Teamsters President Calls for National Health Insurance

Teamsters President Calls for National Health Insurance
Speech to Detroit Economic Club Focuses on Taxes, Health Care, Trade, Pensions
Press Release, Teamsters web site September 13, 2004

(Detroit, MI) – International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today outlined a four-point plan to restore the American economy in a speech to the Detroit Economic Club.

“It is based upon my experience in reaching out and talking to American workers that I come today to speak about the crisis our nation faces,” Hoffa stated. “It’s a multi-faced economic crisis that is hurting millions of Americans. It is a crisis that is destroying the unity that our nation needs in this time of global terrorism. It’s a tax policy crisis. It’s a health care crisis. It’s a trade crisis. It’s a crisis of retirement security. And, it’s a crisis of wages and jobs.”

Hoffa outlined policy solutions in each crisis area culminating with a call for the American business community to join with organized labor to change the tax system, create a national healthcare plan, revamp our trade policy and support government intervention to protect pensions and retirement security.

“It’s time to create a nationwide business-labor coalition to solve the healthcare crisis once and for all,” Hoffa said. “We need a national healthcare system and we need it now. We can’t afford to wait any longer.”

Hoffa continued on trade, “We are destroying the markets that are necessary to sustain demand. And the biggest market, we are destroying is right here in the United States where the middle class has less and less disposable income. Our trade crisis demands that labor and business forge a solution that puts the American economy first.”

“There’s too much at stake to ignore these issues. We have a responsibility as leaders to keep America strong and safe for future generations,” Hoffa concluded. “Together, we must put America back to work and secure our economic future. I call on you to join me in restoring the American Dream.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout North America.