SEIU & AFL-CIO Unions pull out of health care talks…..

[biopowertoday]

I missed this over the weekend.



SEIU & AFL-CIO Unions pull out of health care talks…..





http://dissentingjustice.blogspot.com/2009/03/two-leading-labor-unions-drop-out-of.html


Saturday, March 7, 2009
Two Leading Labor Unions Drop Out of Health Care Talks, Citing Discord Over "Public Plan" Option and Employer Contributions

The New York Times reports that the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International Union have both pulled out of the Health Care Reform Dialogue. According to the New York Times, the unions withdrew from the talks because they favor a public insurance plan and mandatory employer contributions to health care, while insurance companies, some employers and Republicans strongly oppose these ideas.

Both unions are strong supporters of Obama, and they recently joined a group of unions and progressive organizations that will wage a campaign to generate political support for his budget proposal. The unions' departure demonstrates the deep conflict over a public plan option and employer sponsorship among participants in the important negotiations on health care reform.

Every Voice at the Table?
Although Obama only recently held his "Health Care Summit," participants in the Health Care Reform Dialogue have been meeting since last Fall through the office of Senator Edward Kennedy who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Some progressive organizations recently complained that advocates of a single-payer system were not invited to participate in the talks.

As the Health Care Summit began President Obama announced that "every voice" must be heard on the issue. The next day, however, the two unions withdrew from the talks in part due to conflicts over the issue of a public plan, which they believe could develop the infrastructure that would ultimately lead to a single-payer system.
…………………………

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/07/us/politics/07health.html?_r=1

March 7, 2009

In Divide Over Health Care Overhaul, 2 Major Unions Withdraw From a Coalition
By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON — Two labor unions have pulled out of a broad coalition seeking agreement on major changes in the health care system.
The action, by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International Union, shows the seeds of discord behind the optimistic talk at a White House conference on health care this week.
It also illustrates the difficulty of reaching agreement on two of the knottiest issues in the health care debate: whether to offer a new government-sponsored insurance option, and whether to require employers to help pay for employee health benefits.
Labor unions and leading Democrats in Congress support both ideas. But insurers and many employers oppose them.
The coalition, known as the Healthcare Reform Dialogue, is led by the president of the American Hospital Association, Richard J. Umbdenstock, and includes representatives of doctors and nurses, patients and consumers, insurers, drug companies and employers of all sizes………………

[Thrill]

1. You can't have change, if you don't fight for it.

Kind of early to be pulling out

[firedupdem]

2. I don't understand how pulling out will help?

The next day, however, the two unions withdrew from the talks in part due to conflicts over the issue of a public plan, which they believe could develop the infrastructure that would ultimately lead to a single-payer system.


WTF? I thought that would be good?

[biopowertoday]

4. The unions feel that the Kennedy plan is not going in that direction.

[amandabeech]

3. I think that you may want to edit your title and text to substitute "AFSCME"

for "AFL-CIO."

AFSCME is the state, county and municipal workers, but the AFL-CIO is the umbrella organization for a large percentage of the country's unions. The story involves AFSCME only. I just wonder if the AFL-CIO had a presence, too.

[biopowertoday]

5. Thanks you are right. My

error--on the acronyms