International Brotherhood of DuPont Workers

Jim Flickinger - President     

Donny Irvin - Vice President/Communications     Tony Davis - Vice President/ Organizing

Dave Gibson - Secretary/Treasurer 

Kenneth Henley - General Counsel 

"Workers Representing DuPont, Bemis and INVISTA Workers"

What Happened To Our Health Care?

About 50 million Americans do not have any health care coverage.  With this staggering number comes the harsh reality that 1 in 3 children are not covered by any health care plan.  This number does not take into account the millions of Americans who have the bare minimum health care benefits.

Currently health care is provided one of two ways:  (1) You are fortunate enough to work for an employer who provides some form of health care coverage; (2) you are fortunate enough to be able to afford the health care premiums on your own.

For everyone else - the answer is not easy.  Many pay exorbitant premiums for the bare minimum benefits.  They struggle each month to make their premiums and hope they do not get sick because they will not be able to afford their huge co-pays and deductibles.  Compared to those who have no health care coverage - this group is still fortunate.

While most working families have some form of health care coverage - and since the problem has not directly impacted them - they are reluctant to become involved in the health care debate.

Meanwhile: 

1. Many employers are placing larger financial burdens on their workers - making them pay a larger portion of the health care costs while in most cases decreasing the benefit. 

2. Many employers are deciding that they can no longer afford to provide health care coverage to their pensioners - forcing employees to work until they are Medicare eligible.

3. Many employers have even decided that while they will provide a modest health care benefit to the employee, they will no longer provide benefits to family members.

Over the past few years, the IBDW has been trying to get the EMPLOYEES, PENSIONERS and SURVIVORS to understand the significance of the health care crises that has now begun to affect even the DuPont and DuPont Dow employees.  The problem is like a cancer that plagues every facet of American industry.  This is not a problem that the IBDW alone can even begin to remedy. 

The problem started several years ago when health care costs began to spiral out of control.  At that time, managed care was introduced as the SYSTEM that would help save health care for all Americans.  However, with managed care came different problems.  Health care providers were forced to close their private businesses because they could not afford to participate in the tangled web or red tape caused by managed care.  Patients were forced to see only the health care providers that participate in (especially for rural areas) limited networks.  Employees lost their freedom to see a physician of choice.  In order to be seen by a specialist, the patient must obtain a referral by their health care provider.  With financial incentives built into many of the managed care contracts - many health care providers refer their patients to specialists only as a last resort.

The problem is bigger than DuPont and DuPont Performance Elastomers, Bemis or INVISTA.  The problem is a national problem that affects every American worker and their families.

The IBDW has been addressing the problem for the past few years.  The IBDW actively sponsored the Labor Party and its initiative to create a National Health Care Plan.  The IBDW has also written to each Senator and Congressman, asking for their position on a National Health Care and seeking their support in our efforts.

Unfortunately, this initiative has been extremely slow.  For some reason, the mind set of our government is that health care is only for those who can afford the high premiums or are fortunate enough to work for a company that provides it as a benefit.  We must change that mind set!

Health care should be available for everyone - every man, woman and child. 

By refusing to accept the fact that more and more corporations are downsizing this benefit, more and more workers are becoming uninsured or underinsured.  Workers, pensioners and survivors in the United States are having to choose between prescription drugs and heating oil for their homes.

While we sit on our hands waiting for others to take action, health care is eroding away from the American workers, pensioners and survivors.  One day we will wake up and wonder what happened to this benefit.  Once that day arrives - it will be too late to act.

We must act on a national level.  We must lobby our Senators and Congressmen for a National Health Care System.  There is no alternative.  If the corporations won't provide adequate health care, then we need our government to initiate a National Health Care System for all Americans. 

Send an email to your Senator and Congressmen.  To contact your Congressmen and Senators, simply click on the following links.

If you are worried about the future of your health care, act now.

Be sure to e-mail a copy of your letter to the IBDW at ibdw.jim@adelphia.net.

Remember, we must be united in this cause!

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