UFCW President Announces Aggressive New Health Care Mobilization Project, USA

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 10 Jul 2008 - 5:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) pledged to aggressively mobilize its 1.3 million members in support of the newly-formed Health Care for America Now, an unprecedented coalition of organizations across the political spectrum that have come together to call for affordable, quality health care for all Americans.

UFCW International President Joe Hansen announced at the official launch of the historic campaign in Washington, D.C., that the UFCW would join the coalition of allied labor unions, medical associations, small businesses and community groups that have united in response to America's health care crisis.

"While there may be gridlock in Washington, there is consensus in America," said Hansen. "The American people want solutions--not sound bites. We need health care for America now."

The event was part of series of Health Care for America Now launch activities taking place in 52 cities across the U.S. today, including in 37 state capitals.

UFCW members are at the forefront of the fight for better health care. It is an issue that they strongly advocate for every time they sit down at the bargaining table--and just like most Americans, they believe that working people shouldn't have to shoulder the burden of health care reform alone.

From 2003 to 2006, President Hansen served as an active member of the congressionally mandated Citizens' Health Care Working Group. For nearly two years, the group held an unprecedented nationwide dialogue with the American people on the health care system before reporting its findings to the President and Congress.

The report [ link to report ] documents a remarkable consensus from the American people on health care reform. Americans want affordable, quality health care coverage for all-and they want it now.

The UFCW has heard America's call for change and will continue the fight as a proud member of the Health Care for America Now coalition. United, the coalition members will make sure the voices of average Americans are not drowned out in Washington by that of the insurance industry and big business.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail and meatpacking, food processing and poultry industries. The UFCW protects the rights of workers and strengthens America's middle class by fighting for health care reform, immigration reform, living wages, retirement security, safe working conditions and the right to unionize so that working men and women and their families can realize the American Dream.

United Food and Commercial Workers International Union