Health Care

Health care is a basic human right.  America’s labor movement has worked for more than a century for guaranteed high-quality health care for everyone.  The Affordable Care Act is a historic milestone on this journey, but we still have a long way to go.

America must continue moving forward toward a more equitable and cost-effective health care system. Moving forward means working with employers to demand health care payment and delivery reforms to control costs, allowing people of all ages to buy into the equivalent of Medicare through a public plan option and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.  Of course, the most cost-effective and equitable way to provide quality health care is through the social insurance model (“Medicare for All”), as other industrialized countries have shown. 

The worst thing we could do is move backward by repealing the Affordable Care Act or its key provisions; privatizing Medicare or turning it into a voucher program; raising the Medicare eligibility age; increasing Medicare co-pays and deductibles or otherwise cutting Medicare benefits; or taxing employment-based health care benefits. 

More about this issue:

Jul 21, 2023 | News Story

As thousands of UPS Teamsters practice picket, rally, and mobilize around the country, UPS bowed this week to the overwhelming show of Teamster unity and reached out to the union to resume negotiations.

Jul 18, 2023 | News Story

The decision to go on strike is never an easy one, but working people deserve fair wages & benefits, as well as dignity & respect on the job.

Please see below for how you can show your support for workers currently on strike around NYC.

Jul 14, 2023 | News Story

SAG-AFTRA, the union representing 160,000 television and movie actors, has announced a strike for the first time in 43 years after negotiations with studios over a new contract collapsed, with streaming services and artificial intelligence at the center of the standoff.

Jul 14, 2023 | News Story

Workers at the Children’s Law Center, members of A Better CLC/UAW Local 2325, have been negotiating their first contract for nearly two and a half years. During this time, CLC management has repeatedly engaged in bad faith bargaining.

Jul 14, 2023 | News Story

The workers at REI’s very first unionized store need your support!

Jul 7, 2023 | News Story

Around 4 AM Wednesday, UPS walked away from the bargaining table after presenting an unacceptable offer to the Teamsters that did not address members’ needs.

Jul 7, 2023 | News Story

App-based companies that account for nearly all the food deliveries in the city filed suit Thursday to stop

Jul 7, 2023 | News Story

“One job should be enough.” That was the chant and ideal that rang out last Thursday as concession workers at Barclays Center held a rally to push for better pay, better healthcare coverage, and respect from their employer, Levy.

Jul 7, 2023 | News Story

From the New York State AFL-CIO: New York is Union Strong because we are united. We share common values and interests, and we care about each other. One of the most important ways we can grow stronger as a movement is to talk with one another.