THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!
What can be done to protect health care for the most vulnerable in the aftermath of Trump’s victory?What does another Trump administration mean for single-payer both nationally and in the states? How do many union leaders feel about single-payer, and why? If we had Medicare for All, what other benefits could unions bargain for?
To find out, we recently interviewed Ada Briceño, chair of Orange County Democrats and co-chair of Unite Here Local 11, which represents tens of thousands of workers in hotels, restaurants, airports, and sports arenas in Southern California and Arizona. This is the second episode in a two-part series.
SHOW NOTES
WE DISCUSS
What do you think a Trump victory means for national Medicare for All? Is it essentially moot at this point?
“I feel that we still need to keep pushing because that puts pressure on keeping what we have…
“… the strategy, in my opinion, is not to stop.”
“We need to keep pushing and we need Bernie Sanders, and we need [Pramila] Jayapal, and we need all voices to rise. Just like the same thing with immigration reform.
“Do we stop talking about it because [Trump’s] there? Absolutely not. This is when we speak louder. This is when we push harder, you know? And I’m ready for both conversations.
“Frankly. I’m ready to help be part of the voices loud or not, you know, I’m ready to have those conversations. Those are two of the issues that are most important to me in social justice.” – Ada Briceño
What percentage of union members in California do you think support single-payer, Medicare for All today?
“Just to guess? Maybe 30 to 40%. And I could be, maybe, very hopeful. <Laugh> Maybe. It’s a very hopeful number.
“Labor has fought really hard for our healthcare. We have it in our collective bargaining agreements. We fought for it. We let go of wages for it. We let go of other benefits to have it. And we have good healthcare. That’s the one thing that we do have, right. Like, that distinguishes us. And so there’s an immense pride from it.
And … from the perspective of my [Labor] brothers and sisters, not to have control of that is a bit scary.… as labor leaders, we’re very very ingrained in the whole process as trustees … we sit as trustees over an employee- employer managed fund.
“… I think losing that control is a little bit hard for folks…”- Ada Briceño
Why is it such an important issue for you personally?
“It’s a human right to have health care. And I know that our members will be better when everybody is good.
“So if we have this odd system where some people deserve – through their work – healthcare and others don’t, because it’s a choice of the boss, you know, we need to take it away from having it as a bargaining issue, in my opinion.
“We need to be able to bargain over more wages, over pension benefits, over all these other benefits. And also, the boss uses it as a tool to keep our members scared because they always say, oh … “if you unionize, … we get rid of your healthcare.”
“If we used all the time and effort to focus on other benefits, and we didn’t have to worry about health care because we had Medicare for All, then we can ask for childcare. ” – Ada Briceño
Helpful Links
Democratic Party of Orange County
Labor campaign for single payer
How Trump’s win could change your health care, CNBC
The Impact of Unions on Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance, Center for Health Insurance Reform
Single Payer Health Care Summit draws interest, The Stand
Episode Transcript
Read the full episode transcript.
Biography: Ada Briceño
Ada Briceño has dedicated her career to uplifting marginalized voices and bridging communities.
In addition to union organizing and political work, she has led many civil rights, immigrant rights, women’s rights, and environmental efforts.
She was named one of Orange County’s “100 Most Influential” by the Orange County Register for 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2014.
Ada Briceño immigrated to the United States at age 6, when her family fled the civil war in Nicaragua.
Today, she serves as Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11, representing over 32,000 hotel workers in Los Angeles County, Orange County and Arizona.
She is Chair of the Democratic Party of Orange County.
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