Students for a National Health Program, Health Care for All NC and other national and state single-payer organizations will march alongside North Carolina teachers as they rally for respect this Wednesday, May 16 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
One of the primary issues affecting public teachers across the country has been the rising cost of their health coverage. West Virginia educators recently underscored the connection between jobs and health when they initiated a massive walk-out and demanded action over their increasingly expensive, yet meager, healthcare coverage.
“It’s the insurance,” confirmed one of the striking teachers. “That’s the big deal.”
In North Carolina, health insurance premiums are skyrocketing for all of us and our teachers pay an outrageous average of $10,000 a year to cover their families.
As healthcare professionals and advocates fighting for a universal, single-payer health system, we believe the purpose of both healthcare and public education is to serve the common good of the community, not the bottom lines of corporations.
Together, as members of professions whose goal is to foster, care for, and promote the health of our communities, we condemn this endless attack on North Carolina educators.
Teachers are fighting for the future of our children. With our common values, it is our obligation to support them in the classroom and in the public square.
The North Carolina teachers’ rally is an opportunity for us to show our support for public education, clarify that we offer an answer to the healthcare crisis, and emphasize the connection that Improved Medicare-for-All should have in a larger movement for social justice.
Here is how you can help:
- Wear your white coat at the march and rally on Wednesday, May 16 in Raleigh.
- Healthcare workers and single-payer advocates will assemble between 10:00 and 10:30am at 700 S. Salisbury Street in Raleigh, North Carolina. The march to the Legislative Building will begin at 10:30.
- The Rally for Respect on Bicentennial Plaza starts at 3:30 p.m
- Share and like the Facebook event.
- Post on social media using #MEDforED and pledge your support for NC teachers.
- Tell people about Improved Medicare-for-All! Rarely do we have a tangible answer for such a widespread, systemic problem like our current healthcare crisis. The good news is that we have several pieces of legislation that can fix our collective heartache: House Bill 676 and Senate Bill 1804 both expand Medicare for all Americans.
Endorsed by:
Health Care for All NC
Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP)
Health Care Justice
Healthcare for All, Y’all
HealthCare for All WNC
Duke SNaHP