Baltimore, Maryland. A group Maryland labor leaders have sent a letter to every local union in the state urging support for HR 676, national single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

The letter, organized by the Labor Committee of the Universal Health Care Action Network of Maryland, states, “Employer drives to cut benefits and shift costs to workers now dominate contract negotiations killing progress in wages and other benefits.… It doesn’t have to be this way. We can do better.” The union leaders enclose a sample resolution and urge each local union to endorse HR 676.

Signers of the letter are:

Fred Mason, President, Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO;

Harold Bock, Director, Mid-Atlantic Regional Joint Board, UNITE-HERE;

Dave Harding, President, AFSCME Local 1535

Lawrence Kasecamp, Director, Maryland State Legislative Board, United Transportation Union (UTU),

Rich Michalski, General Vice-President, International Association of Machinists (IAM),

Sam Pizzigati, retired Director of Publishing, National Education Association (NEA);

Bill Barry, Director, Labor Studies, Community College of Baltimore County;

Mary Landry, Maryland Labor Education Association;

Roderick Ryon, Labor Committee, UHCAN of Maryland.