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.

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@aol.com
http://unionsforsinglepayer.org
6/25/13