Workday Magazine (https://workdaymagazine.org/2009/08/)
The CEO of Whole Foods Market, the world\’s largest retailer of natural and organic foods, is against President Obama’s efforts to reform and expand health care insurance. Union activists nationwide are helping John Mackey share that opinion with his store’s millions of socially conscious consumers.
Union leaders reacted with deep sadness to the death Tuesday of U.S. Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, of cancer at age 77. Several unionists said workers could best memorialize him by enacting his last two great causes: Universal affordable health care and the Employee Free Choice Act.
Health care activists and unions are challenging Whole Foods CEO John Mackey on his opposition to health care reform by organizing events at many Whole Foods stores, including one in St. Paul.
On July 1, Rep. Betty McCollum hosted a town hall forum on health care reform at the picnic area in St. Paul’s Highland Park.
The St. Paul City Council and the Ramsey County Board have passed labor-backed resolutions calling for use of American-manufactured steel in public-works projects funded by economic stimulus dollars. Similar resolutions are in the works in Minneapolis and Hennepin County.
Efforts continue across Minnesota to push Congress to act on health care reform.
Responding to the debate over healthcare reform, the Labor Education Service at the University of Minnesota and AFSCME Council 5 will present “Money Driven Medicine” on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers has taken a major step toward representing all ground workers at Delta Airlines.
Unions are calling August “a make-or-break month” for health care – and nowhere will the debate be hotter than southeast Minnesota, with key events this week and next.
Shar Knutson, president of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, was elected Monday to lead the 300,000-member Minnesota AFL-CIO. Knutson will become the first woman president in the history of the statewide organization.