Deputy sickout is more than a labor issue
Visalia Times-Delta
December 5, 2002
Editorial
Frustration reigned Tuesday among several Tulare County offices.
It was illustrated by the sight of Sheriff Bill Wittman explaining the absence of 37 percent of his line staff who had called in sick to protest their stalled contract negotiations.
It was evident in the picketing by county employees who fear rising health-insurance costs will eat most of their paychecks next year.
And the frustration was reiterated again by Wittman, who noted that his deputies are the lowest-paid in the area and pay the highest percentage of their paychecks for health insurance.
But the issue that links them all and overrides the others is health care. It is ironic the deputies used a sickout to convey their frustration, because health care is at the heart of the matter.
When will we as a state and community realize that the lack of affordable health-care insurance and care options is building to a catastrophe that crosses all interests? This week's events should tell us that, if nothing else.
We've seen the signs in the past couple of years as fewer health-insurance companies are willing to write insurance here. Doctors can't afford to practice here because the reimbursement rate for public insurance is so low. Hospitals are forced to close. Clinics and emergency rooms are overflowing. Specialists can't be lured to practice here. There is a shortage of nurses ....
And now it is evident from the crisis among public employees that even professional and middle-management workers can't afford health-care coverage.
Also Tuesday night, a small group of people conducted its monthly meeting: "Health Care for All" promotes the adoption of a universal access, single-payer health-care insurance plan. It's a radical concept that would eliminate private insurance plans in favor of one system that covers everybody and would be paid for partially with taxes now devoted to health care and partially through the premiums paid through existing plans.
That, too, is complicated. It will take a massive education effort to convince most people that it would be to their benefit.
But look what is happening with the alternative.
The deputy sheriffs are sending a message to our community: Unless we fix the health-care system, we as community will not be able to afford to protect ourselves. We will not be able to afford the public services we take for granted. We can't continue to see expenses for health care rise without the dam bursting. Tuesday we saw the cracks appearing in that dam in the form of massive employee discontent.
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/news/stories/20021205/opinion/512457.html