Watch CNN's panel debate on H1N1 flu vaccines & health care workers

Oct 06, 2009 - Be sure to watch the Lou Dobbs Tonight show on CNN as SEIU's own Jemma-Marie Hanson, RN, a member of the Public Employees Federation of New York (an SEIU affiliate) will discuss flu vaccines and why voluntary programs work. Read more...

Speaker Pelosi speaks out against "domestic violence as a pre-existing condition"

Oct 06, 2009 - Earlier today, Speaker Pelosi spoke forcefully against the fact that in some states, insurance companies can actually deny coverage to victims of domestic violence on the grounds that they have a pre-existing condition. Will you join Speaker Pelosi in calling for an end of all "pre-existing conditions," including domestic violence, once and for all? Read more...

Women's health care in the news

Oct 06, 2009 - If Republicans and right-wing talking heads had their way, the only "women's issue" up for discussion in relation to health care reform would be how to best circumvent a woman's right to choose. While that has gotten a great deal of attention, more and more news outlets are picking up on the myriad of other problems associated with women's health care today. Read more...

UPDATE: SEIU Healthcare Minnesota President arrested at peaceful protest

Oct 05, 2009 - Over 100 SEIU members and HCAN supporters engaged in an act of peaceful civil disobedience this morning outside the headquarters of UnitedHealthcare Group. SEIU Healthcare Minnesota president, Julie Schnell, and several other SEIU members were among the six protestors arrested for engaging in a sit-in in front of the UHG office in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Read more...

Taking Congressmen back to school

Oct 05, 2009 - Last week, we covered the many ways in which women are discriminated against in our current health care system. From not covering maternity care to calling domestic violence a pre-existing condition, insurance companies seem to have written the book on how to turn a buck at the expense of millions of women in America. Read more...

1199SEIU campaign results in elimination of "late-night" ER fees at five MA hospitals

Oct 05, 2009 - Until last week, patients being treated by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's physician group, Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians (HMFP), were charged extra fees, simply for going to the emergency room after 10 p.m. But thanks to a public advocacy campaign launched by 1199SEIU, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and several other Massachusetts hospitals have ended the practice of charging "late-night" emergency room fees for care required after 10 p.m. Read more...

VIDEO: Female Senators talk women's health care

Oct 02, 2009 - On Tuesday, four female Senators held a press conference to discuss the many issues women face in our broken health care system. Watch for yourself as these four passionate women discuss why women need reform so badly: Read more...

GOP Obstructionism vs. Saving Lives

Oct 02, 2009 - This week, Rep. Alan Grayson stepped onto the U.S. House floor and distilled the Republican strategy on health care reform into three simple parts:

1. Don't get sick
2. If you do get sick...
3. Die quickly.

What the Republican Party continues to ignore is that their refusal to work toward reform amounts in people getting sicker, and people dying. Period. Read more...

If we do nothing, states pay the price

Oct 02, 2009 - Over the past few months, we've been reminding folks that the "the cost of doing nothing is too high." How high, exactly? Glad you asked. Read more...

Bankrupt mother of two seeks room in insurance CEO mansion

Oct 02, 2009 - CIGNA CEO Ed Hanway owns a beach home valued at $13.6 million. Stacie Ritter, mother of twin girls who were diagnosed with cancer, does not. Ed Hanway made $120.5 million between 2003 and 2008. During the same period, Stacie Ritter was driven into bankruptcy by the cost of her daughters' medical bills, all while being covered by CIGNA. Ed also has $28,881,000 in unexercised stock options. That's enough to pay for 65,638 shots of the human growth hormone that Stacie's twins need to grow properly. Read more...

Insurance CEOs: "We're moving in!"

Oct 01, 2009 - Let's bring the campaign against insurance company abuse to Craigslist - one of the most popular sites on the internet. The idea is simple: post a free ad on Craigslist looking for a room in a CEO mansion and help expose the rampant greed that's forcing families like Stacie's into medical bankruptcy. Read more...

Polls show Republicans just don't get it (but we already knew that)

Oct 01, 2009 - Sometimes, doesn't it just seem like Republicans are out of touch with the American people? Yesterday, Sen. Orrin Hatch proposed an amendment focusing on ensuring that abortions are not paid for with taxpayer money. While it was voted down 13-10, the Senate Finance Committee spent precious time debating an amendment that was frankly irrelevant. Read more...

Can you call your Senator?

Oct 01, 2009 - This week, the Senate Finance Committee has been debating health care reform and today it will debate a series of mean spirited amendments that require the government to discriminate against lawful immigrants, causing many of them to lose access to affordable health care. Read more...

Humana executive slams door on concerns of West Palm Beach Medicare recipients

Sep 30, 2009 - On Tuesday, members of SEIU Healthcare Florida joined senior citizens from the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans to try to speak to a local Humana executive at the West Palm Beach office of the insurance company. As the area seniors rallied to deliver a letter addressed to the local Humana executive and Humana CEO, they were instead greeted by the scampering of little feet, as the fearful insurance company executive hightailed it to his office in the wake of their arrival--practically slamming his office door in their faces. Read more...

Four Senators stand up for women's health care rights

Sep 30, 2009 - A few weeks ago, we wrote about research from the National Women's Law Center that uncovered the existence of domestic violence as a pre-existing condition in eight states and DC. We were horrified, as well many other bloggers and reporters. Apparently, so were at least four female Senators. Read more...

What yesterday's vote really means

Sep 30, 2009 - On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee voted down the public option amendments introduced by Senators Rockefeller and Schumer. Sen. Schumer's public option amendment picked up moderate Democratic votes by Sen. Carper (D-DE) and Sen. Nelson (D-FL)--both of whom received hundreds of phone calls from people across the country in support of a public option. Read more...

Where Does Your Senator Stand?

Sep 29, 2009 - the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on an amendment to include a public option in their health care bill. Guess what - one of your Senators sits on the committee. We can't lose this debate. Will you call your Senator? Dial 1-866-311-3405 and urge your Senator to support a public option. Read more...

Pennsylvania health care workers show spirited support for health care reform

Sep 28, 2009 - Sometimes, all you really need to get your point across is a giant puppet or two. No, seriously: last week, members of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania staged a march and rally outside the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce. To better illustrate their point, they brought along two giant puppets and acted out a short skit illustrating the ongoing battle between Chamber of Commerce greed and health insurance reform. Read more...

Women vs. insurance companies

Sep 28, 2009 - Earlier this month, we covered the fact that in eight states it is actually legal for insurance companies to deny coverage to victims of domestic violence because they have a "pre-existing condition." But, the outrage doesn't stop there: research has clearly shown that insurance companies are systematically discriminating against women. And this is just the tip of the iceberg... Read more...

Republicans defend seniors insurance company profits

Sep 25, 2009 - On Thursday, as the Republicans continued to wage war on reform by attempting to defend the status quo, they decided to turn their attention to Americans over 65. In an attempt to scare seniors (and pander to their buddies in the insurance industry), the Republicans rose to the "defense" of Medicare, claiming that 10 million senior citizens who have Medicare Advantage would see a loss in their extra benefits under the new bill. The other side's solution? The option of 'doing nothing'...which will lead to a projected bankruptcy of Medicare by 2019. Read more...

Insurance Industry 101: Deny coverage to keep profits high

Sep 24, 2009 - Congressman Stupak and insurance industry whistle-blower Wendell Potter co-hosted a telephone press conference today to further discuss insurance industry abuses. While various Congressional subcommittees have held hearings on the topic, it's clear that we are only beginning to scratch the tip of the iceberg. Read more...

The Latest from HAARM - Singing Health Care!

Sep 24, 2009 - HAARM, Healthy Americans Against Reforming Medicine, presents an alternate proposal for the health care crisis: a singing fish. This product is not actually going to be given away to those living within the United States. Or anywhere else. Read more...

Missed the scrubs delivery rally? Watch what happened

Sep 24, 2009 - At yesterday's Scrubs delivery rally, health care workers described how they see our broken health care system fail patients every day. Their heart breaking stories, coupled with strong support statements from Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Sen. Harry Reid, are just the latest in an endless series of reasons why we must pass real health care reform soon. Read more...

Senate Finance Committee: 14 amendments down, 550 to go

Sep 24, 2009 - At the rate the Senate Finance Committee is moving through amendments, they will be finished with the markup in about 40 days. During those 40 days, 353,840 more will lose their insurance and 3,384 more people will die because they lack coverage, all because of Republican committee members' stall tactics. Read more...

Scrubs campaign returns to Washington

Sep 23, 2009 - Nurses, doctors and other health care workers spend their days providing life-saving medical care. But, as they a busy providing care at hospitals across the nation, the fight over health insurance reform rages on, often without them. Read more...

Affordability rules discussion on first day of Senate Finanace markup

Sep 22, 2009 - Affordability was the word of the day during the Senate Finance Committee's first markup session yesterday. In order to prepare for today's voting, committee members made their opening statements and reviewed the Chairman's Mark presented by Sen. Baucus. Read more...

Doctors' groups unveil health care reform ad

Sep 22, 2009 - As the health care debate heats up, doctors are joining the fight on behalf of their patients. Monday, doctors' groups representing more than 500,000 physicians nationwide, including the SEIU Healthcare's Committee of Interns and Residents, Doctors Council and National Doctors Alliance, convened in Washington, DC to announce their new ad campaign. Read more...

Around the country, local members are sick of big insurance

Sep 22, 2009 - In August, we took our message of health care reform to our elected officials during town halls all across the country, and they listened. But, now that they are back in Washington, they are again under the influence of the insurance industry, which is fighting hard to defeat real reform. Read more...

Upcoming Rally and Scrubs Delivery on Capitol Hill to Support Healthcare Reform

Sep 22, 2009 - On Wednesday, September 23, nurses, doctors, and SEIU healthcare workers will join Dennis Rivera, Dr. Toni Lewis and activists in a rally on Capitol Hill to deliver the hand-signed scrubs to members of Congress. Read more...

Finance Committee begins voting on amendments

Sep 22, 2009 - Last week, Sen. Max Baucus and the Senate Fiance Committee finally produced their long-awaited version of the health care reform bill. The introduction of this bill brings us closer then we've ever been to passing comprehensive health care reform. But, there is still a lot of work ahead. Read more...

Big Insurance: 'Sick of It' Rally

Sep 20, 2009 - Along with MoveOn.org, we're organizing Big Insurance: Sick Of It rallies in front of health insurance company offices across the country. We'll hear stories of people who have suffered from our broken health insurance system, and we'll demand that the companies stop trying to kill the public health insurance option. Host your own 'Big Insurance: Sick of It' Rally or sign up for an event near you. Read more...

Michelle Obama joins Echo Chamber on Domestic Violence as a "Pre-Existing Condition"

Sep 18, 2009 - Thanks to all of you who took action this week to raise the issue of domestic violence as a "pre-existing condition" in eight states and Washington, DC. You emailed and called, and people are taking notice--including Michelle Obama. The First Lady mentioned the issue of domestic violence as a "pre-existing condition" in her speech on women and health care today. Watch it here. Read more...

Rep. Watson questions insurance execs on why domestic violence is a pre-existing condition

Sep 17, 2009 - You emailed and called, and it looks like one lawmaker took notice. Rep. Diane Watson was so horrified to learn about the possibility of coverage denial to domestic violence victims that she both noted it in her written statement and included it as a large part of her questions to the insurance executives who testified before the Domestic Policy Subcommittee. Read more...

Insurance companies go before Kucinich panel

Sep 17, 2009 - In a room filled almost to capacity with K street lobbyists and company lawyers, executives from the nations top six insurance providers testified before the Domestic Policy subcommittee during day two of the subcommittee's hearings. Read more...

Insurance Companies Consider C-section Birth "Pre-Existing Condition"

Sep 17, 2009 - Did you know that most insurance companies on the individual market consider pregnancy "optional"? The fetus is viewed as an uncovered "pre-existing condition," and therefore not something that's necessary for insurance companies to insure. Many insurers also consider a Cesarean section pregnancy a "pre-existing condition"--and refuse to provide health coverage for women who have had the procedure. Read more...

Part of insurance industry's money-making plan: Denying coverage to victims of spousal abuse

Sep 17, 2009 - If you're shaking your head at disbelief at the discovery that insurance companies can--and do--deny coverage to victims of spousal abuse by citing the abuse as a "pre-existing condition," you're not alone. On Air America's "The Ron Reagan Show" last night, host Reagan and SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger discussed this outrageous practice "This is outrageous that women who are victims of domestic violence can't have health coverage," said Anna Burger on Air America's "The Ron Reagan Show" last night. Tell members of Congress to step up and get this done--because no one should be denied health care coverage, least of all women who have already endured so much. Read more...

Kucinich panel witness pleas: "Let me be a Daddy"

Sep 17, 2009 - Yesterday, we reported about the first day of the Domestic Policy Subcommittee hearings on how insurance companies are getting in between patients and their care providers. Two of the witnesses who testified shared their personal stories of delayed care and abuse in the hands of their insurance companies. Read more...

Kucinich committee witnesses present testimony on insurance company abuse

Sep 16, 2009 - "Patients are not mere anecdotes," said Dr. Linda Peeno, former review physician for Humana, during her testimony before Rep. Kucinich's Domestic Policy Subcommittee. But many insurance companies claim just that - that people who've managed to get their story before Congress and the media are exceptions, not the rule. Moving from the suffering of patients to the bloated profits of insurance companies, the panel clearly proved that vast reforms are needed now, before the situation gets any more out of control. Read more...

Panel witnesses speak out against denial of coverage for victims of domestic violence

Sep 16, 2009 - We just got back from day one of the Domestic Policy Subcommittee hearings on how insurance company bureaucracy is getting in the way of quality care for all Americans. The witnesses testifying presented their powerful stories: some heartbreaking, some infuriating. Check out these videos of committee witnesses Wendell Potter and Karen Pollitz talking about the insurance companies' practice of denying coverage to victims of domestic violence. Read more...

Rep. Kucinich has opportunity to question insurance

Sep 15, 2009 - As the health care debate unfurled over the past few months, we've seen the great lengths that insurance companies will go to in order to ensure that their profit margins remain high. In some cases, these companies have gone so far as to deny coverage to victims of domestic violence by classifying their experience as a "pre-existing condition." As more of these practices come to light, members of Congress are sitting up and taking notice. Read more...

SEIU Healthcare 775NW bring reform to CIGNA's front yard

Sep 15, 2009 - How do you make the insurance companies sit up and take notice? They've shown that they clearly have no qualms ignoring outcries over their practice of raising premiums to levels few can afford, or denying coverage for a wide variety of "pre-existing conditions." Read more...

Republican Senators Vetoed Insurance Protection for Domestic Violence Victims

Sep 14, 2009 - In DC and eight other states, health insurance companies can deny coverage to victims of domestic violence because they have a "pre-existing condition." While that statement alone is gasp-worthy, the story gets even more appalling: this issue had a chance to be ended - once and for all - in the Senate HELP Committee in 2006. Ten Republican Senators voted against it, including Senators Alexander, Burr, Ensign, Enzi, Frist, Gregg, Hatch, Isakson, Roberts and Sessions. Read more...

Religious leaders come together for health care reform

Sep 14, 2009 - September 12th was an ugly day in the nations capital. Tea party protestors spent the day hurling insults at the President and anyone else working to support the President's "socialist agenda." Read more...

Domestic violence is a "pre-existing condition"?

Sep 11, 2009 - Insurance companies have used the excuse of "pre-existing conditions" to deny coverage to countless Americans. From cancer patients to the elderly suffering from arthritis, these organizations have padded their profit margins by limiting coverage to patients deemed "high risk" because of their medical condition. Words cannot describe the sheer inhumanity of this claim. Call on Congress to take action now. Read more...

Stop the lies: Set the record straight on immigrant access to healthcare

Sep 10, 2009 - Last night, during President Obama's speech, one Republican Congressman tried to turn a Joint Session of Congress into an August town hall meeting by calling the President a liar [Rep. Joe Wilson: "You Lie!"] Just like immigration reform, some Republicans will stop at nothing to poison the debate on health care. Read more...

Labor Day 2009, SEIU Local style

Sep 10, 2009 - Here's a compilation of a few of the many events and rallies SEIU members attended in Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan, Montana and California this Labor Day to show their support for health reform and honor American workers. Read more...

Obama: This moment calls us to do great things

Sep 09, 2009 - With the President's speech just now, and the movement in Congress over the past 48 hours, it's clear we now have all the pieces in place to move on real health insurance reform. Let's go. We've talked about this for years, we've been debating it for months - now let's get it done. Read more...

Tonight at 8 PM ET: Watch President Obama's Historic Healthcare Address to Congress

Sep 09, 2009 - The President will address to a joint session of Congress tonight at 8:00 p.m. (EST) and detail his proposal for a healthcare system overhaul. You don't want to miss this pivotal moment for healthcare, so be sure to tune in. Read more...

Massachusetts health workers urge legislative action to allow interim Senate appointment

Sep 09, 2009 - Amidst national dialogue on healthcare reform, healthcare workers from 1199SEIU sent a letter today to all Massachusetts legislators to honor the request of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy to allow an interim appointment by the Governor to fill his seat in the U.S. Senate. The letter stresses that MA "must have two voices and two votes" in upcoming Congressional debates and is signed by 1199SEIU Executive VP Mike Fadel and Political Director Tim Foley on behalf of the 34,000 Massachusetts members of 1199SEIU. Read more...

Academy Award Actors are against Canadian death panels & socialist medicine too

Sep 09, 2009 - Since the current health care system in this country is a joke, Funnyordie.com decided to have a little fun poking at the Republicans. In this witty video sent to us by the humor website, Academy Award nominee Thomas Haden Church stars as Gus Porter, a rugged, American mountain man who treks into Canada while hunting bear. Unfortunately for Gus, the bear strikes first. Alone and mauled in a foreign land, Gus must confront his beliefs about health care when rescued by those 'socialist' Canadians. Read more...

Share your Labor Day photos and video

Sep 08, 2009 - One hundred and twenty-seven years after the first Labor Day parade, we still take a day to honor America's workers. Did you attend a Labor Day celebration, 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. Read more...

Change Your Pic for Health Care

Sep 08, 2009 - Late last week, a simple message began spreading like wildfire on social networks like Facebook and Twitter. It read: "No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick." As a more lasting way to demonstrate your support of health insurance reform online, download our healthcare avatar and change your profile picture in support of health insurance reform. Read more...

This Labor Day, Pledge to Bring Affordable Healthcare to Working Families

Sep 04, 2009 - This Labor Day, nothing is more critical to working families than seeing real progress on healthcare reform. Click here for a listing of events being held on Labor Day, Monday, September 7th. No one knows better than working families and healthcare providers the mounting cost of inaction--and the stakes just keep getting higher. Read more...

The week in review: Local's actions on health care

Sep 04, 2009 - 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 Labor Day celebrations, SEIU members are still working hard for health care reform. Check out recent actions in Ohio, Maine, Rhode Island, Florida and California. Read more...

Surgical masks not enough to protect healthcare workers against H1N1 influenza virus

Sep 04, 2009 - SEIU has backed the first and only comprehensive, scientific review that offers guidelines to protect healthcare workers caring for patients with a suspected or confirmed case of the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus (Swine Flu). The union is calling on state and local Health Departments to adopt preventive measures to protect healthcare workers from H1N1. Read more...

SEIU 1021 to Senator Feinstein: Have a Heart for Health Care Reform

Sep 04, 2009 - Over 200 members of SEIU Local 1021 paid California Senator Dianne Feinstein a personal house call on Monday. While their message was strong--demanding that the Senator stand up and support real health care reform--they also came carrying hearts and roses to show their support for the Senator. Read more...

Honoring the Worker: What are you doing this Labor Day?

Sep 04, 2009 - On Labor Day, it's important not to forget the sacrifices of our brothers and sisters whose brave acts earned us the working rights we now possess. As Congressional recess comes to close, let's remind members of Congress just how many working families are still struggling to make ends meet under the strain of skyrocketing health care costs. Join events being held by SEIU and HCAN across the country on Monday, September 7th. Read more...

Video: Healthcare workers send their message to Congress

Sep 03, 2009 - Doctors, nurses and other health care workers provide comfort and care to some of the sickest Americans, rarely able to leave their posts for any period of time because lives are at stake. As a result, their voices have been largely absent from the debate around health care reform. But, through the Scrubs campaign "Every Patient Matters," healthcare workers around the country have been able to send their message to Congress. Read more...

Vote Now: Greatest Hits of the August Recess

Sep 03, 2009 - Last month, members of Congress returned to their home districts to discuss health care reform with their constituents. Unfortunately, many of them were met by individuals intent of finding out why they supported socialized medicine, wanted to "pull the plug on grandma," and believed that we should ration care. Several members of Congress rose to the occasion, debunked the lies and ran their town hall meetings in a calm and collected manner. Check out some of our greatest healthcare town hall hits and then vote for your favorite. Read more...

US Chamber's Death-By-Waiting Strategy on Health Care

Sep 02, 2009 - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a clear strategy in the fight for heath care reform: delay, delay, delay. In a new ad released this week, the U.S. Chamber showed its true colors with the improbable claim that health insurance reform is moving "too fast." Read more...

"Scrubbing in" around the country

Sep 02, 2009 - During a town hall meeting on Monday, Senator Harry Reid showed his support for health care for all Americans by donning a scrub top from the Scrubs project. SEIU District 1199 also got in on the Scrubs action when the OFA bus tour rolled into Columbus, OH, as did medical students a Brown University in Providence, RI, who also joined the Scrubs campaign by writing their stories on scrub tops as well. Read more...

Ad Campaign Explains "Eight Ways Reform Matters to You"

Aug 31, 2009 - The ad, "Eight Ways Reform Matters to You" is the second in a series supported by the American Medical Association (AMA), FamiliesUSA, the Federation of American Hospitals, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and the SEIU. Read more...

Google Map: Snapshot of Healthcare Events Across the Country

Aug 31, 2009 - Check out our Google Map snapshot of healthcare campaign events held all across the U.S. these past couple of months. Read more...

Video: Nurses Reflect on Senator Kennedy's Legacy

Aug 28, 2009 - On Wednesday, as the nation mourned the passing of Sen. Ted Kennedy, nurses from Local 1199 at Prince George's Hospital Center in Maryland took a moment out of their day to reflect on the Senator's legacy. The PGHC nurses expressed both their sadness over the Senator's death, but also the need to carry on his dream and renew our efforts in fighting for what Kennedy called the "cause of my life": healthcare reform. Read more...

Senator Grassley on Healthcare: A Study in Contradiction

Aug 28, 2009 - Iowa's senior senator Charles Grassley is rapidly becoming the Republican Party's chief obstructionist in the health care debate. The ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee is going on the offensive against President Obama and members of Congress who support comprehensive reform. In a conference call Tuesday, Senator Grassley told Iowa reporters, "I don't think it's going to be possible to work it out with the administration because they're all over the field - all over the ball park." Read more...

SEIU Locals & Change That Works in action on healthcare

Aug 27, 2009 - SEIU members around the country have spent the month of August meeting with their members of Congress and engaging in meaningful conversation about healthcare reform. Read about reform events held in Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Viriginia and Washington in just the last week. Read more...

RNC: If you can't convince them, confuse them

Aug 27, 2009 - This week, some registered Republican voters in Colorado received a survey from the RNC entitled "2009 Future of American Health Care." The authors of this survey, however, seem completely unconcerned with what Republican voters actually think about healthcare. Read more...

Across America: Rally for Health Insurance Reform

Aug 27, 2009 - The teabag protesters make a lot of noise - but they don't speak for the majority of Americans. And they certainly don't speak for the 47 million Americans who can't afford health care; or the millions more who are one paycheck away from losing it. Fixing health care is too important to let those Americans get lost in all this back-and-forth. Help us send congress back to Washington with a clear directive on health care reform. Join us at send-off rallies across the country. Read more...

Rep. Moran Brings Dr. Dean to Dispel Health Reform Myths

Aug 27, 2009 - Earlier this week, Congressman Jim Moran hosted a town hall at South Lakes High School in Reston, VA with special guest, Dr. Howard Dean. The contentious town hall was a big target but Change that Works Virginia and pro-health care activists outnumbered the opposition by 2,000 persons! Volunteers and Change that Works team members filled the pro-health care question box that Rep. Moran had designated but unfortunately 85% of the questions were from the anti-reform box. Read more...

Activist Speaks About Change that Works on Wake Up AMerica Radio Show

Aug 26, 2009 - Activist Judy Stadtman Tucker took to the radio waves this week to talk about her work with Change that Works, Health Care for America Now, and Organizing for America for the cause of health insurance reform for the radio show 'Wake Up AMerica.' Read more...

Tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy

Aug 26, 2009 - Senator Ted Kennedy spoke to SEIU Healthcare in 2007 about the work of his family for working people and his dedication to passing real health care reform Read more...

Making Kennedy's Vision for America a Reality

Aug 26, 2009 - For five decades, Senator Kennedy stood with working families to fight for our shared vision of America where every family has access to affordable healthcare, every worker has a paycheck that supports a family, and every child is guaranteed a brighter future. Let's continue to make Kennedy's vision for America a reality by taking action this year to pass healthcare reform. Read more...

Congresswoman Maxine Waters Speaks Truth To Power

Aug 25, 2009 - Deep in the heart of south Los Angeles, Rep. Maxine Waters hosted a health care town hall at Southwest College. The well-attended town hall was packed to the gills well before its scheduled start time of 1 PM and the primarily pro- health care reform crowd consisted of SEIU members, Organizing for America activists and other concerned citizens and organizers. A festive atmosphere met the town hall attendees as they gathered in the warm breeze and signed pledge forms to support health care reform. Two orderly lines were formed by Rep. Waters Congressional staffers and each person signed in before they entered the Southwest College Town Center. Read more...

SEIU Locals 615 & 1199 Partner to Sign Scrubs

Aug 25, 2009 - Since the launch of "Every Patient Matters" campaign with the Partnership for Quality Care last week, numerous SEIU Locals with members working in health care facilities have already held scrub signing actions at health care facilities their members work at. Yesterday at Whidden Hospital, SEIU Local 615 and Local 1199 teamed up to sign scrubs. Read more...

SEIU's Andy Stern Named in Top Ten Most Powerful People in Healthcare

Aug 24, 2009 - SEIU President Andy Stern has been named in the top ten of Modern Healthcare's ranking of the 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare, released today. It's an honor to make Modern Healthcare's listing of the 'Top 100' most influential "movers and shakers in healthcare"--and this year marks the fifth year in a row Stern has been named in the annual rankings. Read more...

President Obama commits to public option during national healthcare forum

Aug 24, 2009 - "I continue to support a public option; I think it is important," said President Obama during last week's national healthcare forum, which was viewed online by thousands of SEIU members and millions of concerned Americans from across the country. He described the public option as setting a benchmark for private insurers, who would then respond by shaping their own plans to be competitive. Read more...

Every Patient Matters: Will You Share Your Story?

Aug 24, 2009 - SEIU, as part of the Partnership for Quality Care, is sending surgical scrubs to nurses and health care workers across the country. Read more...

Health insurance premiums have increased 119% over the last decade

Aug 21, 2009 - With health spending projected to double if we don't enact real reform, middle and lower income families are at high risk of losing their health coverage--or facing an impending future of stagnant incomes. A new report by Commonwealth Fund determined health care rates could jump 94% in the coming decade if cost growth continues on its current course. Read more...

140,000 people of faith attend healthcare call with President Obama

Aug 21, 2009 - With sponsorship by more than thirty religious denominations and organizations, an estimated 140,000 people of faith from across the country joined President Obama's healthcare call on Wednesday and committed to press Congress to finish work on health care reform when they return after Labor Day Recess. Read more...

We Don't Need Fear, We Need Solutions

Aug 20, 2009 - Nebraskans: Let's stand up on August 25 and show that we're not afraid of change; that we're not afraid to guarantee a gentler world for our grandchildren, one that's free from the threat of devastating health costs. Read more...

Republican Admits We May Have 40 Million Uninsured

Aug 20, 2009 - Members of Change that Works Louisiana are on the stomp, throughout the state of Louisiana during this August recess, working to dispel the myths of health insurance reform and expressing their health care stories and concerns. President Obama set out to make the cause of health reform a truly bi-partisan issue. Unfortunately, despite the fact that Louisianans have tremendous health issues, the campaign for reform is split along party lines. In an effort to reach across the aisle and make sure that our Republican lawmakers also know our concerns about health care in Louisiana, the Change that Works team attended a health care townhall, hosted by Congressman Rodney Alexander. Read more...

TODAY: Join the Call with President Obama

Aug 19, 2009 - I'm getting on a call with President Obama on Thursday, August 20 and I want you to join me. The President is holding a live health care reform strategy meeting at 2:30 pm EST. He'll lay out our strategy and message going forward, and he'll answer questions from SEIU members and supporters like you. Read more...

Robin Holland: My Brain Tumor Won't Wait for Reform

Aug 18, 2009 - Robin Holland's story is sadly, not unusual. Diagnosed with brain cancer after a car accident in 1993, Robin had no health insurance at the time. She waited for 5 weeks, wrapped in bandages, while her doctor decided whether he would operate on her for free, and while she waited to be approved for Medicaid. Read more...

Howard Dean, SEIU on the doors in PA

Aug 17, 2009 - The fight for health care is hotter than ever. With myths and lies entering the public conversation, it's time to bring in the big guns. Enter Howard Dean. In Aliquippa, PA this Saturday, Howard Dean and SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger joined with SEIU Healthcare PA to kick off a canvass for healthcare reform. Read more...

Judy Lanza, RN, Speaks out for Health Care Reform

Aug 17, 2009 - Judy Lanza, a labor and delivery nurse for 25 years, knows firsthand the damage that our current health care system has caused. Our system is so broken that even pregnant women are not guaranteed quality, affordable health care. Read more...

Dr. L. Toni Lewis discusses town hall violence on MSNBC's "The Ed Show"

Aug 14, 2009 - Last week, Democratic Rep. Russ Carnahan's health care town hall in St. Louis, Missouri turned violent after conservative right-wing protesters clashed with pro-reform union workers. On MSNBC's "The Ed Show," Dr. L Toni Lewis, President of the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR), discusses SEIU's ongoing efforts to keep the focus of town halls on the need for health care reform. Read more...

Death Panels? Cut Through the Lies About Health Care Reform

Aug 13, 2009 - There's been a lot of info flying around about health care reform from a lot of different sources. It's gotten so ridiculous, some people are even claiming that the President wants to create 'death panels' that would decide whether sick or elderly Americans live or die. Here's the truth about death panels: they're completely made-up. Read more...

Cut Through the Lies About Health Care Reform

Aug 13, 2009 - Read more...

New Coalition Campaign, Ads to Debunk Anti-Reform Myths

Aug 13, 2009 - To help debunk the misinformation being spread about what health care reform actually means for Americans, a new coalition called Americans for Stable Quality Care--which includes the SEIU, American Medical Association (AMA), PhRMA, the Federation of American Hospitals and FamiliesUSA--will launch their first ad today as part of an August recess campaign for health care reform. Read more...

Are You With Us For A Guarantee of Quality, Affordable Health Care For All?

Aug 13, 2009 - Read more...

Caregivers to Congress: Every Patient Matters

Aug 12, 2009 - Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers across the country have launched the Every Patient Matters campaign with the Partnership for Quality Care to ensure the voices of frontline caregivers and the stories of their patients are heard in the debate over healthcare reform. As part of the campaign, providers are partnering with their hospitals and healthcare facilities to sign surgical scrubs with stories and messages about why healthcare reform is needed. Read more...

SEIU Granite State Activists Come Out In Numbers To Support President Obama and Healthcare Reform

Aug 11, 2009 - More than 450 of SEIU's New Hampshire activists came out to a town hall meeting with President Obama to make sure their voices were heard about the importance of passing health insurance reform that makes healthcare affordable for all Americans. Read more...

Keeping town halls focused on healthcare reform details

Aug 11, 2009 - CIR/SEIU Healthcare President Dr. L Toni Lewis is live on the Ed Show on MSNBC to discuss the ongoing healthcare town halls--and why SEIU members are pledging to keep the focus on the need for reform. Read more...

Stop the Violence at Health Care Town Halls

Aug 11, 2009 - Read more...

The Daily Show Takes on Teabaggers (Video)

Aug 11, 2009 - Leave it to John Stewart to bring a little clarity on the opponents of health care reform. Read more...

Around the union: Quick hits

Aug 10, 2009 - In union news this week...disability service workers at NY's Ulster-Greene ARC vote to join a union, SEIU hosts a conference call with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and 32BJ launches the first-ever Green Buildings Initiative to train building superintendents in energy efficiency, plus much more. Read more...

Stop the violence at health care town halls

Aug 07, 2009 - Last night in St. Louis, Missouri, a reverend and staff member of SEIU was assaulted at a town hall. The incident, along with a town hall in Tampa, Florida, has been all over the radio and cable news shows. GOP operatives are rushing to paint it as SEIU "thug" violence. That couldn't be further from the truth. Read more...

Take Part in August Health Care Recess Events Across the U.S.

Aug 07, 2009 - Read more...

Change that Works Spreads the Message for urgent healthcare reform

Aug 07, 2009 - SEIU members and activists continue to stand tall to ensure healthcare reform happens this year. As members of the U.S. House and Senate turn their sights from committee hearings and floor votes to barbecues and luncheons back home, SEIU's Change That Works team is planning hundreds of events to ensure elected leaders don't forget the promises they made on the campaign trail. Read more...

Your Guide to Corporate Astroturfing: Lobbyist-Run Groups Orchestrating...

Aug 07, 2009 - For several days now, radical-fringe right-wing opponents bent on blocking any reform legislation have disrupted town hall meetings conducted by members of Congress. Conservative lobbyist-run groups FreedomWorks, Conservatives for Patients' Rights, Americans for Prosperity, Club for Growth and Americans for Tax Reform are leading the way orchestrating these town hall mobs. Read more...

Friday: Talk with HHS Secretary Sebelius

Aug 06, 2009 - This Friday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is hosting a call with health care activists and SEIU members to discuss what needs to happen in order to win health care reform, and to directly respond to accusations and distortions from opponents. Read more...

New Hampshire Tea Partiers Keep it Classy

Aug 05, 2009 - Attacking a staffer? Harassing a pregnant woman? All in a day's work for the opposition to health care reform. Hey Tea Party, it's called activism, not intimidation. As we say on the internets, "Ure doing it wrong." Read more...

Own a piece of the movement

Aug 04, 2009 - SEIU has partnered with Florida-based artist Derek Gores to create an original piece of art for those closest to the movement to fix health care. Using words, photographs, and symbols of our movement as inspiration, Mr. Gores has captured this unique moment in our nation's history. Read more...

Pushing Back on Right-Wing Lies on Reform

Aug 04, 2009 - A video surfaced from an SEIU/CAP event in 2007 featuring Obama discussing how health insurance could transition away from primarily "employer coverage." Cut to Drudge & Fox Nation announcing an "uncovered video" where Obama "Explains How His Health Care Plan Will 'Eliminate' Private Insurance." When all else fails (i.e. the facts), the right-wing always resorts to what it knows best. Read more...

In Celebration of President Obama's Birthday this Week...

Aug 04, 2009 - Read more...

Republican Misinformation about Health Care

Jul 31, 2009 - As the House leaves for August recess, the Republican party is pulling out all stops as they misinform the public about the true cost of health care reform. With H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act--which should be exempt from the usual political machinations-- the health and welfare of Hoosiers and folks throughout the country is at stake. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana continues to spread false information about the cost of the bill. In an interview on MSNBC, Rep. Pence incorrectly states that the health reform bill would result in one trillion dollars in new taxes. Even the news anchor knows something is wrong with Pence's calculations. Read more...

Heritage Phones It In, We Tweet the Truth

Jul 30, 2009 - The Heritage Foundation responded yesterday to our campaign exposing the Lewin Group's conflict of interest on health insurance reform by saying, um, the blog version of NUH UHHH! What Heritage declines to address is the very point of our campaign - the fact that in 2007, the Lewin Group was purchased by UnitedHealth - a health insurance company with a track record of breaking the law and defrauding customers. Read more...

Do you think they're getting the message?

Jul 29, 2009 - Attacking Reform with Insurance Company-Owned Research? So far hundreds of you have watched this video and used Twitter to call out the people trying to pass off the Lewin Group as "independent." I just took a screen shot of all the @replies to Senator Grassley's Twitter feed - take a look... Read more...

Lewin Group FAIL

Jul 29, 2009 - Imagine you're an insurance company making billions of dollars by charging people tons of money for health care. Now, imagine there's a reform bill in Congress that could end your stranglehold on the market, forcing you to lower your prices and improve your services. Read more...

Why call Congress for healthcare reform?

Jul 28, 2009 - Still looking for more reasons why you should tell your representative we need to pass health reform now? Here's one:

Calling on Congress to Fix Health Care - Have You Sent Your Message?

Jul 28, 2009 - If you're one of the 98% of Americans who make less than $250,000 every year, you stand to save a lot of money through the health care reform bill in Congress. Click here to tell Congress it's time everyone - even millionaires - did their part to fix health care. Read more...

Health Care Supporters Take Over Tea Party in "Red Tennessee"

Jul 27, 2009 - With less than 24 hours notice, Change That Works Tennessee and its coalition partners staged a massive counter-demonstration at a Tea Party in front of Rep. Bart Gordon's office in Rutherford County. Our action, turned the Tea Party into a health care reform party. Read more...

Attacking Reform with Insurance Company-Owned Research?

Jul 24, 2009 - This week, the Washington Post revealed that the Lewin Group -- a firm commonly cited by Republican lawmakers as an independent and nonpartisan think tank -- is owned by a health insurance company--and a badly behaving one, at that. Playing politics with health reform is simply unacceptable - and using insurance company-provided "statistics" to do it is just plain wrong. Read more...

Vacation or health care?

Jul 24, 2009 - What would you choose - taking a vacation or fixing health care? Some Members of Congress want three weeks of vacation before they tackle health care reform. But there is a real human cost for going on vacation...and we don't think fixing health care can wait. Do you? Read more...

Ad check: U.S. Chamber of Commerce pushes phony numbers in new offensive against health care reform

Jul 22, 2009 - The Chamber of Commerce continues their "Just Say No!" strategy against health care reform with a new ad this week that flaunts a series of misleading numbers to make the case (or rather, their lack thereof) against legislation that will guarantee Americans access to quality, affordable healthcare. Here are the real facts on how small businesses and taxpayers would actually be affected by the latest proposals for fixing our broken system. Read more...

SEIU members & healthcare allies get serious about reform in Illinois

Jul 22, 2009 - Last week, elected officials left Springfield without doing their job--again. So SEIU Healthcare Indiana and Illinois took their fight to protect home and childcare workers from budget cuts to the scene of the crime. Read more...

TODAY: Dr. Dean's Emergency Call with Nurses and Doctors

Jul 21, 2009 - Health care legislation passed huge hurdles in the House and Senate last week, but threats to this legislation appear to be growing with each day. Because of this, Dr. Howard Dean has issued an emergency conference call on Wednesday, July 22 with nurses and doctors to discuss elements of the House and Senate bills, and how they will impact health care professionals. Read more...

Demint's Slip-Up

Jul 20, 2009 - Republicans have pledged to be working in good faith with Democrats, despite their nonstop battering ram of rhetoric (re: "socialized medicine," "rationing of care" and blaming Canada), and have left the dirty work of killing health care to pundits and Fox News anchors. But now, there's been a slip-up. And not just by any Republican - but by a very prominent Republican leader... Read more...

This Wednesday: Dr. Dean's Emergency Call with Nurses and Doctors

Jul 20, 2009 - This Wednesday, July 22, at 6:30pm EDT/3:30pm PDT, Dr. Howard Dean is hosting an emergency conference call with nurses and doctors to discuss recent developments on health care reform, and the important role that health care professionals must play. Read more...

Questioning millionaire compensation: Doctors put the Bronx's St. Barnabas Hospital under the microscope

Jul 20, 2009 - "With so much of our economy in flux, now more than ever, the people of New York need to be reassured that the institutions we rely on are worthy of the trust that we put into them," said Dr. L. Toni Lewis, president of the Committee of Interns and Residents. Visit www.examinebarnabas.org. Read more...

If you're one of millions of Americans without adequate coverage, this bill is for you

Jul 17, 2009 - Yesterday on Capitol Hill, SEIU Healthcare 775NW member and Montana home care worker Pat DeJong stood alongside Senators Dodd, Mikulski, and Harkin to celebrate the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee's passage of healthcare reform bill, the first of the Congressional panels to approve the health legislation. Read more...

Momentum keeps building for Health Care Reform

Jul 17, 2009 - Not a single workday passed this week without major health care news spilling onto cable news networks, blogs and newspapers. Read more...

Senator Bingaman gets a health care check-up

Jul 17, 2009 - On Wednesday as Senator Jeff Bingaman joined his colleagues on the Senate HELP Committee to vote for sending a comprehensive health care bill to the Senate Floor, he was joined by dozens of New Mexico doctors, nurses, and health care providers assembled to show support for a robust public health insurance option in 2009. Read more...

Miami Nurse Touts the Value of Reform

Jul 16, 2009 - In the debate over health care reform, it is important to listen to the people at the forefront of the crisis: our country's nurses. Even President Obama speaks to the importance of nurses as health care providers, noting that in some rural areas, nurses are the only providers of health care. Read more...

HELP is on the way! Healthcare reform advances in Congress

Jul 15, 2009 - Last week nearly 5,000 SEIU members and activists from across the country called their Members of Congress to say: "Healthcare won't be fixed until it's affordable for everyone." Well, these hours and hours of phone calls, door knocks, letters, and visits to Congress demanding real healthcare reform is paying off. Last night, House Democrats unveiled a healthcare bill that provides comprehensive reform that is both fiscally responsible and legislatively achievable this year and today the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pension Committee passed their version of a bill, the Affordable Health Choices Act. Read more...

Bruce Raynor on FOX Business: "American workers and American business cannot afford the current [healthcare] system"

Jul 15, 2009 - This year it's going to cost $18,000 per family for medical coverage--and that's just not affordable, says Workers United President Bruce Raynor on Fox Business News, making a case for why reform needs to happen now--and why he thinks an employer mandate should be part of the solution. Read more...

House Releases Health Care Reform Bill

Jul 14, 2009 - Leaders in the House of Representatives have released their comprehensive plan for reforming health care today. It's a complete, thorough bill that will take some time to comb through and examine all the details. But, the preliminary analyses conclude that it's a huge step toward fixing health care and a major victory for all of us who have been working for quality, affordable health care. Read more...

Ahem, Governor Schwarzenegger - You can't ignore the law, no matter who you are

Jul 14, 2009 - The Governor and CA state officials have refused to abide by the U.S. District Court's preliminary injunction preventing the slashing of salaries for California home care workers. In light of this outrageous defiance, the ruling Judge has amended her original injunction: rescind approval of all IHSS wage reductions by July 14 that were scheduled to take place on July 1 by COB today. Read more...

Celebrating J Dilla's music and legacy: 4th annual tribute & fundraiser recap

Jul 14, 2009 - Last week, SEIU co-sponsored the 4th Annual J Dilla Tribute & Fundraiser show at DC's Liv Niteclub to celebrate Dilla's legacy and raise awareness about the medical condition that cut his life short and left his family with mounting bills of over 1 million dollars after he lost his health coverage. Read more...

Unacceptable: Governor Schwarzenegger ignores court order to stop home care cuts

Jul 13, 2009 - strong>Last week, SEIU was forced to file a motion with U.S. District Court to hold the state of California in contempt for illegally cutting the wages of (IHSS) workers by $2 per hour in defiance of an earlier court order. Read more...

NY Times: "Change is too slow coming for the nation's one million home care aides"

Jul 09, 2009 - Citing the hard work and critical role they play with an aging boomer population, the NY Times editorial declares that "Home care aides should not have to wait any longer for the fair pay they have been denied for so long." Read more...

Video: Hip-Hop Takes on the Health Care Crisis

Jul 09, 2009 - Members of the healthcare, hip-hop and progressive community sat together on a "HealthCare Remix" panel on Wednesday, June 8 to discuss the state of healthcare reform and how to raise awareness of the urgency of the problem. Watch a video from the discussion--featuring Phife from Tribe Called Quest--here. Read more...

Conservative obstructionists are not serious about reform

Jul 09, 2009 - Conservative obstructionists are still not serious about reforming our broken health care system to rein in the costs that are crushing families and businesses, and exploding our deficit. Read more...

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr: "Healthcare must be our lunch counter moment for the 21st century"

Jul 08, 2009 - Today's hip-hop "Healthcare Remix" panel discussion at SEIU's headquarters in Washington, DC shed a bright light on the need for healthcare reform that does more than just expand insurance coverage--and why it is imperative that every community has a voice at the decision-making table. Read more...

Sarah Jones: A Right to Care

Jul 08, 2009 - The Associated Press calls her "astounding." People Magazine calls her "amazing." We call her one of the most important and engaging messengers ever to tackle the issue of health care disparities in America. And she's performing in Washington, DC on Thursday, July 9th and St. Paul, MN on July 11th. Read more...

DC Loves Dilla: Healthcare Roundtable & Tribute Event

Jul 08, 2009 - James Yancy (aka J Dilla, aka Jay Dee) was an influential hip-hop MC and producer whose rising star was cut short by complications stemming from his battle with Lupus. Dilla emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan, and was widely respected throughout the hip-hop community as a "producer's producer." Read more...

July 7th & 8th: National Healthcare Call-In Day

Jul 07, 2009 - As SEIU members, our calls are especially important right now. Industry lobbyists may have deep pockets, but they can't talk about health care the same way we can. Call your member of Congress right now: 1-800-603-SEIU Read more...

Change that Works campaign turns up the heat for healthcare during recess

Jul 06, 2009 - This year during the Congressional Fourth of July recess, SEIU & Change that Works activists created fireworks across the country. Here are a few highlights from the recess activities. Read more...

Health Care and Hip-Hop in DC this Wednesday

Jul 06, 2009 - J Dilla was a hip-hop producer whose promising life was cut short in 2005 by complications stemming from his battle with Lupus. This Wednesday, SEIU is hosting a discussion at our HQ on how health care reform can prevent the kind of financial stress and hardship J Dilla's family has endured due to the high cost of medical treatment. Read more...

Nebraskans Greet Sen. Johanns...And His Staff Calls the Cops

Jul 03, 2009 - One day before celebrating the birth of our great nation, Nebraskans gathered at a scheduled healthcare roundtable to call on Senator Johanns to support an American solution to our healthcare crisis--only to have the police called on them. Read more...

End the war on home care

Jul 02, 2009 - A U.S. District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction last week ordering the state of California to halt pay cuts for the state's 400,000 home care workers. Now that a court has ruled against the Governor and his cuts, we need to ask him to reverse course on these short-sighted cuts. Read more...

Senate HELP Committee Releases Complete Health Care Bill

Jul 02, 2009 - For months, we've been standing firm on our call for Congress to deliver a health care bill that does a few, simple things. It has to lower health care costs for patients, businesses, and governments. It has to improve the quality of care for patients. And it has to make sure that every American, regardless of who they are or how much money that make, has access to affordable care. Today, we have that bill. Read more...

Mandatory overtime a thing of the past for PA direct care workers

Jul 01, 2009 - Beginning today -- July 1st, 2009 -- mandatory overtime is a thing of the past for any healthcare worker in Pennsylvania providing direct patient care. This victory is the culmination of a 7-year struggle by nurses and other healthcare workers who repeatedly marched, called, emailed and lobbied their legislators to support this important patient safety legislation. Read more...

HAARM: Takin' It To The Streets

Jul 01, 2009 - This weekend, the same groups that organized anti-Obama "tea parties" around the country are putting together another round of July 4th tea parties. This time, killing health care reform is at the top of their agenda. Naturally, HAARM wanted to get in on the fun. Check out the video of HAARM's anti-health care reform protest: www.haarm.org Read more...

Sharing Responsibility, Ditching the Chamber

Jun 30, 2009 - The Chamber of Commerce's veneer of unity on health care is beginning to fade. In the latest blow to the Chamber's "Just Say No!" strategy on health care reform, Wal-Mart joined with SEIU and the Center for American Progress today in announcing support for an employer mandate on health coverage. Read more...

You Ask, The President Answers

Jun 29, 2009 - President Obama is hosting an online discussion this Wednesday, at 1:15 p.m. EDT, on health care reform. He's soliciting questions from people via Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. Get involved in the discussion by submitting your own question. Read more...

Health Care '09 Rally: Photo Slideshow

Jun 25, 2009 - Joined by SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger, Actress Edie Falco, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and other leaders, more than 10,000 healthcare advocates from across the country kicked off the Health Care For America Now (HCAN)'s historic lobby day with a rally in upper Senate Park. Read more...

The dust in Fresno has settled....now what?

Jun 25, 2009 - The Fresno members voted to keep SEIU UHW as their union in a record turnout for an election among home care workers. They made this choice after enduring an unprecedented two-year campaign of lies, distortions and false promises by the NUHW officials, who ran a management-style, anti-union campaign. Read more...

Healthcare Equality 2009: Lighting up the Future

Jun 25, 2009 - Last night, an impressive group of speakers and passionate activists gathered in Washington DC, in the appropriately named Freedom Plaza, to declare their commitment to advocacy and demand that Congressional reform efforts address systemic inequality in the American health care system. Punctuated throughout the evening by the rhythmic sounds of Rudy Gonzalez Y Su Lokura's Latin jazz band, the evening was a tribute to both the passion and diversity involved in the health care reform movement. Read more...

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members head to DC for Health Care '09 rally and lobby day

Jun 24, 2009 - Now is the time for healthcare reform, and SEIU members from 1199NW are helping to lead the way. Delegations of community leaders from over 40 states are being flown into Washington for in order to meet with key Members of Congress, and four SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members will be among them. Read more...

Liveblogging: Health Care Events on Capitol Hill

Jun 24, 2009 - We live blogged the health care events taking place today at Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC. People of all religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds came together to rally for health care equality across America! Read more...

Round-Up of this Week's Health Care Events

Jun 24, 2009 - You may have noticed there is a lot going on with healthcare over the next roughly 24 hours. Below is a Below is a snapshot of what's going on. Read more...

SEIU Home Care Aide to discuss healthcare with President Obama on ABC's "Prescription for America"

Jun 24, 2009 - Tonight, Obama will continue his health care push with a primetime nationally televised event in the White House called "Questions for the President: Prescription for America," which will be moderated with ABC's Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer. SEIU Healthcare 775NW member & home care aide Pat DeJong has been invited to participate in the ABC News special event--make sure to watch! Read more...

Join us in D.C. for Lighting the Night Healthcare Vigil

Jun 23, 2009 - Don't forget to join us tomorrow night for a brilliant "Lighting the Night" healthcare vigil to demand healthcare equity for all. The event of nearly 2,000 healthcare advocates, Congressional, civil rights and labor leaders will take place just steps from the White House at Freedom Plaza, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, starting at 7:00 p.m. Read more...

HAARM: Takin' It To The Streets

Jun 23, 2009 - [YouTube video] Read more...

Meet HAARM: Healthy Americans Against Reforming Medicine

Jun 23, 2009 - Is it just me, or do our opponents sound crazier every day? Take opponents of health care reform; they're spending millions of dollars on TV ads that call the President's plan "socialism," "rationing," and "a government takeover." It sort of makes you wonder - where do these people come up with this stuff? Meet HAARM: Health Americans Against Reforming Medicine - www.haarm.org Read more...

Maine small business owner: U.S. Chamber's attacks on healthcare hurt small businesses

Jun 22, 2009 - In response to recent attacks from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Maine small business owner Lisa McSwain advocated for healthcare reform to help other small businesses struggling with growing healthcare costs. Read more...

Victory in Fresno! Home Care Workers Vote to Stay with SEIU UHW

Jun 22, 2009 - Fresno County home care workers voted to keep SEIU-UHW as their union by a vote of rejecting an attempt by a group of ousted union leaders to split the workers off into a new organization. Read more...

Letter from the "Other" Washington: Meet SEIU Grassroots Lobbyist Susie Young

Jun 18, 2009 - Nine SEIU members and workers from key states across the country have relocated to Washington, DC this spring for a three-month long stint as a Grassroots Lobbyist (GRLs) on Capitol Hill. Meet Susie Young, one of the amazing grassroots lobbyists who has spent the last few months fighting the good fight with SEIU here in D.C. "This has been one of the best experiences of my life," says Susie of her time spent as a GRL. Read more...

NBC/WSJ Poll: 76% of Americans Support Public Health Insurance Option

Jun 18, 2009 - Congress can't seem to reach a consensus, but the American people have overwhelmingly made up their minds: we need a public health insurance option. A new poll conducted by NBC and the Wall Street Journal is the latest in a series of polls to show convincing support for a choice between a private or public health insurance plan among the American people. Read more...

Top 10 Historical Chamber of Commerce Quotes Against Healthcare

Jun 17, 2009 - When the US Chamber of Commerce opposed early versions of the healthcare bill Tuesday, we weren't surprised. This is, after all, the same group that colorfully told the Associated Press it was "time to unload the powder and fill the musket" in their fight against health care reform. Read more...

State Legislators to the Hill: We Need Health Care Reform

Jun 17, 2009 - 700 state legislators from every state have signed on to a letter to the President, HHS Secretary Sebelius, and leaders in Congress, asking them to support the key ingredients for real health care reform. And, today, a delegation of legislators from around the country will be on Capitol Hill to meet with the White House and deliver the letter. Read more...

Begging For Change

Jun 16, 2009 - The Maine Change That Works campaign launched "Begging for Change," a multimedia effort to highlight Maine families' urgent need for comprehensive health care reform that includes an affordable public health insurance option. Read more...

"Lighting the Night": Demand healthcare equity for all

Jun 16, 2009 - Healthcare must go beyond simply expanding coverage to all the uninsured Americans, it must put us on a path towards healthcare equality. Every person, no matter the color of their skin deserves affordable, accessible healthcare of the highest quality. On June 24th, healthcare justice activists from all across the country are convening in Washington, DC to demand healthcare reform that truly works for everyone. Read more...

President Obama Mentions Nashville Small Business Owners

Jun 16, 2009 - President Obama in his health care reform address to the American Medical Association in Chicago, mentioned Becky and Chris Link, two small business owners and Change that Works Tennessee activists Read more...

President Obama addresses the AMA; Doctors say public health insurance option must be part of health care reform solution

Jun 15, 2009 - In his 50 minute address to the American Medical Association at the group's annual convention in Chicago, President Obama reiterated his strong support for a truly national public health insurance plan, calling the current state of the nation's health care system a "ticking time bomb." Read more...

Chamber of Commerce Defends Bonuses, Bailouts, and the Broken Healthcare System on Fox News Sunday

Jun 15, 2009 - Yesterday U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue appeared on Fox News Sunday, and in the course of a 15-minute interview, defended taxpayer-funded bonuses, championed a broken healthcare system, and brushed off concerns about bailed out companies. Read more...

Coalition of Doctor Organizations: "Our Patients Deserve the Choice of a Public Health Insurance Option"

Jun 15, 2009 - A coalition of 8 organizations representing over 200,000 physicians and physicians-in-training, including SEIU's Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) and Doctors Council, issued a statement this morning in support of achieving health care reform this year, including the creation of a robust, high-quality public health insurance option. Read more...

Illinois home care worker on budget cuts: "When you take jobs away from poor people, it's only going to create more poor people."

Jun 15, 2009 - As a home care worker in Chicago, Rebia currently receives a $9.85 an hour, her only source of income. Billions in budget cuts to critical human services programs are set to take effect on July 1st - leaving 80,000 working parents without child care, over 40,000 seniors and people with disabilities without home care and countless other families devastated by drastic cuts to the programs they depend on. Read more...

Senators push for wage and hour protections for home care workers

Jun 13, 2009 - A group of 15 Senators led by Senator Harkins (D-IA) have sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, urging the Department of Labor to expand federal wage and hour laws to an estimated 1.5 million home care workers in the U.S., one of the fastest-growing professions in the country today. Read more...

It's On Your Kitchen Table

Jun 12, 2009 - President Obama last week indicated that we must provide Americans with the option of a public health insurance plan. Now it's time to convince Congress; and the strongest proof that our current health care system is broken is probably sitting on your kitchen table - your medical bills. Read more...

500 Workers at Boston's Caritas Carney Hospital Vote to Join 1199SEIU

Jun 12, 2009 - Workers at Boston's Caritas Carney Hospital, part of Caritas Christi Health Care and the largest community-based hospital system in Massachusetts, voted overwhelmingly to join 1199SEIU. In April, more than 800 workers at Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston also voted to join 1199SEIU. Read more...

Change to Win Campaign Spotlight: "Cure CVS"

Jun 11, 2009 - The plentiful number of CVS store locations is a high convenience factor most consumers appreciate--but the more you learn about the way the company is run, the less welcoming that development may seem. Read more...

SEIU's Andy Stern--A Key Player in Healthcare Reform

Jun 11, 2009 - The PBS NewsHour has identified SEIU President Andy Stern as a key player lobbying for healthcare reform. Read more...

Send Your Medical Bill to the Hill

Jun 10, 2009 - Read more...

Organizing for America unveils its "Health Care Action Center"

Jun 10, 2009 - After holding its Health Care Organizing Kickoff this weekend with thousands of house parties across the country, Organizing for America unveiled its "Health Care Action Center." Read more...

Senate HELP Committee releases draft of Healthcare Reform legislation

Jun 09, 2009 - It's been 15 years since Congress and our President last tried to fix the health care crisis in America. Today, the draft of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee's bill of health care reform legislation was released: the Americans Health Choices Act. Read more...

24 Hours of Twitter

Jun 09, 2009 - Thanks to the hard work of the Iowa Change that Works, our 24 hours of health care stories campaign on Twitter was a tremendous success. Read more...

Californians Convene for Health Care Reform

Jun 08, 2009 - This past Saturday, Organizing for America asked that Americans around the country meet to discuss what they believe health care reform should look like. President Obama's organization put out a video that organizers could show their group and use to solicit support for reform and encourage participants to share their stories dealing with the broken health care system. Read more...

@ChuckGrassley: Who's Tweeting Whom?

Jun 08, 2009 - While telling the President he "has some nerve" as well as asserting "I'm no NAIL" might raise some eyebrows, we're not here to school Senator Grassley on the finer points of inter-netiquette. Rather, SEIU's Change that Works campaign is taking advantage of the Senator's connectivity to reach out directly and influence him where it counts: to reform our country's health care. Read more...

What Are You Going to Do About Health Care Reform? (Colorado)

Jun 08, 2009 - This weekend, inspired by Chris Dodd & the hardworking volunteers in Organizing for America, I set out to document what ideas people had for reforming health care in America. Read more...

24 Hours of Health Care Tweets to @ChuckGrassley

Jun 08, 2009 - This weekend, Sen. Grassley made news on Twitter yet again with a controversial pair of "tweets" he sent early Sunday morning, criticizing President Obama's call for lawmakers to begin delivering on health care reform while overseas honoring D-Day in France. Read more...

Gov. Dean Gets Fired Up in Delaware

Jun 08, 2009 - On May 29th, SEIU hosted an event with Gov. Howard Dean to discuss health care reform with people in Wilmington, Delaware. Watch a clip of Howard Dean reacting to a story from a local resident who was forced to file for divorce in order to afford cancer treatment. Read more...

Louisianans Answer the President's Call for Health Care Reform

Jun 08, 2009 - On Saturday, June 6, Change that Works organizers joined as dozens of activists from Organizing for America answered the President's call to meet and discuss health care reform. In house meetings across the state, Louisianans watched the President's health care reform message; shared their health care stories and found out how they could further participate in the health care reform discussion. Read more...

Right Wing Talking Points = South Park's "Blame Canada!"

Jun 08, 2009 - [YouTube video] Read more...

SEIU Endorses Feingold Bill To Help Displaced Workers Find Health Care Jobs

Jun 05, 2009 - SEIU has endorsed Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act legislation reintroduced by Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.). The new version of the bill, formerly introduced in 2004, 2005 and 2007, would establish a program to distribute grants to colleges and other institution to retrain workers in areas of high unemployment to take jobs in healthcare. Read more...

Conservatives for Patients' Rights "Bulldozer" Ad Check

Jun 05, 2009 - Our health care activists have kept a watchful eye on ad buys by Rick Scott's "Conservatives for Patients' Rights," and with good reason. Scott's ads have contained demonstrably false material, misleading excerpts of interviews, and blatant fear-mongering in an attempt to swift-boat health care reform. Read more...

Really, Canada?

Jun 04, 2009 - The right wing's bizarre attack on Canada's health care system continues. Why attack Canada? Because it's easier than defending the broken U.S. health care system. The recent media blitz on our neighbors to the north reminded us of the, ahem, sophisticated story line in South Park's 1999 feature film. (Watch our video) Read more...

This Saturday, it begins

Jun 03, 2009 - President Obama indicated this week that he wants a health care bill that provides quality, affordability, and accessibility--and that the key to achieving all three of those goals is the public health insurance option. Let's be clear - this is big news for health care reform. Read more...

Richmond Small Business Owner for Health Care Reform

Jun 03, 2009 - Leonard Edloe has been running Edloe's Professional Pharmacy in Richmond, Virginia for 39 years--this African American owned business was opened by his father in 1947. As a small business owner, Mr. Edloe knows that when his customers thrive, his business thrives and that is part and parcel why he supports health care reform. Read more...

Video: Canvassing for Fresno Home Care

Jun 03, 2009 - In this new YouTube video, SEIU UHW member and upcoming leader Frank Valdez canvasses for the first time with mentor May Santiago in Fresno. "It's very important to take care of these folks at home, and that's why I'm here," says Frank, on why he's fighting alongside his fellow union members in support of Fresno home care workers. Read more...

"Campaign for America's Future" Prepares the Way for Healthcare Reform

Jun 03, 2009 - More than 1,000 progressive leaders and activists have been in Washington, DC at the Omni Shoreham Hotel for the yearly America's Future Now! Conference, organized by Campaign for America's Future (CAF). The main 'event' of CAF's 2009 conference has been the launching of an $82 million campaign for healthcare reform, a collective effort involving more than 1,000 organizations that are part of Health Care for America Now behind President Obama's health care plan. Read more...

Delivering Your Petitions to NBC Washington on Rick Scott's Infomercial: Watch the Video

Jun 02, 2009 - On Sunday, a group of DC residents delivered all 68,000 of your petitions to the NBC studios in Washington, demanding Rick Scott's phony infomercial be pulled. You should have seen the look on the producer's face when she saw the boxes of signatures waiting for her in the lobby. Read more...

SEIU Members and Organizers Fight for Reform During Memorial Day Recess

Jun 01, 2009 - Across the country, SEIU members and Change that Works activists worked at a feverish pace to spotlight the value of reforming our broken healthcare system, with activities in Nebraska, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Montana, Ohio, Colorado and Delaware. Read more...

Over 68,000 Petitions Signed to Tell NBC and Meet the Press Not to Air Rick Scott's Phony "Documentary"

May 29, 2009 - This evening we received word that over 68,000 people (and counting!) have signed the petition calling for NBC not to air Rick Scott's "infomercial" attacking a public healthcare option that's set to air after Meet the Press on the network this Sunday. Read more...

Calling all DC Residents: Can you call the General Manager?

May 29, 2009 - Yesterday, we emailed about stopping Rick Scott's phony "documentary" from airing on Washington, DC's NBC4 after Meet the Press this weekend. Today, we're upping the ante. Read more...

Governor Schwarzenegger: Home Healthcare Is Not A Throw-Away!

May 28, 2009 - Today, SEIU home healthcare members closed their 48-hour vigil with a press conference on the steps of the California statehouse to protest drastic budget cuts which would drive home care workers into poverty and force seniors and people with disabilities into more restrictive and costly institutional settings Read more...

Rick Scott's 30-Minute Lie

May 28, 2009 - Rick Scott has a track record of deceit. Scott's previous ads contained blatantly false statements and misleading excerpts of interviews with health care professionals. Join us in telling NBC not to run this phony "documentary" this Sunday. Read more...

Healthy Families Act Would Guarantee Paid Sick Time for Workers

May 28, 2009 - Too many workers have jobs where they don't have any paid sick days for themselves, much less paid days off to care for a sick child or family members. to the introduction of The Healthy Families Act, introduced in Congress last week, to both sides of Congress last week by Senator Kennedy and Representative DeLauro. The legislation would allow workers to earn up to 7 days of paid sick time, with an accrual of one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Read more...

24 Hours of Healthcare Stories in Nebraska

May 27, 2009 - Change that Works Nebraska kicked off their Memorial Day recess activities yesterday morning with their innovative 24 hours of Healthcare Stories Youtube campaign. Read more...

Tonight in California: Thousands Begin 48-Hour Vigils to Protest Massive Cuts

May 26, 2009 - SEIU members, seniors home care givers and community supporters from across the state will hold vigils tonight on the grounds of the State Capitol to protest Schwarzenegger's proposed cutbacks that would reduce vital services to seniors and people with disabilities. Read more...

Joe the Plumber, now Jane the Patient?

May 26, 2009 - First, it was Rick Scott's Conservatives for Patients' Rights--which was essentially a front group for, um, Rick Scott. Now we've got Patients United Now (PUN), a front group of Americans for Prosperity (reminder: sponsor of the Joe the Plumber tour and world-class climate change deniers). Seems you can't have too many groups crying "CANADA!" in a crowded cable market. Read more...

SEIU Healthcare Turns Up the Heat During Memorial Day Recess

May 25, 2009 - While many will be enjoying BBQs and beach time this weekend, SEIU advocates of healthcare reform will be pushing their Members of Congress and neighbors to support measures like a public health insurance option that increases choice and reduces costs. Read more...

Grassley Open to Public Health Care Plan Option

May 22, 2009 - Senator Grassley has been working hard to craft a health care legislation bill that works for everyone, and we applaud his considerable effort in the cause for quality, affordable health care reform. However, now is not the time to sacrifice the public health plan option for the sake of political compromise. Read more...

No holiday for Health Care and Employee Free Choice campaigns

May 21, 2009 - Harley riders. Pancake breakfasts. Governor Howard Dean. What do they all have in common? They're just a few of the unique ways that SEIU's keeping our campaigns for health care reform and Employee Free Choice moving during the Memorial Day recess. Read more...

The GOP Health Care Proposal: More of the Same

May 20, 2009 - Republicans in Congress dusted off John McCain's health care proposal from the 2008 campaign and reintroduced it at a press conference in Washington today. The proposal, which serves as their counter to President Obama's plan for health care reform, replaces the coverage people have with an insufficient tax subsidy that doesn't even cover half of the average family's health care premiums. Read more...

Proposed OSHA Standard Would Prevent Injury for Nurses and Healthcare Workers

May 19, 2009 - Last week, Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) laid the first steps toward the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act (H.R. 2381). This legislation will require that healthcare facilities provide safe patient handling using mechanical lifts and develop injury prevention plans for healthcare workers who move patients. Read more...

The Party of No...Health Care? We Hope Not.

May 19, 2009 - Last Sunday, RNC Chair Michael Steele revealed his party's intentions when it comes to fixing our broken health care system. Watch Chairman Steele demonstrate why his party is now referred to as the "Party of No". Read more...

Making a House Call at Independence Hall

May 16, 2009 - Nearly 100 doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals gathered Friday in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in support of quality, affordable health care for all. Read more...

Congress, Meet Your Partner in Health Care Reform: NURSES

May 14, 2009 - This week, hundreds of RNs flooded our nation's capitol, many of us with several decades of experience in patient care. We left our families and communities because this year-2009-is the year that Congress can finally fix our broken health care system. And it can't happen without nurses. Read more...

They Got the Message: CNN and Fox expose Rick Scott

May 14, 2009 - Yesterday morning, both CNN and FOX News confronted Rick Scott about his miserable record in the health care industry. It seems the nearly 20,000 emails you sent to CNN and FOX News were enough to get the message across, and now they're passing that message on to viewers: Rick Scott can't be trusted when it comes to health care. Read more...

National RN Day of Action

May 13, 2009 - Hundreds of nurses from SEIU, CNA and UAN convened in Washington, DC today for a national RN day of action. The day's activities included a morning nurses' conference, followed by a march to Upper Senate Park that grew in size along the way, gathering 500 nurses and another 500 patient advocates to rally for comprehensive health care reform. Read more...

The Latest Victims of the Broken Health Care System: Medicare Recipients

May 13, 2009 - The big news out of Washington is that the Social Security and Medicare Trust funds are in worse shape than we thought. According to the Medicare Trustees' report released yesterday, we're going to exhaust Medicare by 2017 unless we take immediate action. Read more...

SEIU Nurse Participates in White House Spanish-Language Town Hall on H1N1 Virus

May 12, 2009 - On Friday, SEIU Florida Healthcare nurse Patricia Diaz joined U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and a team of Spanish-speaking Administration officials from DHS and the CDC for a White House Town Hall to discuss Government's safety and prevention plans for the H1N1 virus. Read more...

A Game-Changer: The Plan to Cut Health Care Costs

May 11, 2009 - SEIU has teamed up with disparate groups like the insurance industry and pharmaceutical companies to forge an agreement toward cutting health care costs. All told, we've introduced a plan that will achieve $2 trillion in savings over the next 10 years. Read more...

New Hampshire Gathers for Mother's Day Delivery

May 11, 2009 - This year, we here at Change that Works decided to celebrate Mother's Day by helping out where it counts: in the battle for quality, affordable health care. Our volunteers showed their commitment to the mothers and families of New Hampshire by taking the time to hand deliver flowers and unfilled prescriptions to the offices of Senator Judd Gregg and Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Read more...

Why Today is a Game Changer

May 11, 2009 - SEIU is joining a diverse group of organizations at the White House today, unveiling a plan to reduce the cost of health care and jumpstart the drive toward real reform. The groups are teaming up with the Obama administration to curb health care costs through improved efficiency and higher quality of care. Read more...

Calling It What It Is: Frank Luntz's Hit Job on Health Care

May 08, 2009 - Opponents of health care reform have been wringing their hands these last few months. Ever since America elected a president dedicated to fixing our broken system last November, it seems that no amount of spin can distract people from the fact that we're paying billions of dollars for a health care system that doesn't work. This week, as a last ditch effort, Republican spin-doctor Frank Luntz floated a confidential memo on how to scare Americans into believing health care reform is bad. The only problem: the memo was leaked. And, now, the media and members of Congress are calling his bluff. Read more...

Contracts Re-opening for 140,000 NYC Healthcare Workers

May 08, 2009 - Collective bargaining on behalf of some 140,000 hospital and nursing home workers are beginning this month in New York City. Representing 1199SEIU will be an elected Negotiating Committee of some 500 rank-and-file healthcare workers. They will be conducting parallel talks with representatives of the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes, and the Greater New York association of nursing homes. Read more...

New HHS Report: Decline in Patient Safety "Disturbing"

May 07, 2009 - The Department of Health and Human Services has released their National Healthcare Quality Report, which evaluates the quality of American health care based on data collected throughout 2008. This headline from the report sums it up: Health Care Quality Is Suboptimal and Continues To Improve at a Slow Pace Read more...

Senate Health Care Roundtable: SEIU Caregiver Reactions

May 06, 2009 - [YouTube video] Read more...

Fixing Health Care: Put Your Hand In

May 06, 2009 - Sitting among the insurance executives, business leaders, and Washington lobbyists in the audience of yesterday's roundtable on health care reform were a handful of frontline caregivers from SEIU. They came from across the country to be on Capitol Hill yesterday, and they served as a powerful reminder of the people the debate over health care reform is really about - patients and their caregivers. Read more...

On National Nurses Week, We're Calling a Code On Our Healthcare System

May 06, 2009 - We've decided today isn't going to be like any Nurses Day before it. This year, you can keep your flowers and candy because this year, RNs are demanding something real. We're calling a code on our broken health care system. Read more...

Andy Stern's Testimony to Congress: The Face of the Health Care Crisis

May 06, 2009 - SEIU President Andy Stern visited Capitol Hill Tuesday in one of the last official opportunities to provide input on health care reform before a final piece of legislation is drafted next month. Learn about the standards SEIU uses to measure the success of the healthcare system that works for America's working families. Read more...

Politico labels SEIU's Dennis Rivera a key player in healthcare debate

May 05, 2009 - This week, Politico dubbed SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera "The Organizer" on their list of five people who could play a prime time role in affecting the course of health care reform. Read more...

Go Chuck!

May 05, 2009 - Today, SEIU President Andy Stern joined with a panel of health care advocates, insurance industry reps and other stakeholders at Sen. Baucus' second roundtable on health reform. The topic: reforming health care coverage. Read more...

"Kids Can't Wait" Campaign Launch: Free Healthcare on Wheels

May 04, 2009 - Last weekend, SEIU Healthcare Michigan members and their families attended the Detroit launch of a national initiative called "Kids Can't Wait," a campaign which seeks to draw attention to the impact of the economic crisis on children's healthcare and expand health care services to disadvantaged children. Read more...

Who is Rick Scott?

May 04, 2009 - Recently, Rick Scott bought ads for his group "Conservatives for Patients' Rights" on CNN and FOX News networks. Join SEIU in calling on FOX News and CNN to adhere to their own policies and immediately cease running CPR's distortions. Read more...

This has to stop

May 03, 2009 - Next week, SEIU President Andy Stern will be going toCapitol Hill for a Senate roundtable on fixing health care and he wants to use your voice to tell the real story of this health care crisis. Will you take a moment to share your health care story? Read more...

Tell FOX News: Stop the Swift-Boating of Health Care

May 01, 2009 - Click here to take action.... Read more...

CPR Responds With No Refutation of Our Case

May 01, 2009 - Rick Scott's group, Conservatives for Patients' Rights (CPR), responded today to SEIU's written request to CNN and FOX News for removal of the group's ads. The ads, which were created by the same PR firm behind the now widely-discredited "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" ads in 2004, contain false statements and distortions that are intended to mislead the viewing public. Read more...

Home Care Workers Unite With SEIU in Ontario and Nevada

Apr 30, 2009 - Home care workers from Ontario and Nevada are the latest workers to join SEIU in their growing campaign to raise standards and improve the quality of home care across North America and and set higher standards for thousands of home care aides. Read more...

SEIU Calls on CNN and FOX News to Pull Ads

Apr 30, 2009 - Yesterday, SEIU sent letters to FOX News and CNN requesting they pull a grossly misleading ad by Rick Scott's "Conservatives for Patients Rights." The ads, which contain false statements and misleading quotes from doctors, were produced by the same PR firm that created the now-widely discredited "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" ads against Sen. John Kerry in 2004. Read more...

Congratulations, Madame Secretary

Apr 28, 2009 - The Senate has confirmed Kathleen Sebelius as the next HHS Secretary. Read more...

Swine Flu: You Have a Reason to Be Angry

Apr 27, 2009 - The swine flu outbreak has prompted news outlets and bloggers to take a harder look at the Republican obstructionism that's blocked the confirmation of an HHS Secretary. Many noticed that on Sunday, when White House officials briefed the press on the spread of the virus, the official who spoke was not the Health and Human Services Secretary (whose confirmation is stalled in the Senate), but Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security. Read more...

SURVEY: Over One-Third of Healthcare Facilities Not Prepared in Event of Pandemic Flu Outbreak

Apr 27, 2009 - Only 4 percent of surveyed union leaders representing heatlh care workers reported their workplaces as "very ready" to respond sufficiently to an influenza pandemic like swine flu, according to a new report compiled by the SEIU and six other unions. Read more...

What's the HHS got to do with it?

Apr 27, 2009 - The swine flu outbreak has prompted news outlets and bloggers to take a harder look at the Republican obstructionism that's blocked the confirmation of an HHS Secretary. Many noticed that on Sunday, when White House officials briefed the press on the spread of the virus, the official who spoke was not the Health and Human Services Secretary (whose confirmation is stalled in the Senate), but Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security. Read more...

SEIU Nurses In Florida Relay Healthcare Headaches to State Lawmakers

Apr 24, 2009 - Nurses from across Florida gathered with State Representative Alan Williams and Leon County Commissioner Cliff Thaell in Tallahassee this week to ensure elected officials understand the dire state of our healthcare system. Read more...

Health Care 09: We Can't Wait

Apr 24, 2009 - [YouTube video] Read more...

Missoula Turns Out to talk Health Care with Ezra Klein

Apr 24, 2009 - This past week, blogger and policy wonk Ezra Klein, along with Change that Works and Forward Montana, came to Missoula to discuss the current state of health care in Montana. Thanks to your support, it was a raging success. We look forward to many more successful events to come! Read more...

American Families Can't Afford Continued Delay on HHS Nominee

Apr 23, 2009 - President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services has yet to be confirmed by the Senate despite her proven commitment to bipartisanship. Read more...

Baucus Gets Things Moving on Health Care

Apr 23, 2009 - The crowd spilled into the overflow room Monday, as the Senate Finance Committee, Chaired by Montana Senator Max Baucus, began the process of, at last, making health care reform a reality in this country. Monday's hearing was an encouraging sign that we're on the right track. Read more...

SEIU Healthcare Illinois Ad: Don't cut home care and child care to the bone

Apr 22, 2009 - SEIU Healthcare Illinois launched a hard-hitting advertising campaign this week, timed to coincide with the return of legislators to Springfield, calling on the General Assembly to stop deep cuts to child care and home care services in the FY10 budget. Read more...

Alameda Hospital Workers Win 18% Raises

Apr 22, 2009 - On April 17, SEIU UHW members at Alameda Hospital in Oakland ratified a new three-year contract, which is retroactive to April 2008 and covers nearly 130 workers. Read more...

Tell the Senate: Vote Immediately on Kathleen Sebelius

Apr 21, 2009 - Remember when Republicans tried to block Hilda Solis? Read more...

The Sprint Toward the Finish Line?

Apr 21, 2009 - News broke yesterday afternoon that Senators Kennedy and Baucus have pledged to have a health care bill ready for mark-up in early June. The Senators asserted that their respective Committee bills could be 'quickly merged into a single bill for consideration on the Senate floor.' For health care advocates, this ambitious timeline indicates that the next two months will be one of the most dynamic periods in recent Congressional history. Read more...

Mary Kay Henry Named Among "Top 25 Women in Healthcare"

Apr 20, 2009 - The latest issue of Modern Healthcare lists the Top 25 Women in Healthcare, naming our very own Mary Kay Henry as one of those on the front lines to reforming our healthcare system to provide quality, affordable healthcare for all. Read more...

CIR/SEIU Members Discuss Healthcare Reform during Congressional Recess

Apr 16, 2009 - Members of the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare have been participating in in-district health care reform events during the Congressional spring recess. Several events took place over the past week in New Jersey, New York and New Mexico. Read more...

Senator Grassley Says Progress on Healthcare Depends Upon Bipartisanship

Apr 15, 2009 - "The true test of this bipartisanship process will be how we handle the details," said Senator Charles E. Grassley, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, last week in a Mason City, Iowa, health forum including panelists from AARP and SEIU. Speaking about competition between insurance companies, Local 199 member and RN Mary Burke commented, "I think competition would actually be meaningful if we have a public health care system. If you don't have everybody insured, we're still going to have the problem." Read more...

1199SEIU Wins Largest Union Victory in Boston-Area Hospital in Two Decades

Apr 14, 2009 - Read more...

1199SEIU Wins Largest Union Victory in Boston-Area Hospital in Two Decades

Apr 14, 2009 - More than 800 healthcare workers at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, the largest medical center in the Caritas Christi Health Care chain, voted last Thursday to unite together with thousands of healthcare workers in 1199SEIU. Read more...

Dennis Rivera and Michael Bloomberg: Health Care Reform is a Must

Apr 14, 2009 - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera have published a joint op-ed on the Huffington Post with a simple message: health care reform must happen this year, period. Read more...

Service-Sector Workers Increase Wages and Benefits with Unions

Apr 14, 2009 - A new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) shows that nationally, unionization raises service workers' pay 10.1 percent (about $2.00 per hour), compared to non-union service workers, and increases the likelihood that the worker will have health insurance and a pension. Read more...

President Obama Creates Office of Health Reform

Apr 08, 2009 - By executive order, President Obama established the White House Office of Health Reform today. According to the order, it "will provide leadership to the executive branch in establishing policies, priorities, and objectives for the Federal Government's comprehensive effort to improve access to health care, the quality of such care, and the sustainability of the health care system." Read more...

NYT: We Should Have a Public Health Insurance Option

Apr 08, 2009 - The New York Times is out in front with an early endorsement of a public health insurance option as part of any plan to fix health care: A new public plan - to offer consumers greater choice, keep the private... Read more...

Ezra Klein: Fixing Health Care Shouldn't Mean Choosing Between Two Extremes

Apr 07, 2009 - Rather than deciding as a society how much will be spent in the coming year and then figuring out how best to spend it, we abdicate collective responsibility and let individuals fend for themselves. So although Britain and Canada have decided that no one will go without, even if some must occasionally wait, the U.S. has decided that most of those who can't afford care simply won't get it. Read more...

Senator Schumer: Competition Works for Health Care

Apr 06, 2009 - That's where Senator Schumer comes in. During the coming months, as the plans for health care reform unfold, his job is to make sure Congress is looking out for patients and not profits by including a public health insurance option into the mix. Backing him up will be President Obama and the soon-to-be-Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. And, of course, all of us. Read more...

Free Sebelius!

Apr 03, 2009 - It's with great disappointment that we received news this morning that an "unnamed Republican Senator" put a hold on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' confirmation as Health and Human Services Secretary. At a time when the U.S. economy is collapsing under the elephantine costs of our broken health care system, how is it that one anonymous Senator can obstruct filling the leadership post of our nation's top health agency? Read more...

Moving Forward: Congress Passes President Obama's Budget

Apr 03, 2009 - Today, we moved a little bit closer to fixing health care. Nothing about it was easy, but Congress has passed a budget that includes a historic commitment to health care reform. It follows the president's directive to establish a health reform reserve fund to cover the cost of health care without raising the deficit. Consider this a promise to the American people that real change is coming this year. Read more...

"A Down Payment on Fixing Health Care"
Congress Passes President Obama's Budget Plan

Apr 03, 2009 - Read more...

Detroit Nurses Win Wage Collusion Settlement to Boost Recruitment

Apr 02, 2009 - Nurses in the Detroit area are celebrating a $13.6 million settlement reached with St. John's Health System in a class action lawsuit brought to expose attempts by area hospitals to hold down wages for nurses despite an ongoing shortage of RNs willing to work in acute care hospitals. Read more...

Budget Coming As Soon As Today

Apr 02, 2009 - The AP is reporting that Congress is expected to take a final vote on a budget resolution as early as today. Both the House and Senate Budget Committees released their own proposals last week that protect the key investments President Obama had requested for fixing health care and restoring the economy. Read more...

What happened when I talked about a union

Apr 01, 2009 - In 2007 alone, more than 29,000 workers were fired or disciplined for union activity. Trisha Miechur, a Certified Nurse Assistant at a ManorCare nursing home in Easton, PA, is one of those workers. Read more...

White House Report: The Costs of Inaction

Mar 30, 2009 - The White House issued a report on health care this morning that serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for reform. Released online at HealthReform.gov, the report documents the widespread effects of the health care crisis across the United States. Read more...

Medical Outrage: Investigation of Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Mar 27, 2009 - One of the founding principles at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston has been the quest to "treat patients compassionately" -- a commitment that caregivers have devoted their lives to fulfilling. Unfortunately, hospital administrators at BIDMC haven't always shared the same commitment to compassion, or to the "transparency and honesty" so often touted in glowing press releases and glossy pictures provided to the media. Read more...

SEIU RN Linda Bock speaks at Obama's online town hall

Mar 27, 2009 - At the White House's online town hall yesterday, SEIU nurse Linda Bock thanked President Obama for giving her the opportunity to be heard and offer a front line perspective of the health care crisis. Bock expressed the importance of nurses having a voice in the solution to fix health care, to create a system that puts caregivers in charge of the decisions that affect their patients. Read more...

Landmark Nurse Wage Class Action Suit Moves Forward

Mar 26, 2009 - The landmark lawsuit filed by Detroit nurses over efforts by hospitals in their area to collude to hold down wages for RNs is moving forward. Federal Judge Gerald Rosen rejected arguments from Mount Clemens General Hospital in Michigan that the landmark suit has no merit and ordered the case to proceed. Read more...

Helping Laid-Off Workers Afford Health Coverage

Mar 26, 2009 - Laid-off workers can get much of their healthcare insurance paid for through a new law that makes changes to the health benefit provisions of COBRA, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Read more...

Tell Congress: Pass the President's Budget

Mar 26, 2009 - [banner image] Read more...

Landmark Nurses' Lawsuit to Improve Staffing Moves Forward

Mar 26, 2009 - A landmark lawsuit filed by registered nurses in Detroit over efforts by hospitals in their area to conspire to hold down wages for nurses-even in the face of a chronic shortage of nurses willing to work in acute care hospitals-will move forward after a federal judge rejected attempts to have the case dismissed. Read more...

Join the Movement for Healthcare Equality

Mar 24, 2009 - Read more...

Healthcare Equality Project Launches

Mar 24, 2009 - More than 20 coalition partners in 13 states and Washington, DC, launched the Healthcare Equality Project on Tuesday. The coalition--which includes Congress members, physicians, nurses and community advocates--will urge Congress to pass healthcare reform that addresses the serious and pervasive inequalities in America's health care system. Read more...

Top 5 Things to Know About Healthcare Equality

Mar 24, 2009 - The healthcare system Americans deserve will deliver quality affordable health care to ALL no matter the color of their skin, the language they speak, economic status, or geographic location. The longer we wait, the worse it gets. Read more...

Confirm Kathleen Sebelius

Mar 23, 2009 - [YouTube video] Read more...

Why Obama's Budget Matters

Mar 23, 2009 - The first step is making sure the President's budget gets the support it needs from leaders in Congress. His budget makes a huge down-payment on reforming healthcare this year, and toward erasing the disparities that have resulted in unequal care. We need to show our strong and unequivocal support for the Presidents budget. Already, Obama has done more to reform health care than George Bush did in eight years. Read more...

TN: Emergency Health Care Meetings Tomorrow

Mar 20, 2009 - We're organizing four emergency meetings tomorrow, March 21, to make a plan of action for how we can urge Tennessee Congressmen Jim Cooper and Bart Gordon to help pass President Obama's budget. Read more...

SEIU, CNA/NNOC Announce Transformative Agreement

Mar 19, 2009 - SEIU and the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) today announced the signing of a transformative cooperation agreement. The two unions will work together to organize hospital workers throughout the country who don't yet have a union voice, with CNA/NNOC as the leading voice for RNs, and SEIU as the leading voice for all other hospital workers. Read more...

SEIU, CNA/NNOC Announce Major Accord

Mar 19, 2009 - In a dramatic agreement likely to accelerate the drive to pass the Employee Free Choice Act and rapidly promote unionization in the healthcare sector, SEIU and CNA/NNOC today announced the signing of a transformative cooperation agreement. Read more...

Congress Needs to Hear From Us

Mar 18, 2009 - There are lots of lessons to be learned from previous attempts to fix health care - and a few critical mistakes that we cannot repeat. One of those mistakes is assuming that, just because a piece of legislation doesn't say "health care reform" in the title, it isn't critical to solving the crisis. Read more...

From Reno to Capitol Hill

Mar 18, 2009 - This week has been quite the whirlwind. I left my home in Reno to join coworkers from my hospital (and hundreds of other SEIU members from across the country) to talk to our elected officials in Washington, DC about the need for the Employee Free Choice Act, and why giving workers a voice will help get our country back on track. Read more...

SEIU Supports New Bill to Ease Debt for Nursing Students

Mar 13, 2009 - Iowa Congressman Tom Latham and Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin introduced a bill on Thursday aimed at easing the debt burden on nursing students and combating America's nursing shortage. Read more...

Ten Things You Should Know About the President's Budget

Mar 11, 2009 - President Obama recently unveiled his budget for getting America back on track - and it includes a significant downpayment toward fixing health care. As usual, opponents of reform are on the attack, attempting to turn our national discussion on health care into an uninformed, schoolyard brawl. Just check out Rep. Zach Wamp's recent appearance on MSNBC: Read more...

Cost of Doing Nothing

Mar 10, 2009 - Read more...

Poll: Voters Want a Public Health Insurance Plan

Mar 10, 2009 - The numbers are in. A recent poll conducted by Lake Research indicates that 73% of voters want to see a public health insurance option as part of health care reform in 2009. And guess what? It's smart fiscal policy, too. Read more...

Nurses Watch Obama's Address to Congress

Mar 10, 2009 - Read more...

New York Nurses Celebrate Landmark Legal Settlement

Mar 09, 2009 - Nurses in Albany, NY reached a settlement in a class action case with Northeast Health, a network which has seven locations throughout the region and provides care for approximately 175,000 people each year. The $1.25 million deal is the first settlement of five national lawsuits aimed at stopping hospitals from allegedly conspiring to depress nurse wages, with similar class-action lawsuits are moving forward in Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, and San Antonio. Read more...

Can My Boss Do That?

Mar 06, 2009 - When workers face job loss, they often don't know where to turn for answers. They may be improperly denied their last paycheck, not given the proper amount of notice, or told by their employer that they cannot collect unemployment benefits. New website "Can My Boss Do That" will act as an online clearinghouse to help people understand their rights and protections on a state-by-state basis. Read more...

SEIU in the White House

Mar 06, 2009 - Yesterday, Andy Stern, Anna Burger, and Dennis Rivera were back at the White House for the president's forum on health care. They were there to represent the two million SEIU members that have been fighting so hard for so long to see real changes in the health care system. Check out their video from the north gate. Read more...

White House Health Summit

Mar 05, 2009 - Today, President Obama hosted a one-day health forum at the White House to officially launch a discussion on how we can bring about meaningful change in health care. The 120 participants - Republicans, Democrats, insurance companies, labor, doctors and patient advocates, including SEIU's President Andy Stern, Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger and SEIU Healthcare chair Dennis Rivera - will be working together to offer up ideas for the best way to make reform happen. Read more...

Massachusetts Nursing Home Caregivers Overcome Union-Busting at Its Worst

Mar 04, 2009 - When executives at Northern Berkshire Healthcare received word that the nursing home staff at Massachusetts Sweet Brook Care Centers petitioned to join 1199SEIU in January, they wasted no time before launching an anti-organizing campaign. Their thinly veiled effort to strip caregivers of their voting rights didn't fool anyone--including the National Labor Relations Board, who issued its decision in favor of workers at Sweet Brook Nursing Home , ruling that the long term care workers will be eligible to vote in an upcoming union election. Read more...

Standing Up for Homecare Workers in Washington (Video)

Mar 04, 2009 - I attended a hearing at the Rayburn building about "Family Friendly Policies". A very brave woman named Rebia Mixon Clay told a very compelling and powerful story about the vicissitudes of she faces every day as a home health care Worker. Ms. Mixon Clay, was succinct, on point and eloquent. In a very personal and uplifting way she brought home the plight of many people in this country. Read more...

SEIU Homecare Member from Chicago Testifies for Family-Friendly Workplace Policies

Mar 03, 2009 - Today, Rebia Mixon Clay, a homecare worker from Chicago, testified before the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections about the need for Congress to enact family-friendly policies that make sound economic sense not only in good times, but during recessionary times as well. Read more...

Kathleen Sebelius Ready to Lead Healthcare Reform in 2009

Mar 02, 2009 - Read more...

SEIU's 'Top Choice' is Nominee

Mar 02, 2009 - Moments ago, President Obama announced his nomination of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. SEIU has deployed unprecedented resources and staff toward winning health care reform this year--and we're excited to have a proven advocate for quality, affordable care at the helm of Health and Human Services. Read more...

Los Angeles Healthcare Unity Rally

Mar 02, 2009 - On Thursday, Feb. 26--the same day the president's budget was presented to Congress--several hundred SEIU members from around the Los Angeles area rallied to support the president's vision to fix healthcare. The workers gathered outside SEIU UHW-W's Commerce office and were joined by congressional candidate Judy Chu. Read more...

Kathleen Sebelius Ready to Lead Healthcare Reform in 2009

Mar 02, 2009 - President Obama's appointment of Governor Kathleen Sebelius confirms his commitment to health care reform. This is yet another clear signal that this is the year to make quality, affordable health care for everyone a reality. Read more...

Speaker Pelosi: We Will Fix Health Care This Year

Feb 26, 2009 - Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was on the Rachel Maddow Show last night to discuss, among other things, the timeline for health care reform. Read more...

White House Budget Suggests "Health Care is a Go"

Feb 25, 2009 - Today, news reports suggest that the president intends to make a serious investment in fixing, once and for all, our broken health care system. According to the Associated Press, the White House budget includes $634 billion for health care over the course of 10 years. Read more...

Obama's Speech: A Health Care Milestone (Video)

Feb 24, 2009 - I just finished watching Obama's address to Congress with a group of SEIU nurses. I won't name names, but some of us have tears in our eyes right now. For us, this is a moment more than a decade in the making. When our movement started, having a president who would speak so honestly and passionately about the need to fix health care was something we dreamt about, but it was hard to imagine. Read more...

Community Members, Advocates and 1199SEIU Members Fight Queens Hospital Closings; Cuts to NY Healthcare

Feb 24, 2009 - Hundreds of healthcare workers, members of 1199SEIU and elected officials marched down Queens Boulevard on Saturday to rally against the imminent closures of two local hospitals: the Saint John's Queens Hospital in Elmhurst and Mary Immaculate Hospital in Jamaica. The two hospitals are in danger of shutting down after its operator, Caritas Healthcare, filed for bankruptcy and notified the two hospitals' 2,500 employees that both facilities would close their doors by the end of February. Read more...

SEIU Grassroots Lobbyist: Mike Kingsbury, RN

Feb 24, 2009 - Read more...

What Residency Looks Like: Announcing the Winners of CIR/SEIU's Photo Contest

Feb 24, 2009 - A picture is worth a thousand words, so CIR/SEIU Healthcare decided to hold their first-ever photo contest, asking for photos submissions taken by members representing what it's like to be a resident physician on any given day. Read more...

Why Healthcare Can't Wait

Feb 23, 2009 - "Through the years, there have been many issues where labor and business don't see eye to eye. Here's one where we firmly agree: the need to fix healthcare, now, not in spite of the economic crisis, but because of it. For this reason, we are proud to stand together with President Obama as he reinforces the urgency of health care reform in the State of the Union speech before Congress," SEIU's Andy Stern and Pfizer CEO Jeff Kindler write on The Huffington Post. Read more...

VIDEO: Health Care Dominates White House Fiscal Responsibility Summit

Feb 23, 2009 - The first-ever Fiscal Responsibility Summit took place on Monday at the White House. Advisors at the highest levels of the Obama administration hosted members of Congress as well as leaders from a wide range of organizations to discuss solutions to long-term fiscal challenges facing the nation. SEIU President Andy Stern and Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger were among the attendees at the event. Read more...

Members Speak Out at Oscar-eve Protest of MPTF Seniors' Home Closure

Feb 22, 2009 - More than 250 caregivers, members of the entertainment industry and family members of the facility's elderly residents gathered together outside an "The Night Before" Oscars' MPTF fund-raiser Saturday night at The Beverly Hills Hotel to protest the impending closure of the fund's long-term care facility. Read more...

VIDEO: My First Week in Washington DC with SEIU

Feb 20, 2009 - I've always been impressed with our nation's capitol. The huge buildings, sweeping landscapes, and grand stone staircases - it's all so big, it makes me a little disoriented and, gulp, small. But all those buildings are filled with people. And if there's anything I've learned as a nurse - people are people. We all eat and sleep and want to make the world a better place. Read more...

Thanking Members of Congress for SCHIP Support

Feb 20, 2009 - SEIU joined with several groups to launch a $10 million ad campaign to applaud Members of Congress for voting to expand and strengthen the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Read more...

New TV Ad Urges NY Gov. Paterson to Use Medicaid Stimulus Funds

Feb 19, 2009 - The Healthcare Education Project (HEP), a joint initiative of 1199SEIU and the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) has begun airing two new television ads urging Governor David Paterson to use a portion of the nearly $11 billion in Medicaid funding New York State will receive under the federal economic stimulus package to avoid massive health care cuts to hospitals, nursing homes, and home care. Read more...

Motion Picture Television Fund CEO named "World's Worst" as Silver Screen Seniors Face Eviction

Feb 19, 2009 - MSNBC's Keith Olbermann gave the Motion Picture Television Fund's president and chief executive Dr. David Tillman the title of "World's Worst" person last night, for closing the retirement home for film-industry employees for no good reason. Read more...

Sebelius Rumors Spur Buzz, Reactions

Feb 19, 2009 - Last night, the New York Times broke news that Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is President Obama's top pick for heading up the Health and Human Services agency. Gov. Sebelius brings significant experience to the role - serving for eight... Read more...

Children's Health Care 'Birthday' Ad

Feb 18, 2009 - [YouTube video] Read more...

Editorial Highlights Health Care Reform as Top Priority for State Stimulus Funds

Feb 18, 2009 - Keep Health Care Reform on Track is the title of a Boston Globe editorial that ran today urging the need to use economic stimulus funding to protect the state's healthcare safety net Read more...

Why Health Care Reform Can't Wait

Feb 17, 2009 - Fixing health care isn't just possible this year - it's absolutely necessary. Every day, people are losing their jobs and their health care. The swelling ranks of uninsured threaten to put more strain on state programs and push the entire system to the breaking point. Read more...

VIDEO: MSNBC Exposes Source of Health IT Smears

Feb 13, 2009 - Your efforts to uncover the misinformation campaign against health IT are gaining major traction in the mainstream media. MSNBC dug further into the smear tactics being used against health IT on last night's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann." Read more...

Celebrating Black History: special edition computer desktop wallpapers

Feb 12, 2009 - As part of SEIU's 12th annual celebration of Black History Month, our talented SEIU Creative Services team has designed four special-edition computer desktop wallpapers for use on your Mac or PC. Download them now and you can celebrate Black History Month all month at work or at home. Read more...

Update: Health Care Provisions in the Economic Recovery Act

Feb 12, 2009 - The Speaker of the House has released a report outlining the key points of the compromise the House and Senate have reached on the Economic Recovery Act. There's lots of good news for health care. Read more...

Introducing SEIU's Member Lobbyists

Feb 11, 2009 - Nine SEIU members and workers from key states across the country have relocated to Washington, DC for a three-month long stint as a grassroots lobbyist on Capitol Hill. Stay tuned for updates, as our members report to us on what they're hearing about health care, the Employee Free Choice Act and restoring economic strength to Main Street. Read more...

SEIU's Mary Kay Henry: "Equality is a Labor Value"

Feb 11, 2009 - "The fight for the freedom to marry is dear to me, for safeguarding my own partnership and for realizing the same goals of social and economic justice that we advance every day at SEIU and in the labor movement," writes SEIU's Mary Kay Henry today, in a blog post for Freedom to Marry Week. Read more...

Caregivers Defend Health IT

Feb 11, 2009 - Yesterday, we told you about Rush Limbaugh's rant against the measures to improve health IT in the Economic Recovery Act. Normally, Rush goes largely unnoticed by most of the general public. But his irresponsible comments about health IT have hit... Read more...

Caregivers Speak Out on Health IT

Feb 10, 2009 - Read more...

Limbaugh Doesn't Get IT

Feb 10, 2009 - Health care professionals nationwide are writing to their newspapers today to refute claims by Rush Limbaugh on two provisions in the stimulus package: comparative effectiveness research and health IT. Both are designed to provide health care professionals with objective, up-to-date information on treatments, tests and procedures available to them. Read more...

Labor Union and Major Health Care Agency Renew Groundbreaking National Agreement to Protect Workers, Health Care Options, and Critical Community Services

Feb 10, 2009 - SEIU and Addus HealthCare, Inc. today signed a renewed national agreement that will further improve home care for seniors and people with disabilities by covering 10,000 Addus HealthCare, Inc. workers in 11 states -- California, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Montana, Delaware and Washington. Read more...

What We Won for Kids' Health

Feb 05, 2009 - Yesterday, health care advocates nationwide celebrated a major victory for our movement. President Obama signed the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) into law. President Obama characterized the bill as a "down payment" on winning quality, affordable health care for all Americans, not just our children. Read more...

Senator Daschle's Resignation

Feb 03, 2009 - Sen. Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination today for Secretary of Health and Human Services. In a statement released by the White House, Sen. Daschle stated: "If 30 years of exposure to the challenges inherent in our system has taught me anything, it has taught me that this work will require a leader who can operate with the full faith of Congress and the American people, and without distraction. Right now, I am not that leader." Read more...

HCAN Poll: Americans are Ready for Reform

Feb 02, 2009 - Health Care for America Now, one of SEIU's partner coalitions released the results of a poll that shows broad public support for comprehensive health care reform. According to the poll, there is "intense and widespread voter support for the choice of a public health insurance plan as part of comprehensive, national health care reform." Read more...

Our Early Victory: By The Numbers

Feb 02, 2009 - Last week's reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program was touted by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers as an important first step to fix health care. It was our first glimpse of what happens when both parties come together around improving access to quality care. Read more...

On Heels of Senate SCHIP Vote, SEIU Calls On Congress to Keep Rebuilding the American Dream

Jan 29, 2009 - Today, Congress took a first and important step to rebuilding the American Dream," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger as Senators from both parties worked together to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). "We applaud the Senate for strengthening the children's health insurance program and ensuring no child must wait for care." Read more...

Our Job Is Just Beginning

Jan 29, 2009 - "Four Million Down, 40 Million to Go:" After three days of debate on a series of amendments to the bill, the Senate passed the bipartisan Children's Health Insurance Program on Jan. 29. This program will ensure that millions of children, many of whose parents have lost their employer-provided health care coverage through layoffs and cutbacks, will be able to receive doctor check-ups, dentist visits, and preventive care. Read more...

"Four Million Down, 40 Million to Go"
President Obama signs Children's Health Insurance Plan reauthorization

Jan 29, 2009 - Read more...

In 2008, More Than 88,000 Workers United in SEIU

Jan 29, 2009 - The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its annual union membership report yesterday that showed an increase in union membership nationwide for 2008 -- the largest growth rate on record since 1983. Growth in SEIU -- 88,926 members -- accounted for nearly 21 percent of the national growth. Read more...

Caring for the Caregivers - NY Times Editorial

Jan 28, 2009 - Informed by SEIU research and experience, a New York Times editorial this morning unfortunately reveals that one of the fastest-growing areas within the health care field - home care for the elderly - is also one of the lowest paid and most exploitable. Read more...

MEDIA ADVISORY for Jan. 29: Health Groups will Rally Hundreds to Restore Patient Services at Boston Medical Center, Cambridge Health Alliance

Jan 28, 2009 - On Thursday, January 29 at 4:00 p.m., a broad and rapidly growing coalition of health groups known as the Put Patients First coalition will rally hundreds of patients, caregivers, and advocates outside the Massachusetts State House. Read more...

1199SEIU and Boston-Area Allies Reach Historic New Accord to Improve Health Care for Community, Patients and Workers

Jan 28, 2009 - 1199SEIU, the Area Trades Council and Caritas Christi Health Care, the largest community based health system in Massachusetts, yesterday announced a historic and groundbreaking new accord ensuring fair union voting conditions for the system's employees when they are deciding whether to form unions. Read more...

Senate Poised to Vote on Children's Health Insurance

Jan 27, 2009 - Read more...

For Aliquippa Caregivers, Relief is On the Way

Jan 27, 2009 - Earlier today, we reported on a group of caregivers in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania who were fighting for weeks worth of unpaid wages from their former employer, Commonwealth Medical Center. State media outlets covered the story throughout the week, including this report... Read more...

Nurses, Caregivers Left Out in the Cold

Jan 27, 2009 - A story is brewing in southwestern Pennsylvania. There, in a little town called Aliquippa, PA, nurses, aides and other frontline caregivers have been denied weeks in backpay, after their employer--Commonwealth Medical Center--filed for bankruptcy and had its license revoked... Read more...

Kids' Health on the Line

Jan 26, 2009 - There is strong public support for SCHIP, and strong bipartisan consensus. Our kids are our future, and if there's one message that young voters and immigrant voters sent last November, it's that they are so over the tired appeals to categories and ideologies that divide us. SEIU President Andy Stern weighs in on the reauthorization and strengthening of the Children's Health Insurance Program on the National Journal - read it here. Read more...

Why Smart Investments Include Health IT

Jan 22, 2009 - This week, the National Journal asked health care advocates and experts to weigh in on the issue of health IT as part of the larger economic recovery package. Read Andy Stern's response here. Read more...

Obama Staffing Up, Calling Meetings for Health Care

Jan 22, 2009 - Politico reports that President Barack Obama plans to convene a White House working meeting to address the nation's health care system sometime in the late winter or early spring--the latest signal from the Obama Administration that health care will be a top priority in 2009. Read more...

Talking Health Care with Russell Simmons

Jan 21, 2009 - Read more...

Talking Health Care with Russell Simmons

Jan 18, 2009 - SEIU is here at the Sundance film festival with playwright, poet, actor and activist Sarah Jones, who is camped out in the Variety Lounge to discuss health care with filmmakers and celebrities. On Friday, Jones sat down for a few minutes with hip hop pioneer and philanthropist Russell Simmons to talk about fixing our broken health care system. Read more...

Fixing COBRA Cannot Wait

Jan 16, 2009 - With unemployment at a 16-year high, expect the ranks of the uninsured to swell, putting more strain on state programs that help those in need. COBRA - if made to work - can literally be a lifeline. Read more...

Manifest Hope: DC Online Contest Winners Selected for Inauguration Art Gallery

Jan 16, 2009 - SEIU partnered with Manifest Hope: DC, MoveOn PAC and Obey Giant to launch a nationwide online contest last month to gather the best artwork celebrating the grass roots campaign that helped elect Barack Obama as president. The 15 winning entries-- selected from a pool of over 1,000 submissions--have been announced. Read more...

Online Activist Report: Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization

Jan 15, 2009 - Yesterday, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 passed by an overwhelming margin. If you want to see how your representative voted, click here to see the vote report by state, as well as a breakdown of your online efforts through SEIU.org to get connected to your representative. Read more...

The First Step
House Passes Children's Health Insurance Plan

Jan 14, 2009 - Read more...

On Heels of Strong Bipartisan House Vote, SEIU Urges Senate to Vote Yes for Children's Health and Pass SCHIP

Jan 14, 2009 - "There is no time to waste. Strengthening the children's health insurance program offers a lifeline to families struggling to survive during this unprecedented economic downturn," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger as Democrats and Republicans came together in the U.S. House of Representatives to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Read more...

The First Step: House Passes Children's Health Insurance Plan

Jan 14, 2009 - I don't often get emotional when I watch C-SPAN, but I just saw something I've been waiting to see for two years. The U.S. House of Representatives, after receiving hundreds of your phone calls, passed the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009. Read more...

Unraveling the Arguments Against a Public Plan

Jan 13, 2009 - USA Today dove head first today into the increasingly crowded pool of newspapers who are taking a stand for fixing our nation's broken health care system. The paper examines one key piece of Obama's health care proposal--: offering a public plan that would compete with private insurers to provide the best services and benefits at a competitive cost to consumers. Read more...

Act Today for Children's Health Insurance

Jan 13, 2009 - Congress is getting ready to re-introduce a bill that would extend health insurance to more than 4 million children currently without coverage. Strengthening the children's health insurance program isn't just a victory for the 9 million kids who can't afford basic care; it's a huge win in the movement to fix health care for all Americans. Read more...

Make Calls for Children's Health Insurance

Jan 13, 2009 - Read more...

Member Voices: "Giving workers a hand on the wheel"

Jan 13, 2009 - Here's a great op-ed from an SEIU nurse about the free and fair election she and her coworkers had when they formed a union at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas thirteen years ago....and why their election process experience was a "special exception to a broken rule." Read more...

Divided We Fail Launches Next Phase of National Campaign to Fix America's Health and Economic Crises

Jan 13, 2009 - Today leaders of the country's top consumer, business and labor groups launched the next phase of Divided We Fail, a national movement to bring health and financial security to every American. Read more...

Change That Works: Video Chat with Andy Stern (Video Feature)

Jan 08, 2009 - SEIU has set aside $10 million to jumpstart Change That Works campaign efforts and will be mobilizing more than 1,000 members and staff to work full-time in 35 targeted states. Andy Stern joined a live video chat broadcast on Ustream with bloggers and activists to discuss the campaign at 4:00 p.m. yesterday. Read more...

New SEIU Television Ad Promotes Health Care Reform as Top Domestic Priority

Jan 08, 2009 - SEIU launched a new TV ad buy today about the importance of healthcare reform in regaining the economic prosperity of this nation. Read more...

Andy Stern on 'Early Victories' in Fixing Health Care

Jan 08, 2009 - This week, the National Journal invited key health care advocates and experts to respond to the following question: What early health care victories should President-elect Obama and Congress seek before Washington works on broad health care reform legislation? Read Andy Stern's response here. Read more...

Six Diverse Groups Unite in Nationwide Call for Health Care Reform as Key to Economic Reform

Jan 08, 2009 - Six organizations representing consumers, physicians, insurers, patients and pharmaceutical research companies are banding together to launch a new multi-million dollar national television advertising buy. Read more...

Tune In for Live Video Chat with Andy Stern

Jan 08, 2009 - Join us for our Change That Works campaign roll-out today at 4:00 p.m. EST. It is an opportunity to answer any questions you have for SEIU President Andy Stern, in a live video chat that will air on www.SEIU.org. You can submit your question right now by clicking here. [Read more] Read more...

New SEIU Ad: To Help the Economy, Fix Health Care

Jan 08, 2009 - Read more...

Reports From Your Health Care House Meetings

Jan 07, 2009 - The reports are coming back from your health care meetings, and can't be more impressed. From everything you've said, it looks like your meetings were substantive, full of ideas and expertise, and were a rousing success. We thought we'd share a small sampling of the ideas that you've submitted to us from your group discussions. Read more...

Your Health Care Meet-Ups: All Over The News

Dec 29, 2008 - Despite the busy holiday season, Americans throughout the country - from caregivers like nurses, doctors and pharmacists to ordinary health care consumers - have been gathering to hold their own health care meetings. You've brought your friends, your family, like-minded individuals, and even those who have different points of view together to share their ideas and input on health care reform that comes from the ground up. News report after news report has been gracing our inboxes over the holiday season - from national papers like the New York Times to small, local papers from your areas. Read more...

Reasons for Hope for the Uninsured

Dec 29, 2008 - This morning, the Philadelphia Inquirer published an editorial focusing on the uninsured and the incoming Obama Administration. The editorial board's conclusion? That "a can-do spirit and sense of urgency from a president-elect who wants 'change' are the best things America's uninsured have going for them." Read more...

SEIU's Health Care Discussion

Dec 23, 2008 - Read more...

New Poll Shows Widespread Support for SCHIP Expansion to Cover Legal Immigrant Children

Dec 23, 2008 - Encouraging news from a poll released yesterday, which shows that more than two-thirds of the public (82 percent) supports SCHIP renewal and for extending children's health benefits to legal immigrant children. Read more...

1199SEIU Website and Magazine Win National Labor Media Awards

Dec 22, 2008 - SEIU1199's Our Life and Times magazine and local union website www.1199seiu.org won a total of eight awards in this year's journalism contest of the International Labor Communications Association (ILCA). Read more...

Everyone Coming Together for Health Care House Meetings

Dec 18, 2008 - In addition to the nearly-250 SEIU discussions that have been scheduled, over 4,200 meetings have been scheduled nationwide. It's clear that the Obama team is trying to build some consensus among all parties. This makes it more than vital that caregivers like you attend these events. We're in the trenches every day, and our expertise absolutely needs to be heard. Read more...

SEIU Janitors and Business Leaders Unveil New Model for Making Health Care More Accessible And Affordable for Thousands of Low-wage Workers

Dec 17, 2008 - In a city where one in three residents live without health care, the unveiling today of a new clinic in Houston that will offer low-cost, quality care to over 5,300 of the area's commercial office janitors is an innovative step in the right direction. Read more...

Over 200 Health Care Meet-ups Scheduled And Counting

Dec 16, 2008 - Last week, we wrote about the opportunity for you to become a health care leader in your community by hosting a health care meet-up near you. Thursday, December 18th at 3pm EST, we'll be hosting a conference call for people who have signed up to be hosts. Read more...

Share Your Voice, Be a Health Care Leader in Your Community

Dec 15, 2008 - Beginning this week, SEIU health care professionals, leaders and members will hold discussions with the Obama transition team about making comprehensive, affordable health care a reality for everyone in America. Read more...

Long Island College Hospital Interns and Residents Win Vote to Join CIR/SEIU

Dec 15, 2008 - Last week, interns and residents at Long Island College Hospital (LICH) in Brooklyn, NY unanimously voted to join the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) of SEIU Healthcare. Resident physicians at LICH will work with CIR to ensure that vital services like maternity and pediatric care remain open. Read more...

Don't Overlook Dr. Lambrew, Today's "Other" Big Appointment

Dec 11, 2008 - There was much excitement today over Obama's nomination of Tom Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services and Director of the White House Office on Health Reform (as there should have been), but it overshadowed another very encouraging appointment -- Dr. Jeanne Lambrew as Deputy Director of the White House Office on Health Reform. Read more...

Daschle Officially Named as Next HHS Secretary

Dec 11, 2008 - President-elect Obama today officially nominated former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and Director of the White House's new Office on Health Reform. Read more...

Dr. L. Toni Lewis: Host a Health Care Meet-Up

Dec 10, 2008 - Read more...

Be a Health Care Leader in Your Community

Dec 10, 2008 - Read more...

VIDEO: Former Senator Tom Daschle Gives Major Healthcare Speech

Dec 10, 2008 - Sen. Tom Daschle, leader of President-Elect Obama's health policy team, is speaking live right now in Denver on fixing America's health care system, at the 2008 Colorado Health Care Summit. Watch and listen now. Read more...

Andy Stern: The Sensible Approach to Fixing Health Care

Dec 10, 2008 - Andy Stern weighed in this morning on the National Journal's health care blog. He talked about cutting through the argument between two extremes that has halted progress on health care reform and finding a middle ground solution that addresses the crisis head-on. Read more...

ER Caregivers: We're A Little Concerned, Here

Dec 08, 2008 - A new study funded by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality sought to measure how truly widespread the problems that face our emergency rooms are, seeking to measure ER caregivers' opinions on physical environment, staffing, inpatient coordination, and "information coordination and consultation." The results were far from a surprise... Read more...

Health Care Reform: We're Ready NOW

Dec 08, 2008 - Read more...

Join the Healthcare Debate at Change.gov

Dec 05, 2008 - Already, discussions have begun, including a growing health care debate at Change.gov, the Obama transition team's website. You and I know that for any health care initiative to truly succeed, nurses need to be included - and the Gallup poll proves it. Now's the perfect time to put our credibility to use. Each of us needs to lend our much-needed caregiver expertise to the discussion Read more...

Health Care Reform: We're Ready NOW

Dec 05, 2008 - Today, I heard the incoming Secretary of Health and Human Services talk about "word clouds" in a major policy speech. I saw the next presidential administration organizing online discussions and house parties instead of lobbyist luncheons and corporate fundraisers to... Read more...

Statement by SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera Pledging Support for Former Senator Daschle, Obama Transition Team Efforts to Fix Health Care

Dec 05, 2008 - We look forward to doing our part to promote this vital effort across the country. Read the entire statement from SEIU's Dennis Rivera now. Read more...

SEIU Healthcare Launches Online Version of Newsletter

Dec 04, 2008 - Current and past issues of SEIU Healthcare News are now available online. The newsletter is issued bi-weekly to keep SEIU, members, activists and friends informed of efforts around the country to deliver quality care to patients and give healthcare workers a voice on the job. Read more...

In Your Words: Fixing Health Care

Dec 04, 2008 - Last week, I told you about our opponents' latest low-road tactics in their fight to stop health care reform; and I invited you to shine a little light on their ploy by writing letters to your local newspapers. The response was amazing. Read more...

With 30-hour shifts, the doctor is ALWAYS in

Dec 04, 2008 - SEIU Healthcare members understand that long hours and little sleep are a dangerous fact of life for RNs and physicians alike. For years, we've worked to shine a light on the dangers of long hours to patient care and to the well-being of health care workers. A recent study by the Institute for Medicine (IOM) is a welcome addition to the advocacy work being done by CIR/SEIU Healthcare members to limit extended shifts for residents. Read more...

Addressing the Real Cost of Healthcare Reform

Dec 03, 2008 - "The failures of our current system are already costing us billions. If we do nothing and let health care continue on its current course, the cost would be greater than the cure," writes SEIU President Andy Stern yesterday on NationalJournal.com's Health Care Expert Blog. Read more...

SEIU Healthcare's Resident Physicians Comment on "Extended Shifts" Report

Dec 03, 2008 - In response to the Institute of Medicine report, "Resident Duty Hours: Enhancing Sleep, Supervision, and Safety," SEIU's Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) released a statement yesterday calling for stronger limits on extended resident work. Read more...

WaPo: 5 Myths About Our Ailing Health-Care System

Dec 02, 2008 - There's a great opinion piece in last Sunday's Washington Post that dispels 5 myths about America's health care system. Written by Shannon Brownlee and Ezekiel Emanuel (incidentally, the brother of incoming Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel), the article debunks... Read more...

Mission to Haiti, in my own words

Dec 01, 2008 - I'm from Haiti. I hadn't been there in a while. When I heard about this trip I knew I wanted to go to help, but I didn't really know what to expect. My family and my Haitian friends and co-workers... Read more...

Mission to Haiti, in my own words

Dec 01, 2008 - I've always had the luck to have what's necessary, to be able to share with others, and to feel thankful for everything and to give thanks to God. In early October, I received an email from our Union President, Monica,... Read more...

SPECIAL REPORT: Haiti Stole My Heart

Dec 01, 2008 - In light of the devastation in Haiti and the suffering of so many people in the aftermath of two hurricanes and two tropical storms, the Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare leaders made a decision to offer support. Two SEIU Healthcare Florida members volunteered to travel to Haiti on a healthcare mission - their stories are truly inspiring. Read more...

Snapshots of Our SEIU Healthcare Heroes

Dec 01, 2008 - There were thousands of SEIU Healthcare heroes that left their families and their jobs to join fellow members on the election trail. Here are just a few of their stories: Read more...

Missouri Homecare Workers Win Campaign to Improve Care at Home

Dec 01, 2008 - Homecare workers in Missouri are also celebrating an Election Day victory that gives them a new voice about their future. Read more...

Political Action: "Now is the Time to Pull up Our Sleeves"

Dec 01, 2008 - Those are the words of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW member Charlotte Anibas in a letter to the editor of the Seattle Times. She writes, "No matter if you voted for President-elect Barack Obama or Sen. John McCain, if you are a union member, small-business owner or retiree, we share one community. Read more...

A New Beginning for America's Working Families

Dec 01, 2008 - Time and time again, President-elect Obama inspired Americans with the phrase, "You are the people you have been waiting for." SEIU members took that message to heart and worked tirelessly this past election for our families, for our communities and for our future. Read more...

Add Your Voice for Change

Nov 26, 2008 - You've probably seen that Obama's transition team has launched a website, Change.gov, to stay in touch as they prepare to move into the White House. Yesterday evening, they launched a new section inviting citizens to weigh in on the state of health care in America. Read more...

Andy Stern Testifies Before Congress on Healthcare

Nov 25, 2008 - [youtube video] Read more...

Help Take Our Health Care Movement Public

Nov 25, 2008 - Read more...

Historic New Deal for 25,000 Massachusetts Home Care Workers to Improve Jobs; Boost Care

Nov 25, 2008 - Today, a new contract was finalized for 25,000 Massachusetts personal care attendants (PCAs) who will get a 15 percent pay raise, health insurance and paid sick time. Read more...

Here We Go Again

Nov 25, 2008 - You can hear the jaws dropping as people read James Pethokoukis' latest piece on health care in U.S. News' Capital Commerce blog. Pethokoukis takes partisan politics to a new level by urging Republicans to block any efforts by Obama (or any other Democrat) to fix health care. Read more...

SEIU Healthcare Minnesota Hospital Workers Stand up for Retirement Security & Health Benefits

Nov 24, 2008 - More than 200 SEIU Healthcare Minnesota members who work at Regina Medical Center begin a 2-day strike today in the face of proposed 50 percent cut to their pension and an increase in overall healthcare costs. Read more...

Former SEIU Political Leader Appointed as Obama's Political Director

Nov 21, 2008 - This afternoon, Patrick Gaspard was named the White House political director for President-elect Barack Obama. Gaspard served as national political director for much of Obama's general election campaign and was named associate personnel director for the transition effort. Read more...

1199SEIU Lawrence Hospital Workers Win 2nd Contract

Nov 20, 2008 - After more than a year of on and off negotiations, the 1199SEIU members at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, NY finally have a second contract. Read more...

Watch Now: Andy Stern Brings Your Voice to Congress

Nov 20, 2008 - Pointing to the combined impact of the health care and economic crises on the lives of working families nationwide, SEIU President Andy Stern called on President-Elect Barack Obama and key leaders in Washington yesterday to work together to address the nation's ailing health care system in the short-term. Read more...

Andy Stern Renews Call to Fix Nation's
Broken Health Care System

Nov 20, 2008 - Read more...

Former Senator Daschle to be Nominated for HHS Secretary

Nov 20, 2008 - Multiple news sources, including NBC News, are reporting that Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-ND) "has accepted President-elect Barack Obama's offer to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services," and will therefore be nominated to the position. In that role, Daschle would be in charge of the FDA, Medicare and Medicaid, among other programs. Read more...

SEIU President Andy Stern Addresses Health Care Activists

Nov 19, 2008 - Read more...

Andy Stern Testifying Today on Economics Of Health Care Reform

Nov 19, 2008 - SEIU President Andy Stern will be testifying at a congressional hearing on health care and the economy. He¹ll be using the comments submitted by members and activists to tell show Congress how deeply this is affecting people all across the country. Read more...

Help Andy Stern Bring Your Testimony to Congress to Fix Health Care NOW

Nov 18, 2008 - With pressure building to address the nation's ailing health care system, SEIU International President Andy Stern will offer testimony on the combined impact of the health care and economic crisis on working families and call for comprehensive health care reform at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 19. Read more...

SEIU President to Testify at Senate Hearing on Health Care Reform, Highlight Dual Impact of Health Care and Economic Crises on Working Families

Nov 18, 2008 - With pressure building to address the nation's ailing health care system, SEIU International President Andy Stern will offer testimony on the combined impact of the health care and economic crisis on working families and call for comprehensive health care reform at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance at 10AM Wednesday, November 19. Read more...

"Now is the time to roll up our sleeves..." Letter to the Editor from SEIU Healthcare Member

Nov 18, 2008 - "No matter if you voted for President-elect Barack Obama or Sen. John McCain, if you are a union member, small-business owner or retiree, we share one community. We need to play our part to help our elected leaders fulfill their campaign promises," writes SEIU Healthcare member Charlotte Anibas from Local 1199NW in a Seattle Times LTE. Read more...

Leading Massachusetts Physicians Voice Support for Free and Fair Union

Nov 17, 2008 - Free & Fair Elections = Quality Jobs, Quality Care Hospital workers across Boston are calling for free and fair union elections so they can have a voice in protecting patient care and improving jobs for working families. In an open... Read more...

SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera Addresses Links between Nation's Failing Economy, Ailing Healthcare System

Nov 16, 2008 - "We have a president who has promised to prioritize health care and improve the lives of workers. We have a Congress that has committed to providing economic relief for families--including affordable health insurance," wrote Dennis Rivera, SEIU Healthcare chair in The Hill's Congress Blog. Read more...

A Blueprint And A Call To Action For The Nation's Ailing Healthcare System

Nov 15, 2008 - "One week since the historic election that brought a sea change of hope and energy to our country, we're already getting a clear picture of what to expect from new leadership in Washington in 2009," writes SEIU Healthcare Chairman Dennis Rivera today on The Hill's Congress blog. Read more...

SEIU Canada: Comcare Home Care Workers Vote to Join Union

Nov 13, 2008 - Sudbury area home caregivers employed by Comcare Health Services voted overwhelmingly on November 10 to form a union, becoming members of SEIU Local 1 Canada. Read more...

SEIU, Coalition Partners Urge Health Care Overhaul

Nov 13, 2008 - SEIU and its Divided We Fail partners AARP, the Business Roundtable and the National Federation of Independent Businesses published an open letter to President-elect Barack Obama in USA Today this week, calling for comprehensive healthcare reform in the new administration's... Read more...

"How do you see the outcome of the presidential election changing the health care reform debate?"

Nov 12, 2008 - "This election showed that American workers are struggling with the rising cost of everything -- from food to fuel to housing to health care. They know that skyrocketing health costs are shrinking their paychecks, and if they lose their jobs they lose their health care." Read more...

SEIU Statement in Support of New Blueprint to Solve Health Care Crisis by Senator Max Baucus

Nov 12, 2008 - SEIU, the nation's largest labor union for health care workers, issued the following statement in support of the diagnosis of and prescription for mending our broken health care system released by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) today. Read more...

What We've Done - And What We Need to Do

Nov 12, 2008 - We did it. Together, we knocked doors, called voters, and helped move millions of Americans to the polls for President-Elect Barack Obama. While we celebrate, too many Americans still can't afford the most basic, life-saving health care for themselves and their families. Read more...

Putting Healthcare on the Map

Nov 07, 2008 - This week, we're celebrating. SEIU members, local and International staff across the country knocked on doors and called voters to help get out the vote and move millions of Americans to the polls to bring home victory for Barack Obama. Read more...

More "Why this Election Matters"

Oct 28, 2008 - "I'm a healthcare worker,first of all. I see people come into the emergency room because they have no other access to healthcare. Read more...

Politics Matters

Oct 28, 2008 - More than 3,000 SEIU members and staff have been working in battleground states - with tens of thousands volunteering on weekends and evenings. Read more...

Guess Who's Knocking: Pittsburgh, PA

Oct 28, 2008 - [youtube video] Read more...

PA Nurses, Direct Care Workers Win Big for Patients

Oct 28, 2008 - It took seven years, but earlier this month, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives joined their Senate colleagues in passing legislation against mandatory overtime for health caregivers Read more...

Why this Election Matters

Oct 28, 2008 - This election is really special. People are excited and positive about Barack Obama. But anything can happen here in Palm Beach County, as the whole world knows from the 2000 election. I've talked with traditionally Republican nurses who are for Obama because of his support for real healthcare reform and for good nursing legislation. Many are inspired for the first time. Read more...

Dear SEIU Healthcare Sisters and Brothers

Oct 28, 2008 - With only days to go before Election Day, SEIU Healthcare members are working together in cities and towns all across America to elect Barack Obama as our next president and ensure a pro-working family majority in our next Congress. Read more...

On the Ballot: Missouri Consumers and Homecare Workers Aiming for Quality Homecare

Oct 15, 2008 - When voters throughout Missouri go to the polls on November 4, they will not only be choosing a new president and a new Congress. Read more...

SEIU Healthcare New Jersey Members Vote to Join with 1199SEIU

Oct 15, 2008 - The members of SEIU Healthcare New Jersey have voted overwhelmingly to unite with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and its 300,000 members. The merger is effective immediately. Read more...

SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana: Homecare Workers Set National Standards for Help at Home Workers

Oct 15, 2008 - Nearly 5,000 members of SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana employed by Help At Home (HAH) will vote on a historic new contract that paves the way for thousands more Help At Home workers across the country to join the union. Read more...

SEIU Nevada RNs Settle Ground Breaking First Contract

Oct 15, 2008 - Registered nurses at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, NV recently reached a landmark tentative agreement with the hospital, establishing higher standards for quality patient care in Northern Nevada. Read more...

Mayo Clinic Workers Vote to Join SEIU Healthcare Minnesota

Oct 15, 2008 - Healthcare workers at four Minnesota hospitals, including three affiliated with the Mayo Clinic, voted resoundingly to merge with SEIU Healthcare Minnesota. The vote had the highest turnout in the history of UNITE HERE Local 21. Read more...

Renown Nurse Introduces Senator Obama at Reno Rally

Oct 15, 2008 - Lori Millard-Streeter, an SEIU RN at Renown Regional Medical Center, introduced Sen. Barack Obama last week at her alma mater, the University of Nevada-Reno, before more than 10,000 people. Read more...

The Facts About John McCain's Healthcare Plan

Oct 14, 2008 - [youtube video] Read more...

Pennsylvania RNs win mandatory overtime ban

Oct 10, 2008 - It's been seven years in the making, but on Wednesday, Pennsylvania state legislation against mandatory overtime for nurses and healthcare workers passed its last hurdle on its way to the Governor's desk. Read more...

Pennsylvania Nurses and Patients One Step Closer

Oct 08, 2008 - It's been seven years in the making, but on Wednesday, state legislation against mandatory overtime for nurses and healthcare workers passed its last hurdle on its way to the Governor's desk. Read more...

Vital Signs: Freda Blakerby, RN

Oct 08, 2008 - I became an LPN in 1983 and an RN in 1993. In 2003, at the age of 55, I became disabled by a genetic disease and lost my job. Read more...

SEIU DVD Exposes How McCain "Care" Leaves Seniors Behind

Oct 08, 2008 - More than 250,000 copies of the DVD "The Facts about John McCain's Health Care Plan" have been put in the hands of the nation's seniors in recent weeks, courtesy of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Read more...

Country First?

Oct 03, 2008 - [youtube video] Read more...

New Report Shows McCain Plan Would Take Away Health Benefits of 415,000 In Wisconsin

Oct 01, 2008 - A new report released today by the Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAPAF) shows that Senator John McCain's proposed health care plan would threaten the employer-based health benefits of 3.3 million people in Wisconsin and that as many as 415,000 people in the state could lose their health coverage. Read more...

HHS Report Details Nursing Home Violations; Nation's Largest Health Care Union Responds

Oct 01, 2008 - A report released Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finds that 94% of America's for-profit nursing homes have been cited for violating patient care standards. Read more...

New State-by-State Analyses: McCain Health Care Plan Would Hit Tens of Millions with Tax Increase, Force Others into Ranks of Uninsured

Sep 30, 2008 - A new series of state-level reports show presidential candidate John McCain's proposed health care plan would significantly raise taxes on tens of millions of working families while forcing millions of others to lose their employer-based health coverage. Read more...

NEW SEIU TELEVISION AD: Thelma Drake Is "Wrong for Veterans, Wrong For Virginia"

Sep 30, 2008 - A new television ad by SEIU details the multiple votes Congresswoman Thelma Drake has cast against improving health care for our nation's veterans, making the case that she is "Wrong for Veterans, Wrong for Virginia." Read more...

Healthcare Equality Project

Sep 26, 2008 - Read more...

Americans for Health Care

Sep 26, 2008 - Read more...

Nurses, Healthcare Workers Launch Massive Drive to Inform 1 Million Caregivers in Key States on Obama and McCain Healthcare Plans

Sep 24, 2008 - With women voters poised to play a pivotal role in the presidential election, a unique project of SEIU Healthcare will reach at least 1 million healthcare employees--a largely female workforce --through worker-to-worker communication on the candidates' views on healthcare issues. Read more...

Healthcare Rally at the DNC

Sep 24, 2008 - [youtube video] Read more...

Activists, Fired Worker Protest Poor Resident Care and Working Conditions at Atria Senior Living During Annual Senior Housing Conference (version 2)

Sep 23, 2008 - Activists protested poor resident care and working conditions at Atria Senior Living during the 18th Annual Conference of the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry (NIC) on Thurs., Sept. 11 at the swank Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers. Former Atria worker Jojo Adeyemi also attempted to meet with Atria CEO John Moore to voice his concerns directly to the man at the top. Read more...

Statement By SEIU International President Andy Stern On Dual Impact of the Banking and Health Care Crisis on Working Families

Sep 23, 2008 - SEIU International President Andy Stern issued the following statement today regarding the combined impact of the banking crisis and rising health care costs on the nation's working families: Read more...

SEIU To Host Screening of Brave New Films' "Diagnosis: Now!" At Washington HQ, 40+ House Parties Nationwide

Sep 23, 2008 - On Wednesday, September 24, SEIU will host a screening of Brave New Films' documentary titled "Diagnosis: Now!" at the health care union's headquarters in Washington, D.C., kicking off a series of screenings at house parties being hosted by SEIU locals across the country. Read more...

John McCain's Health Care Plan Based on Same Policies That Are Causing Wall Street Meltdown

Sep 22, 2008 - Every day, another financial institution shutters its doors. Over 600,000 thousand U.S. jobs have been lost so far this year. Gas, food, and health care prices are through the roof. The writing is on the wall: the American economy is teetering on the edge of collapse, and American families are paying the price. Read more...

Thousands Take Back Labor Day Outside GOP Convention

Sep 14, 2008 - excerpt Read more...

Activists, Fired Worker Protest Poor Resident Care and Working Conditions at Atria Senior Living During Annual Senior Housing Conference (version 1)

Sep 11, 2008 - Activists protested poor resident care and working conditions at Atria Senior Living during the 18th Annual Conference of the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry (NIC) on Thurs., Sept. 11 at the swank Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers. Read more...

Former US Labor Secretary Appointed Hearing Officer In Trusteeship of United Healthcare Workers-West

Sep 08, 2008 - The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today announced the selection of nationally respected labor expert and former US Labor Secretary Ray Marshall to act as outside hearing officer in the International's proposed trusteeship over its Oakland-based local, United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW-W). Read more...

Advocates Call for Congress to Stand Up to Profit-Hungry Nursing Homes and Protect Seniors

May 15, 2008 - The nation's largest healthcare workers' union testified before Chairman Stupak's (D-MI-1) House Energy & Commerce Oversight Subcommittee today, calling for Congress to stand up to the powerful and profit-hungry nursing home industry and pass legislation that would improve the quality of care by ensuring that residents and taxpayers know who owns nursing homes, who is responsible for care at them, and how taxpayer funds are being used. Read more...

OBAMA: CLEARLY THE PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE

May 06, 2008 - "Senator Obama's commanding win in North Carolina and close showing in Indiana means he is clearly the Democratic nominee for President,"said Anna Burger, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer. "We've had a long process and the outcome is now clear. The Democratic Party should come together to focus on winning in November." Read more...

SEIU Members Endorse Sen. Barack Obama

Feb 15, 2008 - Nurses, childcare workers, janitors and other service workers endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president today, calling him the candidate with the best vision, best plan and best strategy to lead the country to a new American Dream. Read more...

Congressional Leaders Schedule Hearings on Quality of Nursing Home Care

Nov 14, 2007 - The nation's largest healthcare workers' union applauded Congressional leaders for scheduling hearings on growing problems with nursing homes. Chairman Pete Stark's (D-CA-13) House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee will examine the effects of nursing home ownership on the quality of care, especially in light of Carlyle Group's takeover of Manor Care. Read more...

Congressional Leaders Schedule Hearings on Quality of Nursing Home Care

Nov 08, 2007 - The nation's largest healthcare workers' union applauded Congressional leaders for scheduling hearings on growing problems with nursing homes. Chairman Pete Stark's (D-CA-13) House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee will examine the effects of nursing home ownership on the quality of care, especially in light of Carlyle Group's takeover of Manor Care. Read more...

Statement from Dennis Rivera, Chair of SEIU Healthcare Regarding the Passing of Cheryl Johnson, RN, President of the United American Nurses, AFL- CIO

Oct 29, 2007 - Dennis Rivera, Chair of SEIU Healthcare, today issued the following statement regarding the Passing of Cheryl Johnson, RN, President of the United American Nurses, AFL- CIO: Read more...

SEIU Leaders Applaud House Passage of Children's Healthcare, Warn Bush Against Veto

Oct 26, 2007 - Leaders of the largest healthcare union in the nation today celebrated the House passage of SCHIP legislation that would provide health coverage for nearly 10 million uninsured children, and expressing outrage at President Bush's threat to once again veto the bill. Read more...

Hearings on Private Equity Ownership of Nursing Homes Open New Front for Embattled Buyout Industry

Oct 23, 2007 - The nation's largest healthcare workers union applauded U.S. Reps. John Dingell and Barney Frank today as they announced the first Congressional hearings on private equity ownership of nursing homes. The announcement today by the Chairmen of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the House Financial Services Committee is the latest move by Congressional leaders this month to hold private equity firms accountable for the care, staffing, and conditions at nursing homes they own. Read more...

SEIU Applauds Bipartisan Leadership of Sen. Finance Committee in Push for Greater Oversight of Private Equity Takeovers of Nursing Homes

Oct 18, 2007 - The nation's largest healthcare workers union applauded the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Finance Committee today as it took new steps to hold private equity firms accountable for the care, staffing, and conditions at nursing homes they own. Read more...

SEIU Leaders Denounce Failure To Override SCHIP Veto, Vow To Continue Fight For Children's Healthcare

Oct 18, 2007 - Leaders of the largest healthcare union in the nation today blasted Members of Congress who refused to override President Bush's SCHIP veto, and pledged to continue fighting to win healthcare for 10 million uninsured children. Read more...

MEDIA ADVISORY: SCHIP Vigil Tuesday, Oct. 16

Oct 15, 2007 - Hundreds of healthcare workers, parents, children, clergy, elected officials and concerned citizens will gather for a vigil near the Capitol this Tuesday, October 16, as part of a final push to win healthcare for nearly 10 million children. Read more...

SEIU Launches Nationwide Campaign For Kids' Healthcare

Oct 09, 2007 - Thousands of healthcare workers, parents, children, faith leaders, and concerned citizens will take to the streets in communities across the country this week as part of a nationwide effort to win healthcare for nearly 10 million children. Read more...

Statement from Dennis Rivera, Chair of SEIU Healthcare Regarding Bush's Veto of Children's Healthcare

Oct 03, 2007 - Dennis Rivera, Chair of SEIU Healthcare, the nation's largest union of health care workers, today issued the following statement regarding President Bush's veto of the bipartisan SCHIP legislation: Read more...

Kennedy Joins Children, SEIU Healthcare Workers to Deliver Message to Bush: One Million Americans Support Healthcare For 10 Million Kids

Oct 01, 2007 - Hundreds of SEIU healthcare workers, healthcare allies, and children marched to the White House today to deliver mail bags overflowing with petitions from one million Americans in support of health care for kids. Read more...