Workers' Voices on Health Care

"Bottom Line:  contract negotiations are all about health care now.  Unless something happens for health care nationally, I don't see it getting any better."

--Laurie Piazza, Local 428 

"Having health insurance is really important.  Even just going to the dentist is expensive."

  --Eric Gullien, Local 1428

"My daughter has health care because of the union.  Otherwise, I'm not sure how I'd afford it."

--Sara, Local 1428

"Contract Negotiations are all about health care now.  It's a national problem, and our lawmakers should make it a high priority."

--Elise Blazek, Local 428

"I use prescription cards a lot.  Right now, I'm paying $300 a month to cover the cost of prescription medicine.  If I lose my health care benefits during negotiations, I don't know how I would be able to afford more than double what I'm paying already.  I probably just wouldn't fill most of my prescriptions."

--John King, UFCW Member, Local 1059

--Rich Hudlin, UFCW Member, Local 271

"I'm a breast cancer survivor, and my husband has had two major heartattacks and 12 mini-strokes.  If we didn't have health care coverage at the time, it would have been devastating.  Now, our health care is being threatened by my employer and I can't imagine what we would do in the future."

 --Sharon Smith, UFCW Member, Local 1059

"People are afraid to get sick.  We're afraid to have our kids get sick, because the bills keep getting higher and higher.  When people stop to think about health care in this country, they know things aren't right.  We need a fresh start."

--Millie Patrick, UFCW Member, Local 1444