Affordable heath care is tough to come by

I believe everyone has a right to good, affordable health care.

Unfortunately, we live in America, where that is no longer possible.

As a member of the musicians’ union (Local 47), I can sympathize

with the grocery strikers. But most members of my union have to buy

their own health insurance, since only about 2% of members qualify

for coverage under the union plan.

My wife is a substitute teacher in the L.A. Unified School

District and a member of the teachers’ union. She does not work

enough days for coverage by her union, either. So here we are, two

union members who are left to fend for ourselves. From our vantage

point, the grocery employees have pretty darn good coverage. We are

envious of them.

Everyone out there is in the same boat. Health care is a national

problem that needs to be addressed in Washington, D.C., not at the

union negotiating tables.

In my opinion, the grocery workers presently have a much better

benefits package than most workers out there. If they want to strike

to hold on to the good thing they’ve got, then more power to them. As

for me, my sympathies lie with the workers who have no health-care

coverage at all. And believe me, there are plenty of them out there.

WILL RAY

Burbank