Burlingame, California. The President and Vice President of IAMAW Air Transport Employees Local Lodge 1781 have written President Obama on behalf of their members urging him to give “serious attention” to HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

In their letter to President Obama, Larry Wing and Troy Rivera, President and Vice President of Local 1781 said: “More and more health cost premiums and deductibles have been shifted to our active and retired members during the last several national negotiations with airlines. It is a dangerous trend which begs for a national solution.”

“We continually hear member complaints about the roles of our private insurers who are supposed to protect us in time of need. In this, we are not unlike millions of other Americans who share our grief,” the letter continued.

“We fully support our great International Union, IAMAW, its President Tom Buffenbarger, and the hundreds of other Labor Unions who have endorsed Rep. John Conyers’ HR-676. It is our view that HR-676 would provide affordable universal health care for many of our seniors,” the letter concluded.

Air Transport Employees Local Lodge 1781 is one of the ten largest locals in the IAM. Based near San Francisco, it represents ground personnel at United, Northwest, US Airways, British Airways, Philippine Airlines and Alaska Airlines.