UHSEU joins national health care campaign

____ Our national organization, the Communications Workers of America, has launched a nationwide campaign to build momentum for real reform in our health care system. UHSEU, as part of the Texas State Employees Union, is part of the CWA. Over 150,000 public, health care, and higher education employees are part of CWA in 16 states.
____ Rising health care costs has become a daily worry for the general public, governments, and employers who provide health care for their employees. The United States spends more by far than any other country for health care, but we lag far behind the other developed countries – and many developing countries – in many indicators of an effective health care system. The World Health Organization ranks the U.S. 37th in delivering quality health care to our people, and 44 countries have a lower rate of infant mortality than we do. Some 46 million Americans, including 15 million Texans, have no health coverage at all.
____ Although the crisis, and the public outcry, have been growing every year, there has been little movement toward real reform among national policy makers. The CWA campaign, which emphasizes the building of a grassroots movement, is meant to get things moving. The campaign will support reform legislation in the Congress via work in the Capitol and grassroots mobilization among members, develop educational and mobilizing resources, and develop alliances with other forces that are working for health care reform. UHSEU members, who are deeply involved in the day-to-day realities of our health care system, will be taking part to make sure that Texas’ elected leaders hear the message loud and clear.

The campaign calls for reforms that meet four key tests:
1. They guarantee coverage for all.
2. They are financed through shared social responsibilities.
3. They promote cost effective, quality health care.
4. They allow a choice of providers.

How to get involved:
1. Join UHSEU/TSEU.
2. Contact UHSEU/TSEU for information about how you can get involved.
3. <CLICK HERE> Go to www.healthcarevoices.org/pages/ resources - & click on “share your story.” Share your story about health care.

Web resources:
TSEU home page

Health Care Voices home page:

Healthcare for all Texas home page:

Found in the Sept 2007 issue of: