Health Care

Workers Uniting calls for health reform in the U.S. that protects and expands affordable care, and the defense of universal public access to affordable care in Canada, the UK and Ireland.

Health care for all in the United States is one of the most important issues facing the nation. Workers Uniting believes that reforms to the private health insurance system will not only help workers at the bargaining table, but is the morally right thing to do for the more than 47 million Americans without health insurance.

For years, the extremely high cost of health care has taken away from wages, pensions, health and safety improvements and other important issues at the bargaining table. And millions have suffered tragedies because of corporate greed at insurance companies who put profit over people.

Workers Uniting has been an invaluable ally in the fight for members in the U.S. and in the UK, where workers are battling to keep the successful universal health care system that so many are fighting so hard for in the United States. The global union is using its power in multiple nations to put pressure on insurers and politicians to do the right thing by putting people over profits – by providing universal health care in the United States.

In the UK, Unite is campaigning against the breaking up of the National Health Service (NHS). Through Workers Uniting the unions are lobbying against the privatisation of healthcare in the United Kingdom and Canada. By highlighting the pursuit of profit by the medical and insurance companies, Workers Uniting is bringing attention to the damage being done to the valued and respected NHS.

1. Health Conference 2010

2. Historic step for healthcare reform

   The United States Congress has made history by passing major health insurance reform legislation Sunday night. This historic moment would not have happened without the hard work of Workers Uniting and other unions.

3. National Health Service - The Truth!

4. The Truth - UK National Health Service

   Workers Uniting exposes the lies being spread about the UK's National Health Service. Gail Cartmail, Unite Assistant General Secretary gives an explanation of just how misleading the claims of the opponents to President Obama’s healthcare reform plan are.

5. Big insurance: Sick of it rally

   In this film, Fred Redmond, USW International Vice President (Human Affairs) addresses a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

6. USW Health Care Toolkit

7. Global union launches investigation into Department of Health NHS preferred private bidders

8. Unite the Union health sector website