Using Political Action

Hablando con los Miembros sobre Medicare para Todos

Bill Haywood, un Delegado de UE Local 814, estaba consiguiendo firmas para una petición en apoyo a un proyecto de ley de “Medicare para Todos” en el Congreso cuando confrontó algunos problemas. Se acercó a Lois, la presidenta de la unión, “Lois, necesito más datos. Mucha gente esta quejando de lo caro que es nuestro seguro médico pero tienen preguntas acerca de qué es un plan de seguro nacional de salud de pagador único. ¿Tienes algo que muestra qué tanto dinero ahorrarían los miembros bajo Medicare para Todos?”

Talking with Members about Medicare for All

Bill Haywood, a Steward at UE Local 814, was circulating petitions supporting the “Medicare for All” bill in Congress but ran into some problems. He approached Lois, the union president, “Lois, I need some more facts. Lots of people are complaining about how expensive our current health insurance is, but they have questions about what single payer health insurance is. Do you have something that will help members see how much money they will save under Medicare for All?”

Getting Out the Vote

Engaging our rank-and-file members in our nation’s political process can be a vexing challenge for any UE officer or shop steward, but it’s important work that needs to get done. We can’t overlook that the decisions our governments make, whether in the legislature or the courts, impact working people.

La Función del Delegado de UE con Respecto a las Elecciones

“Hay una diferencia entre la acción política y el jugar a la política. Cuando confrontamos a los políticos y logramos la legislación que ambicionamos, la UE no está jugando a la política; estamos participando en la acción política. No frotamos nuestras barrigas con los políticos. Hay mucho aire entre nosotros. Uno puede ver la luz. Hoy día, intenta encontrar el aire y la luz entre las barrigas de los dirigentes sindicales y las barrigas de los políticos. No hay. No lo encontrará. Están jugando a la política”.

The Role of the UE Steward in an Election Year

“There is a difference between political action and playing politics. When we fought the politicians and we won what legislation we did, UE didn't play politics; we engaged in political action. We didn't rub bellies with the politicians. There was plenty of air between us. You could see light. Today, try to find some air and light between the bellies of labor leaders and the bellies of politicians. No go. You won't find it. They are playing politics.”
—UE Leader James Matles, addressing the 1975 UE National Convention.

Health Savings Accounts

Health Savings Accounts

The Union at Cheap Enterprises was getting ready for contract negotiations, and so was the company. Union Stewards were out taking a survey of members on what were the most important issues. At the monthly Steward meeting, most Steward's reports were similar in one area.

"Seems like the foremen have been talking up a new insurance plan that the company is going to propose," said Harry Sternberg.