New Daily Show Post on Medicaid Expansion

The lack of Medicaid expansion is hurting many in the 19 states that have refused to take federal money.  The daily show has a segment that aired last night on it's impact in South Carolina (Stephen Colbert's home state).  The arguments for expansion sound very similar to those for a single payer system.  Pennsylvania is listed as implementing the expansion which is actually still in limbo here as described in related posts.  

As an aside Julie Sokolow and Healthy Artists are featured in the New York Times on artists' struggle with health insurance.  Many of whom are now adversely affected by the lack of Medicaid expansion. 

A Crusader on What Ails Artists

The Daily Show
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Hundreds of UPMC Altoona RNs Strike for Patient Care and Job Standards (Press Release from Molly Rush)

PUSH founder Molly Rush has issued a press release discussing the plight of UPMC workers in Altoona. 

In February, Altoona Nurses took to the streets of Altoona and Pittsburgh by the hundreds—braving snow and freezing temps--to send UPMC a strong message: Patients before Profits!

Six months ago—after acquiring Altoona Regional Health System and becoming Blair County’s largest employer---UPMC promised a standard of excellence for Altoona patients, nurses and the community.[1]  Six months later, however, the story has changed.

During contract negotiations with unionized Altoona nurses, UPMC has pushed for a range of changes that would lower the quality of jobs, limit nurses right to advocate for adequate staffing and quality patient care, and refused the Union’s proposed training and partnership with management to help improve patient outcomes.

On Febuary 1^st   UPMC walked away from negotiations, despite nurses’ commitment to continue discussions, so 800 nurses voted for a one-day unfair labor practice strike. [2]

And on Tuesday, February 11, hundreds of the Registered Nurses of UPMC Altoona took to the picket lines to advocate for good jobs and quality care for the Altoona community.[3] The sense of solidarity on the picket line was palpable. The nurses' determination was fueled by the continual flow of cars honking their support, and the generous deliveries of food and coffee by local businesses. They marched and chanted through the snow until it was time for a candlelight vigil, to mark the seriousness of their protest.[4]

However when the nurses returned to work the next day—after 90% had participated in the one-day unfair labor practice strike the day prior—many were turned away.  Instead, UPMC is spending millions on expensive out-of-state temporary nurses. [5]

“UPMC says it does not have the resources to maintain our current contract, yet they can needlessly waste millions on temps,” said Paulla Stellabotte, RN.  “This clearly demonstrates UPMC’s misplaced priorities—wasting money rather than investing in the future of healthcare for our community.”[6]

But rather than take this lying down, and after 2 days of picketing in bitter cold, more than 100 nurses from UPMC’s Altoona hospital and their supporters[7] came to Pittsburgh to bring their concerns about staffing, benefits and patient care straight to “the boss” at UPMC corporate headquarters on Thursday, February 13^th.  They roared down Grant Street with chants and pickets flying, making sure that Jeffery Romoff got the message loud and clear: Patients before Profits!

---

[1] Press Release, Feb 11 “Hundreds of UPMC Altoona RNs Begin One Day Unfair Labor Practice Strike…” (File Name: Press Release- STRIKE)

[2] Press Release, Feb 11 “Hundreds of UPMC Altoona RNs Begin One Day Unfair Labor Practice Strike…” (File Name: Press Release- STRIKE)

[3] Press Release, Feb 11 “Hundreds of UPMC Altoona RNs Begin One Day Unfair Labor Practice Strike…” (File Name: Press Release- STRIKE)

[4] Description from Karma Lord, who was present

[5] Press Release, Feb 12 “Registered Nurses at UPMC Altoona Return ….” (File name: Lockout Press Release)

[6] Press Release, Feb 12 “Registered Nurses at UPMC Altoona Return ….” (File name: Lockout Press Release)

[7] Press Release, Feb 13, “100+ Striking Nurses...”(File name: Press Release Altoona RN in Pittsburgh)

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Healthcare for All PA to be Featured on WIUP-FM

State board members Will Ferrell and I will be featured on WIUP-FM (90.1 in the Indiana, PA area).  It will be livestreamed on http://www.wiupfm.org for those of you who do not live near IUP.  The program will be on Saturday Feb 15 from 11-Noon.  Also on the program will be Cybil Moore of the Chevy Chase community center.  You can call in at: 724-357-WIUP (9487) 

The discussion will be on single payer and problems with the current system.  

Next Friday Board member Elizabeth Sierminski will be on a panel discussing the Film Escape Fire at the Indiana Theater in Indiana, PA at 6:30.  The trailer is below.

**Update**

It was a nice discussion on WIUP radio.  If the program is archived I will post it here so you can listen to it.  I'm looking forward to the panel discussion with Elizabeth next Friday by the Center for Community Growth in Indiana, PA.  Details here.

  

 

"Class Struggle Trade Unionism - What it is and Why it's Needed" on Union Edge

It was a productive meeting with Put People First, PA.  We talked about efforts for social justice in PA and watched this video on how single payer was passed in Vermont.



Ed Cloonan and Ed Gtystar will be featured on the Union Edge radio show to discuss the same issue.  This is a fitting topic for our 200th post.

Ed Grystar and Ed Cloonan will be discussing

"Class Struggle Trade Unionism - What it is and Why it's Needed"

 Union Edge - Labors Talk Radio

http://www.theunionedge.com/

Wednesday February 12, 2014
1:30 PM

Union Edge can be heard on WKFB 770 AM and 97.5 FM in our area (Pittsburgh).

Thanks to Mike Plaskon of NALC Branch # 84 in securing the radio invite.+

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Ed Grystar on the Other Possibilities Network

Panel Discussion on Vermon'ts Passing of Single Payer

Julie Sokolow of Healthy Artists is organizing a panel discussion on the struggle for single payer in Vermont which passed it's plan in 2011. Details are below.   The Fight for Universal Healthcare: Lessons from Vermont Join us for a Panel Discussion with the Vermont Workers’ Center and Put People First! PA! The Big Idea Bookstore 4812 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15224 6:30 – 8:00 PM Free and open to the public In 2011, the state of Vermont passed the nation's first true universal healthcare law, Act 48. The Green Mountain Care Board established by Act 48 has a mandate to create a statewide single-payer system by 2017. In the meantime, it is leading the nation with the most progressive implementation of Obamacare of any state, ensuring that the "exchange" is publicly run and equitable. Join us for a panel discussion with Jonathan Kissam of the Vermont Workers' Center and Mitch Troutman of Put People First! PA! Jonathan will discuss the Healthcare Is a Human Rights Campaign that led to the healthcare bill, and the subsequent Put People First campaign that has brought people together across movements to win real victories. Mitch will talk about a similar Healthcare Is a Human Right campaign to be launched in PA, and how Pittsburghers can get involved! Jonathan Kissam is a long-time rank and file activist with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), and currently a member of UE Local 203. He has served on the UE General Executive Board and on the Coordinating Committee of the Vermont Workers’ Center, where he helped launch the Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign in 2008. Mitch Troutman is a staff field organizer for Put People First! PA. Born and raised in Central PA, his background is in manual labor as well as community and workplace organizing. The Vermont Workers' Center is a statewide grassroots organization building one movement for people and the planet. Our current campaigns include Healthcare Is a Human Right, the People's Budget, and Put People First. Put People First! PA is an organization for people who are struggling to meet the basics and believe we need a voice. We’re fighting for our human rights, county by county, all across PA. We’re urban and rural, multi-racial, and politically independent. We’re people like you. Until we unite, we don’t have the power to change things. Join us! Put People First! PA is starting a statewide, grassroots effort to make Healthcare a Human Right. Inspired by Vermont's success, we're building a movement to get universal, affordable healthcare for all PA residents. Everybody in, nobody out! **Related Posts** Vermont Green Mountain Plan Video   If Vermont Won't Have Single Payer What Will it Have? STOP Obamacare in Pennsylvania: Where We Agree with Them   Aaron Carroll's Analysis of Single Payer and Wait Times