Ned Lamont, John Edwards, Phil Angelides to Rally California's union

[Omaha Steve]

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060901/sffv001.html?.v=29

Change Agents: Ned Lamont, John Edwards, Phil Angelides to Rally California's Largest, Fastest Growing Local Union
Friday September 1, 6:29 pm ET

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Senate candidate from Connecticut, Ned Lamont, who won his primary race over an old guard incumbent this summer, will join John Edwards, Phil Angelides, and hundreds of rank-and- file leaders from California's largest and fastest growing union next week to rally for fundamental change in healthcare and the labor movement, in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C.

The 2nd Annual SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West (UHW) Leadership Conference, on September 8th and 9th at the San Jose Convention Center, will gather 2,000 frontline healthcare workers from across the state -- leaders of the union's 140,000 caregivers throughout California -- who will plan next year's work to change the course of the country.

The assembly will advance UHW's support for uniting all of SEIU's local healthcare unions into a single, nationwide healthcare workers union, an industry-wide organizing strategy to build labor strength promoted by the newly formed "Change to Win" federation.

FULL story at link above.

[AX10]

1. It's about time Phil showed his face.

[Schema Thing]

2. What is this union's position on SB 840: universal healthcare?

[Omaha Steve]

8. Is that the California bill? I found this in general.

http://www.seiu.org/issues/american_solution.cfm

It’s Time for an American Solution to Our Health Care Crisis

Skyrocketing health care costs are the most pressing economic threat to our nation's prosperity.

Rising premiums have caused American companies to lose ground to foreign competition, handicapping both small businesses and large corporations in the global economy.

As the employer-based system collapses, average Americans are getting squeezed under the weight of stagnant wages and rising health care costs while a staggering 45 million people have no coverage at all.

Health care costs are eating up a larger and larger share of our state and federal budgets forcing taxpayers—the same working Americans who are struggling to afford health coverage—to pick up the tab.

As the most diverse union in North America, SEIU's membership brings a unique understanding of the crisis as caregivers, as consumers fighting to maintain affordable health care, and as low-wage earners struggling to gain coverage.

From Oregon to Iowa to Maine, the SEIU-led grassroots network Americans for Health Care has brought together small business owners, working people, seniors, health care workers, and elected officials to pass legislation that has resulted in lowered costs and expanded coverage.

But our work is far from over. It's going to take fundamental change to replace the failing employer-based system with a 21st century solution for the new global economy.

That's why we need a team—business, working people, and elected officials—to tackle this crisis and develop a uniquely American system that ensures:

*
Lower costs,
*
Coverage for all,
*
Choice of doctors and plans,
*
Prevention is a national priority.

With these components, we can begin to imagine new possibilities that improve upon cost-effective plans like the one that covers Members of Congress and the President.

Together we can strengthen our nation's economy and create better lives for all Americans.

[Schema Thing]

13. T/Y, sounds like they are ready to endorse single payer

even if they aren't using that language just yet.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. When the Governator vetoes the Universal Health care bill this week,

Californians will be very receptive to their message. :)

[1932]

6. I just hope that voting liberals with health insurance don't ignore what's

happening to non-voting poor californians without health insurance just because they think Arnold's a good environmentalist.

[Bryan]

4. It's nice that Lamont is reaching out to other regions of the country

Then again, it was probably a quid pro quo for Edwards' support, and I'm not so sure Ned's ahead by enough in CT to make it a wise use of his time, but it's still a nice gesture.

[mitchtv]

7. You are right, but

Angelides' campaign is floundering

[w4rma]

5. John Edwards for President! He *still* rocks. Go Lamont! (nt)

[bobbolink]

9. I've changed to support of him, because he's the only one on poverty!

I backed Kucinich, and don't even want to think of how many hours I spent on his campaign, and then he sold me out and dropped poverty from his list of issues. Never to return to it. Fuck that shit.

Edwards is the ONLY NATIONAL DEM speaking out on poverty! How sad is that???

Except that he leaves me out, and others like me. He's only interested in working poor.

So, if you're 88 years old, and can't get a place to live, well, tough nougies, cuz you're NOT WORKING, you lazy bum!

Yes, I've had it with this crap!

If we're truly not important and don't count, then pass out the pills so we can painlessly get rid of ourselves, instead of suffering alone like this!

[w4rma]

10. Yeah, John Edwards is great. I'm am nothing but impressed by him

constantly.

As for the elderly poor, there are only a very very few Democrats (such as LIEberman) who support privatizing Social Security. The vast majority of Democrats are working to protect social security and if given a chance would probably expand it.

As a note, Social Security doesn't help the working poor until they retire. Well, that's not true: It helps the working poor as they don't have to spend as much money taking care of retired family.

[bobbolink]

22. Could we please expand our understanding of "poor" to cover

ALL of us poor folk?

Please????

Do you realize that I may very well die in the very near future because, since I'm under 62 (I'm 60) I'm not deemed worthy of having an apartment, and I've been homeless for almost a year now?

Could you please hear my pain on this, and about that damned phrase, "The Working Poor", as if the rest of us are chopped liver?

Could I please be included, and just as important as the rest?

Or do I have to just give up and die because I don't count?

[ultraist]

12. Edwards on poverty, raising the min wage and strengthening unions

Yes, Senator Edwards has been out there fighting to alleviate poverty, raise the minimum wage and strengthen unions. All true Democratic causes, that many don't want to touch because, well, we all know that the poor don't have a strong voter turnout. Good to see someone is speaking out for all of us!

BTW, Edwards is for Universal Health coverage, for everyone.

[bobbolink]

23. There was no smilie to indicate -- was that sarcasm about poor

folk not voting??

But those two issues alone certainly don't cover all the needs of ALL poor folk!

[philgobluemi]

14. Please keep in mind

That Edwards is working on 2 causes right now -- poverty reduction and raising money for Democrats. He's not running a campaign, so he's not talking on every issue. I think he concentrates on the working poor because it's vital to transform the way people look at the causes of poverty: from one focused only on "their lazy" to one that calls for personal responsibility but says that America has a moral obligation to insure that those working hard in America don't live in poverty.

Remember, that in the senate Edwards was a leader in fighting for a Patient Bill of Rights and the right of Americans to import prescription drugs from Canada. He's against the privatization of Social Security. He has a long record of helping seniors and working on healthcare issues.

[bobbolink]

24. It doesn't take ANY more effort to include ALL of us poor folk!

I'm guessing it's not important to you, because you're not affected.

Try walking in my shoes, and being so close to the edge that you can smell death, and not be included in the speeches!! Please, try it some time. It may give you a bit of understanding.

If I'm not included, and not important, then, pray tell, what would be my reason for working on a campaign, or even voting???

See?

[pinto]

11. This is really good to see publicized. This may be the Governor's

race for California. Thanks, Lamont. Thanks, Edwards.

:thumbsup:

[venable]

15. The New Old Democratic Party

where those without a voice are spoken for. I'm almost ready to be optimistic for the first time since very early in the Clinton Administration.

[ultraist]

17. I'm sayin!

Take us back to who we really are, as Democrats! I'm so tired of this move to the center, Repub lite BS---look where it has gotten us...one loss after another.

[machka]

16. and later that same day...

Edwards will attend an Angelides rally/fundraiser in San Francisco. Via dKos:

Please join the next governor of California, Phil Angelides, for a TAKE BACK CALIFORNIA RALLY with special guest Senator John Edwards.

Saturday, September 9th
4:30pm - 6:00pm

Booker T. Washington Community Center
800 Presidio Avenue
San Francisco, CA

[Omaha Steve]

18. Senator Edwards Urges Continental Tire To Respect Its Workers - 08/16/06

http://www.laborradio.org/node/3962

Senator Edwards Urges Continental Tire To Respect Its Workers - 08/16/06

By Doug Cunningham

The United Steelworkers have a political ally in former U.S. Senator John Edwards. Edwards is calling on Continental Tire to collectively bargain with the steelworkers rather than try to impose $32 million in concessions and close down production at the Charlotte, North Carolina plant. Edwards noted in a letter to Continental’s CEO that the cuts imposed by the company will gut health insurance coverage for hundreds of retirees and their families. Senator Edwards called on Continental to respect its workers and bargain collectively through their union--the United Steelworkers.
USW and PACE | Posted 08/15/2006 - 6:42pm

[ultraist]

19. Edwards on strengthening unions

http://www.teamster.org/06news/nr_060628_2.asp

Labor Movement Is Best Antipoverty Program In United States, Edwards Says

Las Vegas) – The labor movement is the best antipoverty program in the United States and the Teamsters are leading the way in the fight for workers in America, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards said today at the Teamsters 27th International Convention.

"It was the union that helped build the middle class of America," Edwards told more than 7,000 Teamster delegates, retirees and guests from across North America attending this week's convention in Las Vegas. "The greatest antipoverty program in the United States is the labor movement." Edwards, the 2004 Democratic nominee for vice president, said the Teamsters must hold politicians accountable, including Democrats, to help strengthen the labor movement.

"I believe in a Democratic Party of big ideas," Edwards said. "I believe in a Democratic Party that actually has a backbone and courage and strength that will go out there and fight for the people we have always fought for. I believe in a Democratic Party that's not afraid of saying the word 'union'." Organizing is crucial to the future of the labor movement, and politicians need to support the cause, he said.

"We need leaders who actually believe in your cause. We need real labor law reform. We need to put labor law on the side of working people. If anybody in America can sign a card and join the Republican Party, anyone in America should be able to sign a card and join a union," he said. "John Edwards has walked with union members on picket lines and he's been with us during organizing drives," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "John Edwards is an important ally for the American labor movement and I am proud to call him a friend of the Teamsters."

[Catchawave]

20. Edwards is certainly a friend of the unions :)

From the Hotel Workers Rising Tour
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/news_in_brief/hotel_unions_060216.shtml

[machka]

21. Also...

Edwards urges minimum-wage hike, headlining a rally sponsored by the AFL-CIO and ACORN

Appearing in support of Unite Here! in Hawaii: Edwards' hotel-union push hits Waikiki

Walking the SEIU picket line in Miami...

[Catchawave]

25. I remember him walking the Miami picket line....

Taken by DU's RaginginMiami :loveya: