VANCOUVER, B.C. (PAI) – Universal government-run health care – specifically the program built on Medicare and advocated by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) – was one key cause that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union convention endorsed at its meeting in Vancouver, B.C., May 15-19.
Delegates also demanded immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, blasted GOP President George W. Bush for lying about the reasons for the war and voted “no confidence” in Bush. They also decided to support Labor Party candidates, members of the East Coast-based International Longshoremen’s Association, who are seeking public office this fall in South Carolina.
In its stands against the war and for universal health care, ILWU stayed true to the militant tradition of its longtime late president, Harry Bridges, whom it cited in the Iraq war resolution as arguing that workers should renounce war and work for peace.
The ILWU thus became one of a growing number of unions backing Conyers’ bill, HR 676, and it has always been a leader in the successful campaign to get the AFL-CIO to oppose Bush’s war in Iraq, which the labor federation did at its convention last year.
“HR 676 would provide health insurance to every person in the U.S., (and) would save hundreds of billions of dollars on unnecessary duplication and obscene administrative costs,” the ILWU health care resolution explained. It said one-fourth of the $2 trillion annual U.S. health care bill goes to “paperwork and add-ons” for private insurers.
By contrast, it said, Conyers’ bill would eliminate those costs, and “would provide equal access to all necessary medical care regardless of income level.” Conyers’ bill is based on Medicare, which has a 3 percent overhead cost, and it would virtually eliminate the private health insurance industry and its profits.
The ILWU resolution also noted “corporations and politicians” claim health care costs push the prices of U.S. goods and services up. “Under HR 676 businesses in the U.S. would pay much less for employee health care coverage, thus eliminating that claim,” the resolution commented. It urged lawmakers to pass Conyers’ legislation.
While ILWU did not say so, many firms also use high health care costs as arguments at the bargaining table to cut pay, load more of price onto workers, or both.
Besides denouncing the war – and urging ILWU state and regional affiliates to get their local and state governments to do so – another notable action was support for the South Carolina candidates.
ILWU noted it was a founding sponsor of the Labor Party – an effort the AFL-CIO opposes – and urged the party to start by running state and local candidates. The South Carolinians, in the least-unionized state – and home of the “Charleston 5” of ILA Local 1422 members unjustly arrested by police – are among the first Labor Party candidates.
ILWU said it would back the campaign, financially if possible, and support ILA’s drive for the 10,000 signatures the Labor Party needs for a South Carolina ballot line
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