California Union Leader Calls for Compromise on Health Care Reform
The leader of a local California affiliate of the Service Employees International Union has called on union members to seek "common ground" in developing a health care reform plan, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports.
Tyrone Freeman, president of United Long-Term Healthcare Works Union Local 6434, made his remarks in a letter responding to criticism from Sal Rosselli, the outgoing president of the SEIU California State Council (Goldmacher, Sacramento Bee, "Capitol Alert," 12/4).
Rosselli opposes Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) proposal to require all residents to obtain health care coverage because of concerns over affordability for middle-income families.
His departure and a subsequent leadership change at the union could have implications for the outcome of health care reform negotiations in California (California Healthline, 12/4).
Freeman acknowledged that the proposed overhaul plans "are not perfect," but he called on the union to be "visionary" and "to recognize an opportunity to pass a sweeping reform that pragmatically restructures our health care system to make quality care available and affordable" (Sacramento Bee, "Capitol Alert," 12/4).
The council was scheduled to vote on a new leader as early as Monday. With Rosselli's withdrawal, there is only one remaining candidate (California Healthline, 12/4).