“The Eastern Panhandle Central Labor Council is proud to support HR 676,”
said Ken Collinson, President. “We believe that health care is a right,
not a privilege, and we do everything that we can to support single payer.
We are close to DC so we go to rallies whenever they are called.”

The Eastern Panhandle CLC represents workers in the seven counties in
eastern West Virginia and is headquartered in Martinsburg. Collinson is
also the President of United Auto Workers Local 1590.

The Eastern Panhandle CLC is the 610th labor organization to endorse HR
676, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All, sponsored by Congressman John
Conyers. At the end of January, Representative Gloria Negrete McLeod
(CA-35) signed on to HR 676, bringing the total of cosponsors in the
House, including Conyers, to 55.

“When people do not have health care, it is unimaginable. An injury to
one is an injury to all—this is what we feel in our hearts,” said
Collinson.

The labor council is taking further action to promote public support for
single payer by joining with the Eastern Panhandle chapters of Physicians
for a National Health Program and Healthcare-NOW! and the Jefferson County
NAACP Branch, the League of Women Voters of Jefferson County, and Shepherd
University Lifelong Learning Program to bring a one hour, one man play
featuring actor Michael Milligan to six West Virginia cities.

The play is Mercy Killers and admission is free. The schedule is below:

Friday, March 28, 7:00 PM, Ice House, 138 Independence St. Berkeley Springs

Saturday, March 29, 1:30 PM, Fisherman’s Hall, 312 South West St. Charles
Town

Sunday, March 30, 2:00 PM, Opera House, 131 W. German St. Shepherdstown

Monday, March 31, 7:00 PM, Calvary Church, 220 W. Burke St. Martinsburg

Tuesday, April 1, 7:00 PM, Baha’i Regional Center, 308 S. Buchannan St.
Ranson

Wednesday, April 2, 12:30 PM, Erma Ora Byrd Nursing Hall Auditorium,
Shepherd University Shepherdstown

More information & venue directions: http://mercykillerswv.wordpress.com
or contact epspan@gmail.com

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 54 co-sponsors including Congressman
Conyers.

HR 676 has been endorsed by 610 union organizations including 147 Central
Labor Councils/Area Labor Federations and 44 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, ID & NM).

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

2/4/2014