Labor unions took their opposition to the Senate healthcare bill online Wednesday where they are encouraging workers to fight back against the legislation.
Republican lawmakers have worked to fulfill a major promise to voters by replacing the Affordable Care Act. Senate leadership introduced a replacement last week amid mixed reviews. Labor unions are now ramping up their opposition online in the wake of a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Some unions even started calling their onslaught of opposition tweets a “twitter storm.” Labor unions argue that the bill would be devastating for working families and low-income individuals. Some even called it a life or death situation. They encouraged their followers to join in to make their opposition to the bill known.
“Senate Republicans want to take Medicaid from 15 million ppl,” American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) tweeted. “That’s a bad deal for working families.”
The CBO analysis added fuel to the opposition. The report states the bill would cause 22 million people to lose insurance by 2026. It also found the bill would reduce federal deficits by $321 billion over the coming decade.
“Healthcare is a human right,” the AFL-CIO tweeted. The unions then urged supporters not to let Senate Republicans, “take it away from 22M hardworking Americans. Call your senator now!”
The AFL-CIO and other unions expressed particular concern over proposed cuts to Medicaid. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka added that the bill is a vicious assault on health care security. AFL-CIO local chapters have already started to hold protests against the bill. The American Federation of Teachers held its own protest in Washington D.C.
“The Senate GOP healthcare bill is a shameful bill that leaves 22 million people without insurance,” the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) tweeted.
Local unions contributed to the tidal wave of negative tweets even more so than the national affiliates. Some smaller unions even targeted their local representatives directly. SEIU local 32BJ claimed the bill would destroy healthcare to give millionaires tax breaks.
The Teamsters union encouraged its followers to keep up the fight after a temporary victory Wednesday. Senate leadership decided to delay the vote amid growing opposition from within the party. The union encouraged those opposed to keep calling their senators.
SEIU President Mary Kay Henry added that healthcare bill would result in an immediate decline in health-sector employment in 17 states. 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East announced plans on Facebook to hold a candlelight vigil Wednesday night in opposition to the bill.
