| The last surviving “creator” of the original Medicare proposal of 1965 is enthusiastically endorsing Medicare for all – also known as single-payer government-run universal national health care. “What Bernie said goes for me, too!” declared Max Fine, the surviving member of an early-1960s presidential commission that President John F. Kennedy appointed to write the Medicare draft. Congress passed Medicare in 1965 and President Lyndon Johnson signed it. The “Bernie” whom Fine cited at the July 30 rally in D.C. was Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind, VT), the rally’s featured speaker. The D.C. rally was one of dozens, organized by National Nurses United and joined by other unions, to both celebrate Medicare’s 50th birthday and to use that observance as a springboard for a new campaign for single-payer health care...CLICK BELOW TO READ MORE. - Press Associates, Inc.; photos by Rick Reinhard | |
 After making no headway in negotiations with CIA contractor AECOM on Wednesday, Operating Engineers Local 99 plans to return to the picket line on Thursday. The rally and picket will start at Langley Fork Park at 2:30p. photo by Chris Garlock
Musicians at the Olney Theatre in Maryland have voted to organize, voting 17-8 to join the Washington DC Federation of Musicians (AFM Local 161-710). “I'm very proud of our Musicians for a Stronger Olney Theatre committee, who put in so much time throughout the process,” said Local 161-710 president Ed Malaga. “Patrick Plunk, George Hummel and Craig Taylor. AFM Organizing Director Paul Frank and his assistant Matt Plummer also played a huge role in providing the foundation for this organizing effort.” The Olney offers a diverse array of professional productions year-round “that enrich, nurture and challenge a broad range of artists, audiences and students,” and is one of only two theaters in the country to operate under an Actors' Equity Association Council of Stock Theaters (COST) contract.
 The parent company of Stop & Shop and Giant Foods on Wednesday became the first of America’s major grocers to join the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Fair Food Program, the widely-acclaimed partnership to improve the lives of the country’s farmworkers. Ahold USA is the parent company of Stop & Shop, Giant Foods of Landover, Giant Foods of Carlisle, Martin’s and online grocer Peapod. With nearly 780 supermarkets across 14 states and the District of Columbia and 50 million customers each month, Ahold USA companies together represent one of the largest food retailing groups in the country...click below to read more. Photo courtesy of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
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