Unions may not like socialized medicine

See Public Unions vs. Single-Payer: Look who has doubts about government-run health care. WSJ Editorial. Excerpts:

"New York’s state Senate and Assembly held a hearing Tuesday to consider legislation that would put the state in charge of health benefits for its 8.6 million residents. What do you know? The loudest opponents were union officials who howled that the bill would undermine collective bargaining, raise costs and lead to rationing.

While state residents wouldn’t have to pay premiums, RAND Corporation estimates the bill would require an additional $139 billion in annual tax revenue. Yet many public employees currently don’t pay premiums, and labor leaders use “free” health care financed by taxpayers as a member recruitment tool."

"Progressives say the wealthy will bear most of the higher tax burden, but union leaders were skeptical. “What is the cost?” asked the chair of the New York State Public Employee Conference. “I cannot sell an estimate to my members.”

The New York State United Teachers also worried about retirees who have left the state and continue to receive subsidized union-run health benefits. Unions “don’t want to give up what they fought so hard for and suddenly see their members either lose their coverage, or lose it because their pensions aren’t enough to stay here in this state,” said state Senator Diane Savino, a former labor organizer."