In This Issue

Health Care Reform Updates
   - Rockefeller's Public Option Amendment Voted Down
   - Tell Your Insurance Company You are Sick of It!
   - Now or Never for Real Health Care Reform, AFL-CIO Targets 5 NY Congress members including Murphy

- Labor Leader Jeff Stark Wins Supervisor Primary
- Proctors Offers $30 Tickets to Color Purple
- Lobby Night to Stop Closure of Albany County Nursing Home
- Hispanic Heritage Month Activities
- SPNY & Capital District PNHP Fall Conference

- Support Workers Striking at the Holiday Inn Express-Latham
- Labor Council Meetings
- CDALF Executive Board Meeting

Health Care Reform Updates

-Rockefeller's Public Option Amendment Voted Down: As we go to press, it looks like another version of public option just got killed in the Senate Finance Committee. Sen. Jay Rockefeller's public option amendment, the strongest of the public option amendments offered, was voted down yesterday 15-8, with five Democrats voting against it: Sens. Max Baucus (Mont.), Tom Carper (Del.), Kent Conrad (N.D.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) and Bill Nelson (Fla.).As Rockefeller said before the vote: Why would we not do this? People come second and the profits come first if we're against this. Looks like the People lost this one. Schumer's public option amendment got killed as well, 10-13, with Baucus, Conrad and Lincoln voting against it. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will now offer another public option amendment. Let's hope the Nay-saying Dems have time to check the People's pulse before they shoot down another public option. Read more by clicking here: http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/09/29/rockefellers-public-option-killed-in-senate-finances-health-care-bill/

-Tell Your Insurance Company You are Sick of It!! In the past week, more than 10,000 activists across the country have contacted their insurance companies to demand that they stop denying care and stop using our premiums to lobby against health insurance reform.  If you are sick of it, tell your insurance company now!

Click here if a Blue Cross Blue Shield company provides your

health insurance:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/bcbsaction

Click here if UnitedHealthcare provides your health insurance:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/uhcaction

Click here if Aetna provides your health insurance:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/aetnaaction

Click here if Humana provides your health insurance:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/humanaaction

Click here if CIGNA provides your health insurance:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/cignaaction

Click here if a different company provides your health

insurance: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/insaction

Click here if you don't have health insurance:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/noinsaction

- Its Now or Never for Real Health Care Reform: Health Care Reform is coming down to the wire.  The next couple of weeks will determine the outcome.  There continues to be 5 main targets in the House of Representatives: McMahon (CD 13), Murphy (CD 20), Arcuri (CD 24), Maffei (CD 25), and Massa (CD 29). 

As Health Care is currently being worked thru in Congress, the next 2 weeks become critical in shoring up the targets before a possible vote this month in the House.   There are variances in all of the positions.  Both Arcuri and Maffei lean to supporting the House Bill at this point.  McMahon and Murphy are undecided.  Massa would vote against any compromise in the bill.   Please consider writing a hand written letter to the Congressman asking that he support a bill with a public option, an employer mandate, no taxation of benefits and one that covers everyone. Samples are attached.  

There will be a National Call In Day, Oct. 7^th: Everyone should call Congress on Oct 7^th, 1-877-3-AFL-CIO (1-877-323-5246).  Congressman Murphy has agreed to attend the labor breakfast this Friday at the Clarion Hotel at 8:30 to discuss his position.

- Labor Leader Jeff Stark Wins Supervisor Primary: Congratulations to Jeff Stark and the Schenectady Area Labor Council for their impressive win in the 2nd Ward Supervisor race in Montgomery County. Stark, a former CLC President and current CDALF Sec. Treasurer beat incumbent Barb Johnson 58-42% on September 15^th, in the Democratic primary. But the election is not over. In the general election, Stark will have the Democratic and Working Families Party lines, and Johnson will appear on the Conservative party line. We will have to redouble our efforts going door to door and phone banking to ensure a victory for Jeff. Johnson was asked a number of times during her tenure to assist union members during closures and privatization efforts, and she stood by when tax dollars were used to hire out of state construction workers on local projects. Every time she turned her back on organized labor. Please volunteer by contacting Kathleen Scales at kathleen@cdalf.org or 452-0404 or Frank Natalie at fnatalie@nycap.rr.com The schedule for canvassing and phone banking is attached.

- Proctors Offers $30 Tickets to Color Purple: In two week Proctors will play host to a very special Broadway theatrical event, Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple, based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker and the Oscar-nominated film by Steven Spielberg.  It?s the unforgettable and inspiring story of Celie, who triumphs over tremendous odds to find joy in life and her true inner beauty. It?s a story we don't think anyone should miss. To make sure as many people can be as inspired as we have been, Proctors extends a very special offer to you, your employees and members. For performances of the Color Purple from Tuesday, October 13 through Thursday October 15th, all seats are available for $30. To take advantage of this exclusive offer, please visit Proctors Box Office, Call at 518.346-6204 and use the password: LOVE.  Please consider taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity to see one of the true gems of Broadway and American storytelling. Bring your family, bring your friends, bring someone special. For more information on The Color Purple, visit www.proctors.org.

-Lobby Night to Save the Albany County Nursing Home

WHAT: Special Meeting with County Legislators, community and union members

WHEN: Thursday, October 1^st at 6:00 pm

WHERE: 1199 SEIU, 155 Washington Ave. Albany

RSVP at 859-3360

Where will the frail and elderly go if County Executive Mike Breslin is allowed to close the Albany County Nursing Home? Please attend this meeting in support of those who need us most.

-Labor Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Join the Albany/Capital District Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) at the Albany Main Public Library, 161 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12210 for the following events:

October 3rd, Children's Craft Activity and Bilingual Story time 1 pm - 3 pm  (Children's Section)

October 5th, Film Showing of the Documentary CALLE 54   6 pm - 8 pm (Main Auditorium)

October 12th, Film Showing and Discussion of the Documentary MADE IN LA   6 pm - 8 pm (Main Auditorium)  

-SPNY & Capital District PNHP Fall Conference
WHAT: Building The Single Payer Movement
WHEN: October 10th 10:30 - 5 , lunch included
WHERE: Albany Medical Center , 43 New Scotland Ave. Albany Room 700 ME
Donation $10-20 to cover costs. RSVP to Euthemia@nycap.rr.com

The AFL CIO passed a resolution in favor of Single Payer at the Convention this past September!

-Support Workers Striking at the Holiday Inn Express-Latham

WHEN: Every Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm

WHERE: Holiday Inn Express, Latham, 400 Old Loudon Road, Latham

For more information about the campaign, visit www.shameonjimmorrell.com

-Capital District Area Labor Council Meetings 

Central Labor Councils are the grassroots organizations that work for justice in each of our communities; they are an important way for inter-union cooperation and understanding to occur, as well as being the eyes and ears of the Labor movement in our county legislative bodies.

Albany: 1st Wednesday of every month, 890 Third Street at 6:30 pm - this month CDALF President Mary Sullivan will address the delegation

Greater Glens Falls: 2nd Thursday of every month, UA Local 773 Hall, 30 Bluebird Road, South Glens Falls at 7pm, except this month, candidates night Oct. 1^st at 6:15 pm

Saratoga: 2nd Wednesday of every month at Elks Club Lane, Saratoga Springs at 6pm, candidate endorsements will be discussed at the October meeting  

Schenectady: 2nd Monday of every month, VFW Union Street, Schenectady at 6:30pm, except October meeting which will be October 5th. Endorsements will be considered at this meeting.

Troy: 3rd Wednesday of every month, 24 4th Street at 7pm

-CDALF Executive Board Meeting

October 6th, Capital District Area Labor Federation's Executive Board meeting, 4:30 pm at the CDALF office, 302 Centre Drive, Albany