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Local 5017 Joins Push for National Single Payer Health Care Legislation
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"The U.S. spends twice as much as other industrialized nations on health care, $7,129 per capita. Yet our system performs poorly in comparison and still leaves 45.7 million without health coverage and millions more inadequately covered.
"This is because private insurance bureaucracy and paperwork consume one-third (31 percent) of every health care dollar. Streamlining payment through a single nonprofit payer would save more than $350 billion per year, enough to provide comprehensive, high-quality coverage for all Americans."
— "Our Mission," Physicians for a National Health Program
Everyone in America seems to agree that our health system is broken, and Congress has been busy putting together a health reform package. Unfortunately, one of the simplest, most straightforward and popular solutions — a single-payer system — has been consistently swept off the table during this process, thanks to the power wielded by giant insurance and pharmaceutical interests. In fact, the latest health care "reform" proposals coming out of Congress don't include any "public option" as advocated by President Obama.
Not to be discouraged, the grassroots movement for a single payer, universal health care system is not only very much alive — it is gaining momentum! Many U.S. public opinion polls have shown overwhelming support for universal health coverage. Currently the bill of choice is HR 676, introduced by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI).
OFNHP/AFT Healthcare NW Local 5017 joins hundreds of unions across the country in calling for Single Payer Health Care legislation. John Conyers' Single Payer bill, HR 676, has been endorsed by 560 union organizations in 49 states. OFNHP/AFT Local 5017 was endorser #542. Our Single Payer Health Care Legislation page contains a number of links about this exciting movement.
A resolution titled "Health Care: A System in Crisis" was passed at AFT's national convention in 2006. It includes the following paragraph: "RESOLVED, that the AFT endorse the view that achievement of these goals would be expedited by the establishment of a single-payer system to prevent cost shifting and reduce administrative expenses." Click here to see the full text of the resolution.
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National Labor Relations Board Issues Complaint
against Legacy Hospital
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Employees' right to organize violated
The National Labor Relations Board, Region 19 has issued a complaint (click here to read the legal document) against Legacy Hospital accusing Legacy administrators of discouraging union organizing among Registered Nurses. Officials from American Federation of Teachers-Healthcare Northwest filed charges with the NLRB in May 2008 after several incidents at the hospital.
 | On May 16, 2008 an email was sent to Legacy nurses informing them that they were prohibited from talking about their union, AFT Healthcare Northwest, except in break rooms. |
| At the same time administrators at both Good Samaritan and Emanuel were urging nurses to call security if they were approached by anyone seeking their signature for union representation. |
| Two nurses were threatened with arrest in the break rooms when they asked fellow nurses to sign a petition for recognition of the union. |
 Click here to read AFT Healthcare Northwest's complete press release.
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"A friendly reminder to staff of the National Labor Relations Board: your agency exists to protect the interests of workers -- not the employers who break the law."
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Excerpt from American Rights at Work webite article, "Workers Left Out of NLRB Settlement Process"
Written by: Erin Johansson
Published: Nov. 14, 2008
Read the complete American Rights at Work article here.
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Healthcare Professionals Speak Out about Short Staffing
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"Short staffing affects the quality of care I am able to provide because when I have five patients or more, my patients have to wait longer for everything. Everything from simple education, discharge instructions, assessments, medications, call lights, comfort and compassion, as well as urgent or even life-threatening waits. My patients should not have their safety compromised.
Stephanie Martinsen
Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, Med/Surg
"I've been a health professional for 4 years."
"In a normal shift I care for 3-5 patients."
Safe staffing ratios, like those outlined in SB 564, would help improve patient care:
Patient deaths go down when staffing goes up. All indications of patient safety and satisfaction go up when staffing goes up. This is so crucial, so essential.
Read more Short Staffing stories here! |
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