Oregon Teachers, Machinists, Nurses, Public & Transit Unions Endorse HR 676

Oregon Teachers, Machinists, Nurses, Public & Transit Unions Endorse HR 676

Oregon Teachers, Machinists, Nurses, Public & Transit Unions Endorse HR 676

Six more Oregon unions, including both the Oregon Education Association
(NEA) and AFT Oregon, the statewide affiliate of the American Federation
of Teachers (AFT), have endorsed HR 676, single payer healthcare
legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

In April, the 57th Annual State Convention of AFT Oregon, representing
12,000 teachers statewide in twenty locals, endorsed HR 676, reports Mark
Schwebke, AFT Oregon President.  In the same month, the Representative
Assembly of the Oregon Education Association (OEA), representing about
47,000 educators, reaffirmed its support for single payer healthcare. AFT
Oregon has sent letters to both of the state's senators and all its
congressmen urging them to support HR 676 and has also advised the AFT
Executive Council of the position taken.

Other Oregon unions that endorsed HR 676 are AFSCME District Council 75,
with 25,000 members; the State Council of Machinists (IAM);  Portland
Local 757, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) with 4,600 members;  and AFT
Local 5017, Oregon Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals.  #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 83 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 552 union organizations in 49 states including
128 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
07/03/09