Construction Trades endorse H.R. 676


Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council Endorses H.R. 676

The Texas State Building & Construction Trades Council has endorsed HR 676, single payer health care legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

Council Executive Director Michael W. Cunningham said they made the endorsement because “…all of us in the organized construction trades have had to divert wage increases for the last few years to maintain our health benefit plans.  It is only right that everyone should have the access to health care just as our President, Vice President, Supreme Court Justices, Congressional Representatives…and yes, even incarcerated people in prison….”

The 13 member Executive Board of the Council is made up of officers from nine local building trades councils throughout Texas.

HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care.

HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

Here is a list of union organizations that have endorses HR 676:

State Federations of Labor

• Arizona AFL-CIO
• Arkansas AFL-CIO
• California AFL-CIO
• Connecticut AFL-CIO
• Delaware State AFL-CIO
• Florida AFL-CIO
• Indiana State AFL-CIO
• Iowa AFL-CIO
• Kentucky State AFL-CIO
• Maine State AFL-CIO
• Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO
• Minnesota AFL-CIO
• Missouri AFL-CIO
• North Carolina State AFL-CIO
• North Dakota AFL-CIO
• Ohio AFL-CIO
• Oregon AFL-CIO
• Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
• South Carolina State AFL-CIO
• South Dakota AFL-CIO
• Tennessee AFL-CIO
• Texas AFL-CIO
• Vermont State Labor Council AFL-CIO
• Washington State Labor Council
• West Virginia AFL-CIO
• Wisconsin State AFL-CIO
• Wyoming State AFL-CIO

National and International Labor Organizations

• Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA)
• American Postal Workers Union (APWU)
• California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
• Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU)
• Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)
• International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
• International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU)
• National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
• National Education Association (NEA)
• Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
• Phillip Randolph Institute, Detroit, MI
• United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States & Canada (UA)
• United Automobile Workers (UAW)
• United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (UE), Pittsburgh, PA

State, Regional, and Local Labor Organizations

• Albany Central Federation of Labor, Albany, NY
• Allegheny County Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Pittsburgh, PA
• Amalgamated Lithographers of America, Graphic Communications
• Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, Washington, DC
• Conference/International Brother of Teamsters (GCC/IBT), Local 1L, New Jersey
• Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Local 825, River Edge, NJ
• Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1589, Long Beach, CA
• American Federation of Government Employees Local 2028, Pittsburgh, PA
• American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 2779, Gainesville, FL
• American Federation of Musicians (AFM), Local 1000, New York, NY
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 212, Milwaukee, WI
• American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), District Council 5, St. Paul, Minnesota
• American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), District Council 37, New York City, NY
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 62, Indiana and Kentucky
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 1549, New York, NY
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 2629, Louisville, KY
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Retiree Chapter 36, Los Angeles, CA
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Retiree Chapter 1184, Sub-Chapter 109, Northwest Ohio
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Retired Public Employees’ Council of Washington, Chapter 10
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Retirees Association of District Council 37, New York, NY
• American Federation of Teachers, Local 2334, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY, New York City, NY
• American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), Chicago/Midwest Region
• Ashtabula AFL-CIO Labor Council, Ashtabula, OH
• Ashtabula AFL-CIO Retiree Council, Ashtabula, OH
• Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local Lodge 794, Albuquerque, NM
• Association of Musicians of Greater New York, AFM Local 802, New York, NY
• Austin Central Labor Council, Austin, Texas
• Beaver-Lawrence Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Beaver, PA
• Bergen County Central Trades & Labor Council, Paramus, NJ
• Big Sky Central Labor Council, Helena, MT
• Boulder Area Labor Council, Boulder, CO
• Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), Division 4, Rail Conference, IBT, Toledo, OH
• Building and Construction Trades Council of St. Louis, AFL-CIO, St. Louis, MO
• Burlington County Central Labor Union, Riverside, NJ
• Butler County United Labor Council, Butler, PA
• California State Pipe Trades Council, United Association, AFL-CIO, Sacramento, CA
• Capital District Area Labor Federation, Albany, NY
• Central Connecticut Labor Council, Meriden, CT
• Central Maine Labor Council, Waterville, ME
• Central New Mexico Labor Council, Albuquerque, NM
• Central New York Labor Council, Utica, NY
• Central Ohio Labor Council, Columbus, OH
• Central Trades & Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Cape Girardeau, MO
• Champlain Valley Labor Council, Burlington, VT
• Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board, UNITE HERE, Chicago, IL
• Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council, Cincinnati, OH
• Cleveland AFL-CIO Federation of Labor, Cleveland, OH
• Cleveland AFL-CIO Retiree Council, Cleveland, OH
• Cleveland Painters District Council 6 Retiree Council, Cleveland, OH
• Committee of Presidents, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
• Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 1120, Poughkeepsie, NY
• Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 1180, New York, NY
• Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 2222, Annandale, VA
• Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 3106, Jacksonville, FL
• Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 3310, Louisville, KY
• Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 6355, Missouri State Workers Union
• Community Action Program (CAP), 3rd & 4th Areas, (UAW), Kentucky,
• Community Action Program (CAP), (UAW), Southern Indiana, Local 619, Louisville, KY
• Connecticut State Council of Machinists of the IAMAW, CT
• CIRSU, New York, NY
• Dayton, Springfield, Sidney, Miami Valley AFL-CIO Regional Labor Council, Dayton, OH
• Duluth (Minnesota) AFL-CIO Central Labor Body
• Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (IBEW)
• Essex-West Hudson Labor Council AFL-CIO, Newark, NJ
• Florida State Alliance for Retired Americans, Lodge 721, IAM, Jacksonville, FL
• Graphic Communications Conference, GCC/IBT, Local 546M, Cleveland, OH
• Greater Bangor Area Central Labor Council, Bangor, ME
• Greater Glens Falls Central Labor Council, Glens Falls, NY, Warren, Washington, Hamilton, and Northern Saratoga Counties
• Greater Green Bay Labor Council, Green Bay, WI
• Greater Hartford Central Labor Council, Hartford, CT
• Greater Lansing Labor Council, Lansing, MI, Feb. 7, 2007
• Greater Louisville Building & Construction Trades Council, Louisville, KY
• Greater Louisville Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Louisville, KY, April 2006.
• Greater Madison County Federation of Labor, Granite City, IL
• Greater St. Louis Labor Council, AFL-CIO, St. Louis, Missouri
• Greater Westmoreland County Labor Council, Greensburg, PA
• Harrisburg Region Central Labor Council, Harrisburg, PA
• Hawkeye Labor Council, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Hudson County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Jersey City, NJ
• Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation, Newburgh, NY
• Independent State Store Union (ISSU) Harrisburg, PA
• International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE), Local 477, Miami, FL
• International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE), Local 524, Glen Falls-Saratoga, NY
• International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE), New York City, Westchester and Putnam Counties
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), Washington State Machinist Council, District 160, Seattle, WA
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), CANEL Lodge 700 Pratt & Whitney, Higganum, CT
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), District 26, Connecticut & Rhode Island
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), District Lodge 34, Columbus, OH
• International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), District Lodge 112, Jacksonville, FL
• International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), Local Lodge 141, representing airline workers at Northwest, United, Southwest, and Alaska. Detroit, MI
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), Local Lodge 621, Ashland, WI
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), Greyhound Lodge 759, Jacksonville, FL
• International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), Local Lodge 956 Archbold, OH
• International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), Pittsburgh Airman Lodge 1044, Pittsburgh, PA
• International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), Lodge 1145, Selkirk and DeWitt, NY
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), Local Lodge 1502, Superior, WI
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2313, Hanover, MA
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2222, Boston, MA. Representing 4000 Verizon workers in the Greater Boston area.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2320, Manchester, NH
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2321, North Andover, MA
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2322, Middleboro, MA
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2323, Cranston, RI
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2324, Springfield, MA
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2325, Northborough, MA
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2326, Essex Junction, VT
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 2327, Augusta, ME
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), Local 559, South Windsor, CT
• International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 17, Seattle, WA
• International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 194, Milltown, NJ
• International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 547, Detroit, MI
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), District Council 1, Denver, CO
• International Union of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 4, Cheektowaga, NY
• Jackson/Hillsdale Counties Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Jackson, MI
• Jefferson County Teachers’ Association (NEA), Louisville, KY
• Kentucky Jobs with Justice, Louisville, KY
• Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), Local 327, August, ME
• Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 576, Louisville, KY
• Laborers’ International Union of North American Retirees’ Council (LIUNA), Local 576, Louisville, KY
• Lorain County AFL-CIO Federation of Labor, Lorain, OH
• Maine Council of United Steelworkers (USW)
• Maine State Building & Construction Trades Council, Clinton, ME
• Massachusetts Nurses Association, Quincy, MA
• Massachusetts State CAP Council, United Auto Workers (UAW)
• Mercer County Central Labor Council, Mercer County, NJ
• Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO Central Labor Council
• Michigan State Association of Letter Carriers, MSALC, NALC
• Michigan State AFL-CIO Women's Council
• Middlesex County AFL-CIO Labor Council, North Brunswick, NJ
• Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE), St Paul, MN
• Missouri Nurses Association (MONA), District 3, St. Louis, MO
• Monongalia-Preston Labor Council, Morgantown, WV
• Monroe/Lenawee County AFL-CIO Council, Monroe, MI
• National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET)/Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 21, Albany, NY
• National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Branch 82, Portland, OR
• National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Branch 84, Pittsburgh, PA
• National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Branch 104, Lawrence, KS
• National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Branch 3126, Royal Oak, MI.
• New Jersey State Industrial Union Council, Edison, NJ
• New York Professional Nurses Union (NYPNU), New York, NY
• New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), New York
• North Bay Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Santa Rosa, CA
• North Central Florida Central Labor Council, Gainesville, FL
• North Florida Central Labor Council, Jacksonville, FL
• Northeast Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Franklin, Clinton, & Essex Counties, Plattsburgh, NY
• Northeastern Oklahoma Central Labor Council, Tulsa, OK
• Northern Kentucky Central Labor Council, Covington, KY
• Northern Virginia Central Labor Council, Annandale, VA
• Northwest Indiana Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Hammond, IN
• North West Washington Central Labor Council, Bellingham, WA
• Nurses Professional Organization (CNA/NNOC), Louisville, KY
• Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA)
• Ohio State Legislative Board, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET)
• Ohio Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR)
• Organization of Staff Analysts (OSA/RT), New York, NY
• Palm Beach-Treasure Coast AFL-CIO, Riviera Beach, FL
• Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical, Energy International Union (PACE) Local 5-2002, Louisville, KY
• Passaic Central Labor Council, Clifton, NJ
• Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP), Conshohocken, PA
• Philadelphia Chapter, Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), Philadelphia, PA
• Pierce County Central Labor Council, Tacoma, WA
• Pima Area Labor Federation, Tucson, AZ
• Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council, Springfield, MS
• Pittsburgh Chapter, Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), Pittsburgh, PA
• Plumbers and Pipefitters, United Association, Local 9, Englishtown, NJ
• Plumbers and Pipefitters, United Association, Local 409, San Luis Obispo, CA
• Plumbers and Steamfitters HVAC, Local 188, United Association, Savannah, GA.
• Plumbers, Steamfitters, and Refrigeration Fitters, Local 393, San Jose, CA.
• Professional, Scientific and Technical employees at the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
• PEF/encon Albany Steward Council (Public Employees Federation/encon)
• Retirees Council, Bergen County Central Trades and Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Paramus, NJ
• Rochester and Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, Rochester, NY
• Rochester and Vicinity Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Rochester, NY
• St. Joe Valley Project Jobs with Justice, South Bend, IN
• San Antonio AFL-CIO Council, San Antonio, TX
• San Bernardino/Riverside Counties Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Riverside, CA
• San Francisco Central Labor Council, San Francisco, CA
• San Francisco Web Pressmen & Prepress Workers Union Local 4N
• San Mateo County Central Labor Council, Foster City, CA
• Santa Clara & San Benito Counties Building & Construction Trades Council, San Jose, CA
• Savannah Regional Central Labor Council, Savannah, GA
• Service Employees International Union, District 1199P, Harrisburg, PA
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 3, Pittsburgh, PA
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 73, Chicago, IL
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 668, Harrisburg, PA
• Sheet Metal Workers, Local 36, St. Louis, Missouri
• Smith County Central Labor Council, Tyler, TX
• Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, Albany, NY
• South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, San Jose, CA
• South Central Federation of Labor, Madison, Wisconsin
• Southeast Missouri Building and Construction Trades Council, Cape Girardeau, MO
• Southern Dakota County Labor Council, Apple Valley, MN
• Southern Iowa Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Ottumwa, IA
• Southern Maine Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Portland, ME Oct. 4, 2006
• Southwestern District Labor Council, Huntington, WV
• Southwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council, Collinsville, IL
• Steelworker Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter 9-36 F 5, Cape Coral, FL
• Steelworker Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter 9-ABG 1, Kingsport, TN
• Steelworker Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter 9-UR 1, Harvest, AL
• Steelworker Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter 9-UR 7, Hickman, KY
• Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR), Chapter 11-3, St. Louis, MO.
• Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR), Chapter 20-20, Aliquippa, PA
• Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter 30-18, Plymouth, Indiana
• Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter 31-9, Chicago, IL
• Steelworker Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter 36-1, Gadsden, AL
• Steelworker Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter 36-2, Gardendale, AL
• Steelworker Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter Local 200 Retirees, Iuka, MS
• Theatrical Protective Union (TPU) Local One
• Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) Austin, TX
• Texas State Employees Union/Communications Workers of America, (TSEU/CWA), Local 6186, Austin, TX, September, 2006
• Toledo Area AFL-CIO Council, Toledo, OH
• Toledo Area Jobs with Justice, Toledo, OH
• Transport Workers Union (TWU), Local 264, New York, NY
• Transport Workers Union (TWU), Local 561, Virginia Gardens, FL
• Tri-County Council of Labor, AFL-CIO, Henderson, KY
• Troy Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Troy, NY
• Unified Union Partners
• United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing Plumbers and Pipe Fitting Industry (UA), Local Union 17, Memphis, TN
• United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry (UA), Local Union 295, Daytona Beach, FL
• United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, Plumbers, Pipefitters and Service Technicians Local 502, Louisville, KY
• United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters (UAPS), Local 50, Northwood, OH
• United Association of Plumbers & Steamfitters (UAPS), Local Union 136, Evansville, IN
• United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 630, West Palm Beach, FL
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 544, Fisher Body, West Mifflin, PA
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 848, Retirees Club, Grand Prairie, TX
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 862, Louisville, KY
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 909, Detroit, MI
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 1155, Birmingham, AL
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local Union 1183, Newark, DE
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 2164, Bowling Green, KY
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 2320, Chicago, IL
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 2322, Holyoke, Massachusetts
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 6000, Michigan State Employees, Lansing, MI
• United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 6000, State of Michigan Employees, Region 1A, Retiree Chapter
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC), Local 28, Missoula, MT
• United Electrical Workers, Local 506, Erie, PA
• United Healthcare Workers East (SEIU), 1199, MD, DC, NY State, MA, New York, NY
• United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU), Oakland, CA
• United Labor Council of Reading and Berks County, Reading, PA
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 675, Carson, CA
• United Steelworkers (USW), District 7, Sub-District 1, Chicago, IL
• United Steelworkers (USW), District 7, Sub-District 4, Northern Indiana
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 2-591, Riverview, MI
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local Union 176, Rochester, MI
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 196, Trenton, MI
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local Union 314, Detroit, MI
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local Union 389, Detroit, MI
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 829, Owosso, MI
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 995, Follansbee, WV
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 12-593, Magna, UT
• United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1375, Warren, OH
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 1636, Aurora, IL
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 1693, Louisville, KY
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 1899, Granite City, IL
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local Union 2659, Southgate, MI
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 5668, Ravenswood, WV
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 6787, Burns Harbor, IN
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 8498, Winston-Salem, NC
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local Union 9491, Hamburg, MI
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 9777, Bridgeview, IL
• United Steelworkers (USW), Local 12775, Portage, Indiana
• United Steelworkers (USW), Region X Spring Conference, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota
• United Steelworkers (USW), Regional Council, District 12, Reno NV
• United University Professions, Local 2190 AFT, New York State United Teachers, Albany, NY
• Utah Jobs With Justice (JwJ)
• Wabash Valley Central Labor Council, Terre Haute, IN, Sep. 20, 2006
• Washington Alliance of Technology Workers (WashTech), (CWA), Local 37083, Seattle, WA
• Washington County Central Labor Council, Kewaskum, Slinger, Fond du Lac, WI
• Washington-Orange-Lamoille Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Montpelier, VT
• Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans
• Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, Olympia, WA
• West Central Florida Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Tampa, FL, Oct. 3, 2006
• West Virginia Brooke-Hancock Central Labor Council, Newell, WV
• Western Connecticut Central Labor Council, Waterbury, CT
• Western Kentucky AFL-CIO Area Council, Paducah, KY
• Western Maine Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Lewiston, ME
• Western Maryland Central Labor Council, Cumberland, MD
• Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation of Central Kansas, Wichita, KS
• White River Central Labor Council, Bloomington, IN

HR 676 currently has 90 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. Co-sponsors and listed here.  Bill text is here.