AFL-CIO Asking 1 Million Members at Work to Write and Call Congress 

(Washington, DC) – As the House moves to vote on health care reform, with the Senate close behind, working men and women across the nation are planning to make their voices heard through thousands of phone calls to Congress from November 5 through November 13.

The AFL-CIO will kick off a national week of action on health care reform and ask 1 million members to participate in phone banks, rallies and events across the country to generate hand written letters and phone calls to members of Congress.

As part of the national week of action, the AFL-CIO is also running ads in Washington newspapers including Politico, Roll Call, The Hill and The Washington Post to highlight the House health care legislation as a model for reform.  The House bill includes a public health insurance option to lower costs for all and keep insurance companies honest.  It covers 96 percent of Americans, is entirely paid for and reduces the deficit.  It includes a surtax on the very wealthy who benefited so richly from the Bush tax cuts.  And it guarantees that employers pay their fair share by requiring them to provide insurance or pay into a common fund so responsible employers don't have to pick up the tab for freeloaders.  

"Thursday, November 5, will be the kickoff of the largest mobilization to generate phone calls to members of Congress the labor movement has ever undertaken," said AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka.  "We are closer than ever to achieving national health care reform and providing relief for working families, and we are committed to driving it across the finish line."  

Contact: Amaya Tune/Eddie Vale (202) 637-5018