In Oregon, AFSCME Local 3214 and the Central Oregon Labor Council have both endorsed HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

The Central Oregon Labor Council is the 118th council to endorse HR 676.

AFSCME Local 3214 in Eugene, Oregon, represents Albertina Kerr Center employees of Lane County.

In Bend, Oregon, the Labor Council represents 5,500 workers in the central Oregon counties of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson. Fernando Gapasin, Labor Council President said after the vote:

“We support the single-payer initiative because we believe quality healthcare is a human right not a privilege for the rich. We also believe that taking the cost of healthcare out of the collective bargaining equation will help to improve the economic gains of unionized workers and improve opportunities to expand unionization to unorganized sectors of working people. And, the campaign for single-payer healthcare will provide practical opportunities for creating a national long term coalition that continues to work for working class reforms.”