United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), Northeast Region
5 Hill Street, Taunton, MA 02780
(774) 264 0110
office@uenortheast.org
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), Northeast Region
On June 5, 2003, UE locals throughout Massachusetts and Vermont participated in the "Health Care Action Day" organized by Jobs with Justice in both states. Health Care Action Day linked workers' struggles against benefit cost shifting and cuts in health care services to the larger movement to win publicly administered single payer universal health care.
In both states, UE members joined tens of thousands of workers and community activists who wore stickers and distributed petitions to show support for a political solution to the health care crisis. Over 80,000 stickers were distributed. The demand of the day of action was a health care plan that:
In addition to wearing stickers, UE members took their message to their workplaces and the community. In southeast Massachusetts, UE members joined others in leafleting unorganized factory workers at an industrial park about the need for universal health care and members of UE 226 at Bacon Felt joined UE Local 204 members at Kirkhill-TA Haskon who were negotiating a new contract and fighting to keep their healthcare. In Greenfield, Massachusetts, Local 274 members circulated petitions calling for passage of state legislation to create a single payer healthcare system and joined a rally for members of the Steelworkers who have been locked out by the Berkshire Gas Company, a company whose demands included a 300% increase in health insurance co-pays. In St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Local 234 joined together with the North Country Coalition for Peace and Justice to sponsor a vigil in downtown St. Johnsbury and a public forum on universal healthcare, which featured District 2 Secretary-Treasurer Jonathan Kissam as one of the speakers.
Jobs with Justice chapters and UE Locals throughout District 2 are planning to escalate their activities in support of health care justice in the fall.
Also see "Opposition to Health Benefit Cuts Unites Workers in Call for Health Care for
All!" in July issue of Labor Notes at:
http://www.labornotes.org/archives/2003/07/a.html