Robert Kuttner, founder and co-editor of The American Prospect and founder of the Economic Policy Institute, speaking to the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) convention in New Jersey Oct. 5, renewed the call for universal health care, telling the unionists that they are in the forefront of the political action needed to get the job done.

Kuttner told some 220 HPAE members and leaders gathered at the Resorts Hotel in Atlantic City that America could move gradually to universal health care coverage by age groups, starting first by extending Medicare coverage to everyone under 18 and then, after a few years, to everyone 55 and older. The only way to achieve change in the health care system today is through political action, and labor is leading the way, said Kuttner. "Health care professionals are allied with health care consumers," and the way to get universal health care is for everyone to be allied against health insurers, he added.

HPAE president Ann Twomey and vice president Bernie Gerard presided over the convention, which marked the group's 25th anniversary. Twomey, who is also an AFT vice president, noted that the HPAE--an affiliate of the AFT's health care division with members in New Jersey and Pennsylvania--has welcomed some 2,000 new members to its fold since its last convention. Twomey also recapped the extensive legislative and community work the union has done in conjunction with the consumer and citizen coalition Patients First. That work included passage of the state "Baby Bill," which prohibits the premature release of mothers and their newly delivered babies; a state whistleblower protection bill; state needle safety legislation; and a ban on mandatory overtime, which unfortunately, was vetoed by New Jersey governor Christine Whitman.

"After 25 years of advocating for our patients, fighting for our profession, doing what is right and just, it has become so crystal clear," said Twomey, "[HPAE] is a remarkable collection of individuals who make up a union. Your heart is pure, your fight is for justice, and your cause is right." Twomey added that HPAE members deserved the gratitude and admiration of all health care workers and all patients for "standing up for them."