New York -- Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, has released the following statement in response to Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell reintroducing the “Medicare for All” bill in Congress. Equity has long supported universal federal health care coverage.
“Equity wholeheartedly supports a national single-payer system for health insurance in the United States,” said Al Vincent Jr., executive director of Actors’ Equity Association. “Currently, our members’ health insurance is linked to how many weeks they have union employment throughout the year, a system that failed almost everybody during the industry shutdown of 2020. We need the government to recognize that healthcare is a human right. We once again urge Congress to take this matter seriously.”
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks
May 19, 2023
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