Massive cuts to Medicare and Medicaid threaten Teamster healthcare workers. The tough job of winning fair contracts at hospitals just got tougher.

Teamster healthcare workers are fighting back after Medicare and Medicaid were slashed by $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years.

The same legislation that cuts healthcare reduces taxes for the very rich. The wealthiest 10% of the population will average $13,000 a year in tax cuts.

The stakes are high for the 50,000 Teamsters who work in healthcare.

The cuts to Medicare and Medicaid mean less money for every hospital and healthcare provider. The two programs account for 40% of healthcare spending.

“States don’t have the money to make up for the cuts. That means hospitals will have less money to spend on patient care and to properly pay staff. It’s a snowball effect that ends with our members getting hurt,” said Rhode Island Local 251 President Paul Santos.

Healthcare workers are fighting back by joining the Teamsters and other unions, fighting for fair contracts, and even going on strike.

As we go to press, the federal government is shut down over additional healthcare cuts that would raise healthcare premiums, increase the number of uninsured, and drive up operating costs for hospitals and healthcare providers.

The public overwhelmingly opposes the new cuts. Polls consistently show 70% to 80% of the public supporting continuing healthcare tax credits for people who buy their own health insurance.

“This isn’t a partisan issue,” Santos said. “Teamsters don’t want to see people losing their healthcare, and we don’t want to see our members hurt. It’s time for the government to step up.”

United Nurses of Iowa

The successful organizing drive at Corewell has inspired nurses to organize with the Teamsters. Over 2,000 nurses at Unity Point Health facilities in Iowa are gearing up to vote on whether to become Teamsters.

Nurses from Henry Ford and Corewell have supported the organizing committee, speaking to nurses about the union difference.

Nurses at Unity Point were set to take their certification vote in early October, but the government shutdown has caused the vote to be postponed.

Fighting for Good Jobs & Safe Staffing in Rhode Island

More than 2,500 Teamsters at Rhode Island Hospital have launched a contract campaign to unite members as they head to the bargaining table in January.

The hospital was bought by Brown University. Members are uniting to win higher wages, job security, protections against subcontracting, and improvements to staff and staff turnover in order to protect both Teamsters and quality patient care.

More than 200 members attended a Contract Campaign Kick-off organized by the Contract Action Team.

Teamsters Local 251 represents the non-nurse classifications at the hospital including laundry, housekeeping, clerical, certified nursing assistants, skilled trades, and more.

Everyone Supports Decent Healthcare

“This isn’t a partisan issue. Teamsters don’t want to see people losing their healthcare and we don’t want to see our members hurt. It’s time for the government to step up.”

Paul Santos, President, Local 251, Providence