[lbo-talk] unions & single-payer

[Doug Henwood]

Just had a chat with someone who's deeply involved in the politics of 
the single-payer campaign. The unions - including SEIU - are largely 
missing in action. Some put out nice statements and do nothing to 
fight for the position. My source attributes this to slavish devotion 
to the Dems, unwillingness to rock the boat, and in the case of SEIU, 
a preference for doing deals with their employers (about 1/2 of 
SEIU's membership works in health care).

Some locals and grassroots types are signing on to the struggle, 
which may provoke some movement at the national level, but it's very 
very slow.

Doug