Why being in a union makes you more likely to have health insurance; H1N1 sick leave bill introduced, and news from around SEIU locals in Michigan, California and New York.

42,000 MI Home Care Workers Win Raise In Tough Budget Year: After months of activism and lobby days at the state capitol in Lansing, home care members of SEIU Healthcare Michigan won a significant victory yesterday. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm signed a budget yesterday that provides a $0.50 raise across the board for all workers who provide care through the Home Help program.

The Face of Furloughs: After working for the state of California for over 30 years, SEIU Local 1000 member Renee Lee is speaking out about her fight to save her home. Joining thousands of CA state employees who have suffered the brunt of the state's economic crisis, the mandated time off w/out pay have decreased her monthly salary by over $450 per month and left her home in jeopardy. Watch the full video by CBS KOVR in Sacramento.

Faith Leaders in LA Turn Up Heat on Healthcare: In an event yesterday organized by SEIU, African American faith leaders made hundreds of calls to urge Congress to get healthcare reform done. Using SEIU's "faith line," leaders from across the community spoke out about the need for affordable healthcare for some of the community's most vulnerable members. Watch full story on Fox 11:

Union Members 25 Percent More Likely to Have Health Insurance: Today, a new report by the Employee Benefit Research Group shows that unionized workers are 25 percent more likely to have employee-paid health insurance. According to the report, "in September 2007, 83 percent of union workers were covered by health benefits through their own job, compared with 58 percent of nonunion workers." Read the report here.

H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick Leave Bill Finally Here: Rep. George Miller (D-CA) and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) announced emergency temporary legislation today that will guarantee five paid sick days for a worker sent home or instructed to stay home by their employer for a contagious illness like the H1N1 flu virus. Next steps: According to Reuters, the House Ed & Labor Committee will hold a hearing on the legislation the week of November 16.

Accountability for NY State Home Care Industry: 1199SEIU UHW-E has launched a new website, HomeCareCrisis.org, as the first step in campaign to shine light on the economics of the home care industry. For example...Medicaid pays about $19 per hour for in-home care. Yet caregivers frequently receive as little as $7.50 per hour w/ no affordable healthcare benefits or paid time off.

Do you know a home care agency worthy of 1199SEIU's home care industry Hall of Shame? Nominate them here.

Turning States Purple on Election Day: Down to the wire, purple canvassers are out in force this Election Day--turning out the vote in key races in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Virginia and Texas. Stay tuned tomorrow as we report on the where and how our members helped make the difference.

Got news? Share it with us for SEIU's Blog by emailing us at newmedia[at]seiu[dot]org.

Patients, Caregivers, Hospitals, Neighborhood Advocates, Unions Unite in Asking Gov. Patrick to Put Patients First; Use Federal Relief Funds to Restore Care at "Safety-Net" Hospitals

BOSTON - 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. The rally is expected to be the largest demonstration on a public health policy issue since health reform legislation passed and since Governor Deval Patrick took office in November 2006.

The groups are asking Governor Patrick to restore patient services that were recently eliminated in a series of drastic funding cuts to Boston Medical Center and Cambridge Health Alliance.

The advocates say the Governor should use anticipated federal relief money to restore services at the two health networks which serve a disproportionate number of uninsured and under-insured patients. The recent "safety-net" health care funding cuts by Governor Patrick exceeded the cuts called for under Chapter 58, the law governing Massachusetts health care reform, and could financially devastate care delivery and patient services at the hospitals and clinics that low-income and minority neighborhoods depend upon the most.

WHO: Hundreds of health workers, patients, community members, and advocates united in the Put Patients First coalition.

WHEN: Thursday, January 29, 2009, 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Boston Common in front of the Massachusetts State House

WHY / MORE INFORMATION: A growing number of community organizations are asking the Patrick administration to ensure anticipated federal relief funding is directed to restoring the vital services that Boston Medical Center and Cambridge Health Alliance provide to low-income and minority residents.

The Put Patients First coalition has expanded rapidly in short time to unite a broad range of Massachusetts health, grassroots, and community advocacy organizations, in addition to the threatened safety-net hospitals. Other organizations who have joined include 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Health Care for All, ACORN, Neighbor to Neighbor, and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, among dozens of others (see full list of coalition members below).

Based on recent reports from the House Committee on Appropriations, it is expected that an upcoming federal stimulus package could include upwards of $87 billion in aid to states intended specifically to increase, through the end of FY 2010, the share of Medicaid costs for which the federal government reimburses states, and provide other forms of relief for health care delivery. A similar approach was used in previous recessions to prevent or restore cuts to health services to meet the increasing demands at times when state revenues were declining.

Members of the Put Patients First coalition have raised concerns that the Patrick administration may divert all or part of the funds designated for Medicaid relief to other non-Medicaid purposes. The Governor was reported to have said in late December that the federal Medicaid relief could be, "displaced for other needs."
Put Patients First coalition members have pointed out that such a diversion of funds would be devastating for low-income patient services at a time when the nation is looking towards Massachusetts for leadership on health reform.

Put Patients First is a coalition of over forty-five community and health organizations advocating for protection of patient access and services at community safety-net hospitals. Members of the coalition include 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, ACORN, Aids Action Committee of Massachusetts, American Stroke Association, Artists Foundation, Boston Center for Independent Living, Boston HealthNet, Codman Square Health Center, Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU, Community Labor United, Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Ethos, Geiger Gibson Community Health Center, Greater Boston Labor Council, Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center, Harbor Health Services, Health Law Advocates, Healthcare for All, Immigrant Service Providers Group/Health, Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion, Jobs With Justice, Joint Committee for Children's Health Care in Everett, MA League of Community Health Ctrs, Manet Community Health Center, Mass Association of Community Health Workers, Mass Health Council, Mass Law Reform Institute, Massachusetts Communities Action Network, Massachusetts Senior Action Council, Mattapan Community Health Center, MIRA, National Association of Social Workers, Neighbor to Neighbor, Neponset Health Center, Partners Healthcare, Project Right, Public Policy Institute, Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center, SEIU 509, SEIU 615, Somerville/Cambridge Elder Services, South Boston Community Health Center, South End Community Health Center, Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc., and the Whittier Street Health Center.