Catherwood LibraryILR School

Union leaders have come out against dropping the public option from the health care bill in the Senate. Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, sent a letter to union members saying that health care would still be unaffordable to some and that others would be taxed because of the new bill. Stern's sentiment was echoed by the head of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, who also denounced the lack of a public option and said that the bill needed further changes to gain support from the unions. The SEIU was one of the biggest contributors to Obama's and other Democrat's campaigns last year, and Stern called on Obama to remember promises that he made.