College faculty unions in three states have endorsed HR 676, legislation that would institute a single payer system in the U.S. introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

In Anchorage, Alaska, the Representative Assembly of Local 4996, United Academics-AAUP/AFT, endorsed HR 676 reports local President Carl Shepro. The local represents 950 faculty members on the three major campuses of the University of Alaska system.

In New York, Local 3998, Long Island University Faculty Federation, NYSUT/AFT, has also endorsed HR 676 reports local President Ed Donahue.

In Philadelphia, AFT Local 2026 endorsed HR 676. Local 2026 represents 1,300 faculty and staff at the Community College of Philadelphia.

Local 2026 Co-presidents, John Braxton and Karen Schermerhorn, said after the vote, “Health insurance was the single largest issue in our bargaining for our contract last year. We came away with our health benefits largely intact, but we know it will be even harder next time to negotiate a contract without health insurance take-aways. This country needs to catch up with the rest of the industrialized world and treat health insurance as a benefit that all citizens deserve, and take the responsibility away from individual employers and individual unions.”