Erie Pa., Union Members Pitch in at Back to School Free Haircut Day
AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer sends us this report.
For the past five years, the Erie-Crawford Central Labor Council’s Community Services Committee has helped sponsor an annual “Back to School Free Haircut Day” in conjunction with Michael Hook of Michael’s Hair Salon in Erie, Penn.
The labor council has in the past contributed funds each school year, but union members decided to ramp up their efforts this year. On Aug. 27, union members and their families worked from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the “Back to School Free Haircut Day.” In addition to haircuts, the labor council handed out pens, pencils and book bags to more than 650 school children. Says AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison, Ron Oliver:
The Erie-Crawford Central Labor Council was grateful to be a part of the Back to School Free Hair Cut Day again this year. When the labor movement and community work together, we can improve and change lives—we can build a stronger community.
Health Care Reform Needs Public Option—Not Band-Aid
 |
|
Today, union and health care activists around the country are raising their voices against the private health insurance companies’ mutlimillion-dollar campaign to block health care reform. In dozens of rallies and demonstrations they are saying: “Big Insurance: We’re sick of it.”
Union members are joining a march on Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s Portland, Ore., headquarters. In a letter to Blue Cross President Scott Serota, Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain calls on the company to cease opposition to a public health insurance option and stop the use of union members’ premium payments to fund lobbying against a public option.
Union members in Oregon have spent too many years at the bargaining table knowing that they have to choose between bargaining for better wages, or maintaining their healthcare. This is unsustainable; healthcare reform with true cost controls is necessary. For union members to now see their healthcare dollars spent lobbying against the reform they support is absolutely unacceptable.
