Strength In Numbers: Central Coast Unions

California has long been the place where immigrants arrived from other countries looking to improve their life. In the 1860's, Chinese laborers built much of our state's mountainous railroad tracks and tunnels.

Central coast labor news today often centers on agricultural workers. Fieldworkers are exposed to methyl bromide in the strawberry fields. Many are Latinos and some are labeled "illegal" immigrants.

Other trades have Central Coast union representation, among them plumbers, carpenters, sheet metal workers, painters, engineers, pipe tradesmen and plasterers.

There are labor-related organizations with a state-wide service area which make policy affecting our local labor activity. You may never have heard of some of these before.

The Public Employment Relations Board is a quasi-judicial administrative agency charged with administering the collective bargaining statutes covering employees of California's public schools, colleges, and universities, employees of the State of California, employees of California local public agencies (cities, counties and special districts), trial court employees and supervisory employees of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Unions listed here are located in the Tri-county area:

• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) central coast, representing construction management.

• The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) representing building trades workers in San Luis Obispo and Ventura.

• The California Applicants' Attorneys Association (CAAA) a statewide group dedicated to the protection of rights and benefits of California's injured and disabled workers and their families.

• SBCTC: State Building & Construction Trades Council of California provide apprenticeship and training programs statewide.


• Tri-Counties SMACNA Sheet Metal Contractors Trade Association
  

• AFL: CIO!

• IGC: LaborNet Directory

• IUPAT representing over 140,000 members in the construction industry, such as, Painters, Drywall Finishers, Glaziers, Floor Coverers, and Sign and Display workers.

• Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Union Local 273, Goleta
  

• United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters

• Pipe Trades Association

• Laborers Locals, in Tri-County area

• California Pipe Trades State Council

• Plasterers & Cement Masons CA State Conference

• Welcome to IBEW Local Union No.952, Ventura
  

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Ted Kennedy Buried; Next Generation Heeds Call

During a light afternoon rain shower, according to the New York Times: "The nation said final farewell on Saturday to Edward M. Kennedy, who used his privileged life to give consistent, passionate voice to the underprivileged for nearly a half-century as a United States senator from Massachusetts. He was the only one of four fabled Kennedy brothers to reach late adulthood, and he was remembered for making the most of it."

It is a testament to this last of the Kennnedy's in high public office that his eulogy was presented by our president, Barack Obama. Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Obama's candidacy was a moment where the "torch" was passed to Obama and the next generation. You knew it when it happened.

Some will say this wraps up the "Camelot" theme of the post-WWII Kennedy's. Yet Ted's own words live on, echoing even today, "the dream shall never die."

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HR 3200 Helps North San Luis Obispo

Our final look at how our government can help us in north San Luis Obispo county via the House Resolution (HR 3200) also titled "America’s Affordable Health Choices Act."

Affordable is the keyword. It would provide significant benefits in the 22nd Congressional District represented by Congressman Kevin McCarthy. The district spans north San Luis Obispo county across to most of Kern county.

Up to 12,200 small businesses could receive tax credits to provide coverage to their employees;

10,200 seniors would avoid the donut hole in Medicare Part D;

1,300 families could escape bankruptcy each year due to unaffordable health care costs; health care providers would receive payment for $48 million in uncompensated care each year and

107,000 uninsured individuals would gain access to high-quality, affordable health insurance.

A note about financial security. There have been 1,300 health care-related bankruptcies in the district in 2008, caused primarily by the health care costs not covered by insurance. The bill provides health insurance for almost every American and caps annual out-of-pocket costs at $10,000 per year, ensuring that no citizen will have to face financial ruin because of high health care costs.

Coverage of the uninsured? There are 130,000 uninsured individuals in the district, 17% of the district. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that nationwide, 97% of all Americans will have insurance coverage when the bill takes effect. If this benchmark is reached in the district, 107,000 people who currently do not have health insurance will receive coverage.

Best of all, there's no deficit spending. The cost of health care reform under the legislation is fully paid for: half through making the Medicare and Medicaid program more efficient and half through a surtax on the income of the wealthiest individuals.

This surtax would affect only 2,710 households in the district. So less than one percent of all people living in this district would pay a little more to share the benefits this country has shared with them. 99.1% of all taxpayers in the district would not be affected by the surtax.

Surely these 2700 people (.9%) could have it in their heart to follow in the steps of the Great Healer and help those less fortunate than themselves. They might even smile more for having done a good deed for their fellow man--a deed which will last a long, long time.

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HR 3200 Benefits For 24th Congressional District

Here's the second summary of HR 3200 benefits for those of us fortunate to live on the Central Coast inside the blue line of the 24th Congressional District.

668,099 (est.) of your neighbors are represented by Congressman Elton Gallegly in this district, spanning from north Santa Barbara county (Lompoc) to Ventura and some of L.A. counties. Benefits for you:

Up to 15,000 small businesses could receive tax credits to provide coverage to their employees;

10,000 seniors would avoid the donut hole in Medicare Part D;

1,000 families could escape bankruptcy each year due to unaffordable health care costs;

Health care providers would receive payment for $48 million in uncompensated care each year and

64,000 uninsured individuals would gain access to high-quality, affordable health insurance.

How do we pay for this? The cost of health care reform under the legislation is fully paid for: half through making the Medicare and Medicaid program more efficient and half through a surtax on the income of the wealthiest individuals.

That's 2.2% or 6,620 households and here's hoping these high net-worth people will decide the right thing to do is to "pay it forward."

Next: what the facts are in northern San Luis Obispo and the 22nd Congressional District.

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HR 3200 Health Care Reform Benefits For You

Some staffers on the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce have been burning the midnight oil to get the facts straight for the Central Coast on HR 3200, also known as "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009."

They have crunched the numbers and for 639,088 people living in Lois Capps' 23rd Congressional District, the coastal areas of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, it breaks down like this:

Up to 15,700 small businesses could receive tax credits to provide coverage to their employees;

4,100 seniors would avoid the donut hole in Medicare Part D;

350 families could escape bankruptcy each year due to unaffordable health care costs;

Health care providers would get payment for $50 million in uncompensated care each year and

148,000 uninsured individuals would gain access to high-quality, affordable health insurance.

I'll post what the picture looks like for our other two districts in the next two days. You're welcome!

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Arnold: Let's Have A Garage Sale!

Probably had to happen. Call it out-of-the-box thinking or just a desperate move to grab tv time on the networks. The L.A. Times has the details.

Our Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is now using Craigslist and eBay to sell surplus state items. More than 500 state cars are on the auction block. Arnold has even autographed one of the car's visors and it sold for $1,625; the rest of the car went for $.01!

Heck, I'd buy an autographed copy of his 2008 proposed state budget, (even though not one of his original budget proposals has ever been passed without a summer's worth of wrangling.)

What we know in our hearts is this: Arnold makes a much better action movie hero than a governor. In the theater we get what we pay for.

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Private Insurers Are The Death Panels

Those people protesting the "Obamacare" health insurance reform probably understand one thing. The private insurers such as UnitedHealth make money by denying treatment. Simple as that.

Here's a story from a syndicated, professional writer, Froma Harrop.

Hers is a heartbreaking story. I'm sure there are other wrenching tales from our neighbors here on the central coast, in San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara. Big towns, little towns.

The public option must be part of the legislation. Give people the choice to keep their own private insurance--or choose the option. Just ask yourself--can I really afford my health insurance now? Could I afford a 20% rise in cost next year?

You know the answer, the only one, must come from what we pass into legislation this year.

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