We need to educate Democrats on how, why it happened to build a defense against complete Medicare privatization By WENDELL POTTER (June 1, 2023) — Hindsight, they say, is 20/20. So to understand how the health insurance industry has made such rapid progress lately in privatizing Medicare, let’s turn the clock back eight years […]
Insurance companies decried Medicare’s fee-for-service model. But then Congress let them replace it with something much worse. By KIP SULLIVAN (May 4, 2023) — Congress enacted Medicare in 1965 as a fee-for-service system because the insurance industry did not want to insure the elderly and the poor. Today the insurance industry spends megabucks on […]
By COURTNEY BRADDOCK VANCOUVER, Wash. (May 3, 2023) — With rising gun violence, extreme climate conditions and an increase in accessibility challenges, employees who can lead and assist in these areas are more important than ever in education institutions such as Clark College. In addition to a recent proposal to cut a mental health counselor, […]
The following comments were delivered at Thursday’s Workers Memorial Day commemoration at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries in Tumwater. By CHERIKA CARTER (April 28, 2023) — To the families who have lost loved ones due to work-related injuries or illnesses in Washington, no words can sufficiently express our sincere condolences. We […]
By RICK TIMMONS (April 13, 2023) — John Ehrlichman, an advisor to President Richard Nixon, had an interesting discussion with him about changes being considered for Medicare. Ehrlichman described the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) business model to Nixon: “All the incentives are toward less medical care, because… the less care they give them the more […]
CTC faculty, staff support the Communities for Our Colleges coalition’s efforts for cost-free college By ERIC HAMAKO (April 6, 2023) — As faculty and staff at Washington’s community and technical colleges (CTCs), our goal is to educate students so they can lead their best possible lives. The 34 colleges across the state where we […]
By LISA DEKKER (April 5, 2023) — At its beginning, Traditional Medicare was a promise made to the American people that when they turned 65 they would get health care when they most needed it. With almost 60 million enrollees, and administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), it is financed through […]
The new leaders of your Washington State Labor Council are excited to strive for ‘Better Jobs, Stronger Communities’ By APRIL SIMS (Jan. 30, 2023) — Earlier this month I had the extraordinary honor of being sworn in as President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the largest union organization in the state and […]
By LIN NELSON (Jan. 17, 2023) — For many years now, the National Council on Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) has organized an annual conference on the daily struggles of workers facing threats to life and limb. COSH is a network that brings together the labor movement, health providers, researchers, environmental advocates, and social justice […]
By MARK RIKER (Jan. 11, 2023) — The Everett City Council passed an ordinance on Dec. 7 to require Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on all city construction projects valued at $5 million or more. PLAs establish the terms of employment for all workers on a project, help control construction costs, ensure efficient completion of projects, […]
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