FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 23, 2017
Media Contact:
Bethany Khan ▪ BKhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union urges Senator Heller to protect Nevadans
Releases new video of Nevadans asking Senator Heller to protect Medicaid
LAS VEGAS, NV – The Culinary Union with community partner, the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN), released a new video today asking Senator Dean Heller to protect Nevadans and Medicaid. The new video highlights 10 Nevadans who are on Medicaid and who are urging their Senator to represent them in DC and do the right thing for Nevada. The new video “Senator Heller, Protect Nevada” is available here: https://youtu.be/k543Zfw9-mA
Over the last week, Culinary Union members on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas have dedicated a portion of their daily lunch break and have made hundreds of phone calls from employee dining rooms to Senator Heller’s office in Reno, Las Vegas, and DC.
Four months ago, Senator Heller said: “Do I believe that all Americans should have access to healthcare? Absolutely, I do.”
“Senator Heller must stand up for the working families who toil every day to make ends meet and do everything they can to provide for their families,” said Geoconda Argüello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “We will hold Senator Heller to his word - everyone should have access to healthcare - and that means voting against any bill that will result in anyone losing coverage.”
Because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), nearly 300,000 Nevadans are covered by the state’s expansion of Medicaid. The Medicaid expansion extended health coverage to lower-income Nevadans who hold down jobs that are the backbone of the state’s economy—from fast food workers to home care attendants to construction workers to cashiers.
“If some Republicans in Congress have their way and repeal the ACA, these hard working Nevadans will be left out in the cold,” said Laura Martin, Associate Director of PLAN.
The Culinary Union fights every day for working men and women in Nevada to be treated with dignity and respect. Culinary Union members can feel secure knowing they have excellent union health insurance: The bellman who greets guests when they arrive in our city; the guest room attendant who cleans the rooms; the bartender who mixes the drinks and the cocktail waitress who serves them up; and the waiters and food runners who serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner – these members of Culinary Union know they have access to quality care whenever they need it.
All Nevadans deserve the same peace of mind. Nevada’s policymakers have an obligation to ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare.
Last week, Governor Brian Sandoval once again stood on the right side of history. As the first Republican governor to commit to expanding Medicaid, he reaffirmed his steadfast support of the program and called on Congress to preserve Medicaid expansion. Nevadans need Senator Heller to do the same.
MEDIA: “Senator Heller, Protect Nevada” is available on:
Medicaid covers 248,000 low-income NV children. Call @SenDeanHeller at (202) 224-6244 & ask him to #ProtectMedicaid. pic.twitter.com/hjdLbyjc18
— The Culinary Union (@Culinary226) June 23, 2017
Twitter (https://twitter.com/Culinary226/status/878115337467834368)
Facebook (http://bit.ly/2s24po1)
Youtube (https://youtu.be/k543Zfw9-mA)
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ABOUT THE CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest immigrant organization with over 57,000 members - a diverse membership that is approximately 55% women and 56% Latino. Members - who work as guest room attendants, bartenders, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, and kitchen workers - come from 167 countries and speak over 40 different languages. The Culinary Union has been fighting for fair wages, job security, and good health benefits for working men and women in Nevada for over 82 years.
The Culinary Union encourages the public to stay away from Nevada hotels and casinos involved in active labor disputes such as most of the Station Casinos properties, including Palms, Red Rock Resort, and Green Valley Ranch. (We note that the company’s Boulder Station & Palace Station does not currently have a labor dispute.) To see the list of hotels and casinos in an active labor dispute, go to: VegasTravelAlert.org.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
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