Here in Maine, we're tired of the abuses brought against our hard-working families by big business Anthem Insurance. Last week, Health Care for America Now debuted commercials on Maine television asking Anthem to respect their customers and start providing quality, affordable health care. With Activist Lee Roberts sharing her story, and the support of Maine small businesses, we are excited that these commercials will finally focus the attention around the debate for health insurance reform where it should be focused: on our nation's big business insurance companies. Small business

Last week, Maine Change that Works came together along with our allies, Maine People's Alliance and the Sierra Club, to descend upon our congressional delegation and Maine's senators and lobby on behalf of the Employee Free Choice Act. During this difficult economic time, it is more important than ever that we remember who we're fighting for: the hard working families who keep our state running.

With the ability to unionize, more Mainers will be able to have the job security and benefits that come from being a part of an organized workforce. But most importantly, they will be able to choose whether or not they want to join a union without harassment or intimidation. The right to choose without fear: thanks to our allies across Maine, we are one step closer.

Check out some of our activists' pictures below:

Activists Anders Beal and Sam Rioux at the start of a long day of lobbying

Sam Rioux address 250 people at the Lobby day launch press event while Sandy Amborn of the Sierra Club holds the state flag of Maine.

Members of the Maine Delegation listen to Senator Tom Harkin speak about the Employee Free Choice Act

Mike Owen of the Maine People's Alliance and Sandy Amborn of the Sierra Club hold up our state flag outside of Senator Olympia Snowe's office.

The delegation from Maine pays Congresswoman Chellie Pingree's office a visit.

Activists Anders Beale, Rep. Adam Goode, Genevieve Lyson, and Jennifer Batchelor outside of Senator Collins' office.

For the complete set of pictures, click here. (Thanks Kate!)

Did you attend a Labor Day event, march or rally with SEIU members or any of our coalition partners? We want to know!

Use this form to upload your photos, audio and video capturing your Labor Day experience--we'd love to showcase your footage on the SEIU Blog in the coming days.

Here's a photo from a great healthcare event that was held yesterday in Los Angeles:

« Submit your photos, audio or video from Labor Day here.

Visit SEIU's Labor Day 2009 page for facts on labor unions and health reform.

Just days before Members of Congress return to Washington, DC to consider healthcare reform legislation, Mainers discussed the need for quick action with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in Orono. On the campus of The University of Maine, the Secretary took part in a panel discussion about the importance of passing health insurance reform that makes healthcare affordable for all Americans.

Read a firsthand account of the panel from Dirigo Blue here

With Labor Day just around the corner and only six days left of Congressional recess, Locals across the country are gearing up for a busy weekend. But, amidst the upcoming celebrations, SEIU members are still working hard for health care reform.

OHIO: SEIU nurse Barb Montgomery joined the Organizing for America Health Insurance Reform Now bus tour during its stop in Columbus, OH on Monday, where over 2,000 activists rallied and paid tribute to Senator Kennedy's legacy on health care reform. At the event, Montgomery shared both her own story and that of family members and friends, further illustrating why Americans need health insurance reform.

RHODE ISLAND: Rep. Jim Langevin joined doctors, nurses and health care workers at Rhode Island's Women and Infants Hospital (the only maternity hospital in the state!) as they signed scrubs with their message to Congress: we need health insurance for all Americans. The event was covered on a variety of blogs, including a great post on Rhode Island's Future.

MAINE: At an an event organized by SEIU Maine Change that Works, AFSCME, the Maine People's Alliance and Organizing for America, a passionate group of healthcare activists delivered more than 35,000 letters, postcards, emails, and online petitions from all over the state to urge Senator Olympia Snowe to stand up for quality, affordable healthcare for every man, woman and child. Senator Snowe was not the only one who heard our message--the front page of the Bangor Daily News the next day featured a front page story with pictures of our activists and the headline "Health care reform fans blitz Snowe with 35,000 messages." Read more.

FLORIDA: More than 1,200 people from across Florida gathered on Saturday to help jump-start the reform debate. "There's a Washington debate, but now people in Orlando can get involved," said SEIU Healthcare Florida president Monica Russo. Community members, people of faith, retirees, union members and healthcare workers arrived in buses and cars from Tallahassee, Tampa Bay, Miami, Broward County, Jacksonville and Palm Beach to pack a gym in downtown Orlando sending a message to Congress: healthcare reform can't wait! Central Florida's 7th, 8th, 24th congressional districts together have 403,000 people without health insurance. Watch video.

CALIFORNIA: In Los Angeles, SEIU United Long-Term Care Workers (ULTCW) has scheduled a free screening of Michael Moore's movie Sicko, followed by a panel discussion with health care professionals and special guests. After the event, attendees will also be able to engage in a variety of actions, like calling elected officials and taping their own personal health care story, in support of health care reform. More details here.

On a related note....don't forget to vote for your favorite video of Congress members at town hall meetings debunking the lies and refocusing discussions about healthcare reform. Vote here.

This Wednesday, about 50 Mainers gathered outside of Senator Snowe's Bangor office to deliver the message: Maine can no longer wait for heath insurance reform. With them, our activists brought over 35,000 letters, postcards, emails, and online petitions from all over the state, urging Senator Snowe to pass health insurance legislation as soon as possible. By delivering these letters, our supporters and activists are sharing what many Mainers already know: delaying health insurance reform means higher costs and less coverage for our families. The crushing cost of our current health insurance system makes it impossible to strengthen our economy. With families and small businesses struggling to make ends meet because of the enormous burden of medical bills, we cannot afford to wait another day for the reform that we need.

When it comes to grassroots organizing, nothing beats a local news paper. Written by the people of the community, for the people of the community, local papers are in touch with the pulse of every day life within our streets. And that's why we get excited when we see awesome editorials like the one in this week's Machias Valley News.

As our Ambulance Tour swept through Maine, we spread information about our current health care system and the urgent need for reform. The editor of the Machias Valley News agreed. Not only did news of our tour make the front page, (available here: august-26-2009-front-page1.pdf), her editorial emphasized what we'd been saying to Mainers all week: reform can't wait. From the editorial:

The ambulance pulled into Bangor for the final stop and to drop off the 'patient profiles' to our members of Congress. It was a great trip, and as tired as we are, we can't help but think back to the hundreds of people we met as we traveled over 1000 miles and collected stories about the need for reform.

From Madawaska to Eastport, to Rumford and Portland, Mainers understand that we are all in this together, and need we can't wait any longer for reform. With 170,000 uninsured today in Maine, and 70 residents losing health insurance every day, our current health care system continues to fail our state, and our country. This year, the people of Maine lost as much as $810 million due to productivity losses from the uninsured--which is nothing when you compare it to the $248 billion lost this year nation wide. When you look at the facts, it is clear that the current system is broken and changes need to be made so that our state, and our country, get the health care system and the economy that they deserve.

But just because our fight is hard, doesn't mean we are stopping.

Maine families and small businesses need affordable, quality health care so we here at Change that Works are continuing to fight for reform. If you're a small business owner in Maine, and you agree with the economic necessity of health care reform to keep your business afloat, please support our cause by signing the pledge here: http://action.seiu.org/page/s/MESmBizPledge

Thanks for everyone who made our ambulance tour such a resounding success. Keep checking back with our Change that Works page for more health care stories, and ways to get involved.

We had a great day on Thursday, and concluded our tour through rural Maine. From Rumford, to Farmington and onto Skowhegan, we met with dozens of activists and gathered "patient" profiles that will be delivered to our Members of Congress asking them to support healthcare reform now.

Without health care reform, over 17, 840 Mainers will have lost coverage from Janurary 2008 to December 2010. Meanwhile, if the House health care reform bill is passed, 59,000 Mainers would gain coverage by 2013, and 96,000 would gain coverage by 2019. The difference is clear. We need reform-STAT!

In Skowhegan, activist collected signatures for healthcare reform at the state fair and two doctors made the case for change. With the medical profession on our side, it's clear that Mainers across the state support reform, and support it now.

We've made 13 stops, and we aren't stopping now! Well, we are for the night anyway. We'll be back on the road tomorrow, heading to Rumford, Farmington and Skowhegan. Once again, thanks to all of the people we met along the way and please know that we'll share your stories with our members of Congress, and let them know you expect healthcare reform - STAT.

As our tour passes through the state, our cause is being heard. Check out our activists and communications director speaking out about the importance of health care reform on WAGM local news:

Wednesday was the best day yet on the Healthcare '09 Tour! We made 5 stops as we continue the trip down the coast on Route 1. Word must be getting out ahead of the ambulance because the crowds keep building, and we are getting more thumbs up as we roll on.

Today we stopped in Bucksport, Belfast, Rockland, Boothbay Harbor and Newcastle. At each stop, we talked with people who need healthcare reform now: they can't wait. With the average family premium in Maine predicted to rise from it's current outrageous price of $14, 285 to an astronomical $24, 376 by 2019, they are right. The cost is too high for reform to wait.

In Machias, Milbridge and Ellsworth, the ambulance was met by dozens of people who want healthcare reform - STAT! We heard and collected personal stories to share with our members of Congress.

The average family premium in Maine costs $800 more because our system fails to cover everyone, with costs to our state's economy as much as $810 million this year alone, due to productivity losses because of a lack of health insurance. Our system is failing, and the people of Maine are feeling the costs.

Local media was on hand to take pictures, and talk with those who have been affected by our broken healthcare system. Unfortunately, their stories are all to common in Maine, which is why we have to make sure everyone has affordable health insurance that cannot be taken away.

Activist Gail, from Maine, talks about the inadequate care provided by her current health insurance. While they were happy to pay for her care until her premium ran out, when Gail needed more tests, the insurance company stopped paying. Says Gail, "I thought I had health insurance, but I guess I didn't."

What a fantastic first day on the tour. Thanks to all of the people we met along the way and please know that we'll share your stories with our members of Congress, and let them know you expect health care reform - STAT. With 16,653 people filing for medical bankruptcy every week that health insurance reform is delayed, we can no longer afford to wait.

We'll be back in touch tomorrow with more stories, photos and video as we travel the beautiful coast of Maine from Eastport to Ellsworth.

From Madawaska, we traveled down Route 1 to Caribou, where we met with Ginette, Shelly, Laura and Marjorie who want our members of Congress to know that healthcare reform can't wait. WAGM was on hand at Millers to interview Shelly about how small businesses are affected by the healthcare crisis. Despite 90 degree weather, people are excited to come our and show their healthcare reform that will mean quality, affordable insurance for everyone in Maine.

After a great stop in Caribou, we kicked it into high gear to travel the few miles to downtown Presque Isle. The Healthcare '09 Tour met with several new folks who stand on the side of healthcare reform and we collected their stories for our members of Congress.

From Aroostook County, we continued to Downeast Maine on Route 1 and into Calais where we met with the Calais Advertiser.

Stayed tuned for more on the Healthcare Reform '09 Tour.