[lbo-talk] Damon Silvers: The signal theory of labor law

Michael Pollak mpollak at panix.com
Thu Dec 4 16:55:51 PST 2008


On Thu, 4 Dec 2008, James Straub wrote:


> If she got the position, it really would make change to win look more
> politically marginal (she's not from the ctw camp). Which I actually
> think would be good. CtW now appears to have been a great blunder and
> the sooner we come back to the afl the better.

Apropos, I just today realized that with all the discussion of how SEIU and Change to Win aren't down for single payer, I somehow missed how the AFL-CIO now is. The Federation adopted this plank last year:

<quote>

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/03/06/afl-cio-executive-council-universal-health-should-be-built-on-medicare-blueprint/

AFL-CIO Executive Council: Universal Health Care Should Be Built on Medicare Blueprint

by Mike Hall, Mar 6, 2007

The 47-member AFL-CIO Executive Council today says because the nation

is in desperate need of a universal health care system, such a system

should be built upon:

The nation's most successful universal health coverage plan for

seniors--Medicare.

In a statement addressing the nation's health care crisis, council

members say:

It is time to mobilize America behind a concrete plan to enact

universal health care and the AFL-CIO commits its full resources to

asserting leadership in this historic effort.

The council, meeting in Las Vegas for its annual winter meeting,

approved a statement that outlines a health agenda that includes

universal coverage; comprehensive and affordable coverage; choice of

providers; financing through shared responsibility; effect cost

control; and a plan that, until it goes into effect, does not undermine

existing coverage.

The council statement says that Medicare meets those targets:

In its 40-year history, Medicare has delivered substantial advances

for the health care of older Americans and people with disabilities.

Medicare has guaranteed coverage, made health care more affordable,

included a form of shared financial responsibility, significantly

reduced administrative costs compared with those of private plans

and has been the largely unheralded financer of America's medical

science advances. Medicare also has been a leader in advancing

quality care and improvements in health care service delivery in the

United States.

Such an approach would require updating and expanding Medicare

benefits to fit the working population and children, as well as

negotiating prices with physicians and providers that families--and

the country--can afford. It would encourage innovation in health

care services and medical technology. Employers' responsibility for

health care financing would be broadly and equitably shared,

substantially reducing burdens on all businesses and reducing

disadvantages currently faced in the global marketplace. In building

on Medicare to move toward a universal program, we can find a

practical, achievable and affordable solution to our country's

health care crisis.

To read the full statement: http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/thisistheaflcio/ecouncil/ec03062007.cfm

<end quote>

Michael



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