>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 10/26/05 11:15 PM >>> Wouldn't unions that specialize in organizing low-wage workers like Wal-Mart workers be better off if they helped all poor to sign up for and defend Medicaid (in the short term), fought like hell for publicly-funded universal health care (in the medium term), and focused organizing and bargaining efforts on other issues like wages, hours, conditions, and dignity (always)? Yoshie Furuhashi <<<<<>>>>>
bargaining for health care coverage is not issue for labor movements in countries with national health service, given state of health insurance... it's kinda hard to believe that nhs was pretty vigorously debated u.s. during 1930s & 1940s, both afl and cio actively pushed it... confluence of several strands of anti-labor politics in early cold war had effectively blocked introduction by time truman proposed it as part of his 1948 prez campaign (some have suggested he did so as electoral ploy knowing that he wouldn't have to actually make good on pledge)... in any event, some large corporations initiated 'group' insurance programs, unions opted for ways to draw such coverage into collective bargaining process, understandable, i guess, given inability to get universal public care... by doing so, however, organized labor essentially ceded control of health insurance and delivery of medical treatment to employers... given present situation, unions might consider return to operating their own clinics as number of them did from early to mid-20th century... michael hoover -------------------------------------------------------------- Please Note: Due to Florida's very broad public records law, most written communications to or from College employees regarding College business are public records, available to the public and media upon request. Therefore, this e-mail communication may be subject to public disclosure.
