IATSE locals have endorsed HR 676.

International President Matthew D. Loeb stated from the podium after the
vote that HR 676 is the "right thing to do."  The Convention resolution
will now be submitted to the AFL-CIO Convention to take place in
Pittsburgh Sept. 13-17th.

Robert Score, Recording Corresponding Secretary of IATSE Local One in New
York City, led the six month campaign.     #30#

HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a
greatly improved Medicare system 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, mental health, home health,
physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision
care, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable
medical equipment, palliative 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 85 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced SB 703, a single payer bill
in the Senate.

HR 676 has been endorsed by 555 union organizations in 49 states including
130 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 39 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, NV & MA).

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@aol.com
http://unionsforsinglepayerHR676.org
07/29/09