CWA Launches Health Care Campaign

CWA is launching an all-out effort to persuade elected officials and political candidates to champion comprehensive health care reform.

The campaign will involve members in a three-pronged strategy — electoral, legislative and mobilization.

"The health care crisis goes well beyond the 50 million Americans who lack health care coverage," said CWA Vice President Annie Hill, who heads the Executive Board Committee on Health Care. "It's about working families, including CWA members, who have suffered attacks on their benefits from their employers.  And it is about union employers that face a competitive disadvantage from companies that refuse to provide quality health care. This is not the way the health care system should operate in America."

CWA's Stewards Army of members and retirees will work within the union and with allies to press for reform.  A network of coordinators is being recruited to train activists.

As the 2008 elections approach, activists will meet with key members of Congress to talk about the urgent need for health care reform that meets CWA's principles. The campaign will hold lawmakers accountable for enacting comprehensive reform by the year 2012.  

On CWA's health care website, www.healthcarevoices.org, members can post accounts of their experiences with the health care system. Their stories and thoughts on reform may be used in meetings with lawmakers and candidates. 

The website also features updates about the campaign, policy and legislative developments, studies and links to other useful sites.

CWA's Key Principles For Health Care Reform

• Everyone has health coverage.
• All medically necessary care is provided.
• Coverage is affordable.
• The system is financed fairly.
• We all receive quality care based on best practices and delivered using safe staffing standards.
• Our employers are not disadvantaged as a result of offering a quality health benefits package.