Two million-member labor union planning intensive state-by-state effort to help fix nation's healthcare system, ensure workers have a voice on the job

WASHINGTON, DC- Against a backdrop of economic crisis and skyrocketing healthcare costs, the two million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU) will unveil a groundbreaking state-by-state effort to fight for immediate economic relief and recovery efforts, help fix the nation's broken healthcare system and ensure workers have freedom to choose a voice at work on a telephone press conference at 1:30 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, January 7.

On Thursday, January 8, SEIU will host a live chat about the campaign with bloggers and activists at 4:15 PM eastern, which can be viewed live on SEIU.org.

The announcement comes the same week as an economic stimulus package moves before Congress and on the heels of a historic election where ordinary American families overwhelmingly voted for change. Post-election polling by Lake Research Partners showed the economy topping the list of voters' overall issues and healthcare costs ranking number one among economic concerns. Meanwhile as union membership has declined nationally, average CEO pay has reached an all time high of 344 times average worker pay according to The Washington Post.

WHAT: Telephone Press Conference on New SEIU Campaign

WHO: Andy Stern, SEIU International President
Anna Burger, SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer

WHEN: 1:30PM EDT Wednesday, January 7, 2009

***** CALL-IN INFORMATION:*****
Members of the media should dial 1(800) 288-8960 and ask for the
"Change That Works" call.

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