Fifth Annual Lobby Day
FIFTH ANNUAL SEIU LOCAL 199 AND IOWA FOR HEALTH CARE LOBBY DAY A BIG SUCCESS
On Valentines Day, nearly 50 people representing SEIU Local 199 and Iowa for Health Care discussed improving Iowa’s healthcare with state legislators.
Members handed out Valentine’s Day cards to all the legislators, urging them to support a law that would cover the 45,000 children in Iowa who do not have health insurance. Such a law would be a first step toward universal coverage. They also spoke face-to-face with many of the lawmakers, telling them personal stories of the problems associated with the current state of health care.
“Healthcare is an issue for all of our members,” said Kirsten Running-Marquardt, associate director of Iowa for Health Care, a project of SEIU. “We need universal health care so we don’t have to trade coverage for wages at the bargaining table. Some SEIU members use up half their monthly paycheck just to pay for insurance. And that’s wrong.”
The member lobbyist also pushed lawmakers to Whistleblower Protection for health care professionals and raising nurses wages in Iowa, which ranks fiftieth in the nation.
SEIU/IFHC members and staff with Sen. Joe Bolkcom
at the 5th annual lobby day in Des Moines |
But SEIU Local 199 is not just trying to persuade legislators about healthcare-related issues. This legislative session, SEIU Local 199 is working hard to pass legislation that would make discipline and discharge a mandatory topic of bargaining for all public-sector workers as well as prevailing wage. We also pushed hard for the 4 percent Allowable Growth increase the state’s school districts recently received.
And there are still many opportunities to let your voice be heard at the Capitol in Des Moines.
The surest way is to sign a COPE card. This is the method by which SEIU Local 199 raises money for political activities on behalf of our members. Please ask your worksite leader for a card.
You can also contact your state representatives and senators to keep up the pressure on them to support our issues. You can find your legislator if you click here or you can call the Senate at (515) 281-3371 or the House at (515) 281-3221.
Lastly, your union rep is likely leading a lobby day in Des Moines in the next month or so. If you would like to join him, just pick up the telephone and give him a call.