Resolution to AFL-CIO 2009 Convention for Single-Payer Health Care: H.R.676 & S.703
Submitted by Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Our nation is in crisis. People everywhere are experiencing the effects of economic dislocation and insecurity. The absence of a universal, comprehensive, single-payer health care system is a major factor in how desperate the situation is becoming for countless Americans. The Labor Movement has a special responsibility to aggressively address the social injustice of a broken health care system and lead the attack on the institutional causes of its perpetuation. Health care should be a right, not a privilege.
Whereas: the U.S. health system treats health care as a commodity distributed according to ability to pay, rather than as a human right provided according to medical need. This has resulted in more than 49 million people in the U.S. not having any health insurance and another 40 million who have inadequate coverage with high co-pays and deductibles, with many others at risk of losing coverage as the economy spirals downward. A recent study has shown that 62% of bankruptcies in 2007 were related to problems involving health care. It is certain to be higher today.
Whereas: no union today can engage in collective bargaining without facing a demand or hard choices regarding health care coverage in our contracts. The disproportionate costs of health insurance at the bargaining table have significantly depressed our member's wages despite the productivity gains their work has produced. "Reform" proposals which include a continuation of for-profit insurance companies, whose interests are counter to and destructive of ours, will not control costs or improve the international competitiveness of U.S. based employers.
Whereas: Both H.R.676 and S.703 would end deductibles and co-payments, and provide an effective mechanism for controlling skyrocketing costs while covering all in America. And, both H.R.676 and S.703 would save billions annually by eliminating the administrative burdens, overhead and profits and apply those savings to expanded and improved coverage for all.
Whereas: A Single-Payer health care system will provide a major stimulus to the economy, create millions of new jobs, positively increase the national GDP, and create billions in new tax revenues; and
Whereas: hundreds of union organizations, including 39 State Federations and numerous CLCs, have endorsed H.R.676 and many have and continue to vigorously advocate for its enactment.
Therefore be it resolved, that the AFL-CIO adopt this resolution and endorse both H.R.676, the United States National Health Care Act and S.703, the American Health Care Security Act of 2009;
and that the Federation and all its affiliates play a leading role in mobilizing broad public and political support for single-payer health care to meet the needs of our members, their families, and all in America.
And, that the Federation and its affiliates reject any call to endorse or support any health care proposals that call for mandated insurance or public option plans which include the wasteful for-profit insurance industry, or taxation of employer-based benefits.
On June 29th, 2009, the delegates of the Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO approved the above resolution for submission to the AFL-CIO 2009 Convention and respectfully submitted it to Secretary-Treasurer Richard L. Trumka
