Laborers Local 483 PAC

From the AFL-CIO update

Forty-seven artists.

Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony award winners and nominees.

Sitcom stars, character actors, musicians, comedians and Broadway performers.

All union members.

All support the Employee Free Choice Act and say so in this new video.

People associate actors with fame and glory. The truth is for a long time my union contract was the reason I could support my family. That’s why I support the Employee Free Choice Act, because each worker, regardless of their field, deserves the freedom to bargain for a contract, for a better life.
– Actress Amy Brenneman

As the performers say, this is not a red state issue. This is not a blue state issue. It’s a workers’ issue.

It’s time for Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. It’s time the economy worked for everyone.

I’ve belonged to three unions in my life, and every one gave me the freedom to bargain with my co-workers for decent hours, benefits and safe conditions. If all workers don’t have the freedom to form unions, I don’t see how we can fix our economy.
– Actor and comedian Jerry Stiller

Watch the video. Share it with your family and friends. Together, we can make America’s economy work for working people.

In solidarity,

Marc Laitin
AFL-CIO Online Mobilization Coordinator

P.S. You really should check out this video. It’s an amazing collection of artists who have come together in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. Check it out today.

P.P.S. A special shout out to all the actors, musicians, editors, writers and crew members who made this video possible, including members of the following unions:

• Actors’ Equity Association
• American Federation of Musicians
• American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)
• Directors Guild of America (DGA)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE)
• Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
• Writers Guild of America, East
• Writers Guild of America, West

Click here for a full list of performers and their bios.

At our last general membership meeting brothers and sisters of local 483 voted to endorse single payer health care in the form of HR 676 “the United States National Health Insurance Act”. This single piece of legislation would do more for working families than the trillions of dollars congress has handed to corporate America. Some facts and background.

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

HR 676 would cover every person 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, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable
medical equipment, palliative care, and long term care.

HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments and saves hundreds of billions by eliminating the private health insurance industry with its high overhead and profits.

For years the voices of single payer advocates and supporters have been shouted down by insurance companies and politicians willing to support a corrupt system. Now a grass roots movement is growing all over our country that will not be dismissed or marginalized. Nurses unions and physicians are among the millions of Americans leading the call for this reform.

Now that Local 483 has joined this cause we must work to make the dream a reality. Emails and letters are important but the most affective tool we have available is our voice, call your representative and tell them you want/expect that they will support the needs of working people before insurance companies and corporate profits by advocating HR 676. Tell your family, friends and co-workers to do the same and keep calling until you hear that the support has been committed!

Local or toll-free telephone numbers of Oregon’s US Representatives:

District 1, David Wu (D): 503-326-2901 (Portland)

District 2

Greg Walden (R): 541-389-4408 (Bend), 541-624-2400 (La Grande), 541-776-4646 (Medford)

District 3, Earl Blumenauer (D): 503-231-2300 (Portland)

District 4, Peter De Fazio (D): 1-800-944-9603 (Toll-free)

District 5, Kurt Schrader (D): 1-877-301-5878 (Toll-free)

The struggle to keep our members working must be creative and far sighted. Any money the city of Portland can save could mean a job. HR 676 could put millions back into the public coffers and has the added bonus of saving individuals money while providing health care. It’s worth fighting for.

The desperate economic crisis our country in now facing is not the first and hopefully will not prove the worst yet experienced. History has valuable lessons to offer and if we are to make significant changes for the majority of the population and not just a wealthy elite we must employ the knowledge of the past.

On January 11, 1944 as the United States emerged from the ravages of the Great Depression and World War II, president Franklin D. Roosevelt speaking to congress proposed a second Bill of Rights:

“In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity may be established for all-regardless of station, race, or creed. Among these are:

“The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries, or shops or farms or mines of the Nation”;

“The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation”;

“The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living”;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad”;

“The right of every family to a decent home”;

“The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health”;

“The right to adequate protection from economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment”;

“The right to a good education”

The majority of working Americans do not enjoy these rights more than 60 years later and and so we must continue the struggle.

Thanks for checking out the 483 PAC website. Hopefully each time you return you will see something new or inspiring. Our goal is to give voice to our members concerns and give people a chance to become involved. It’s a work in progress so be patient and let us know if you have ideas or opportunities you want to share.

Check out the about page for what we have so far.