UUP-to-date

Health: NYSUT files class-action lawsuit fighting rising prescription costs — The state’s largest union, acting on behalf of its 480,000 members, recently filed a class action lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline, charging the drug manufacturer is illegally maintaining a monopoly over the antibiotic Augmentin.

NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin, chair of the state AFL-CIO Prescription Drug Task Force, said, “The suit is part of NYSUT’s three-pronged approach to attacking the high cost of prescription drugs in New York state.”

In addition to legal action, NYSUT is asking lawmakers to pass legislation to put a cap on prescription drug costs, and pushing the state for new regulations to limit drug advertising, according to Lubin, inset.

NYSUT’s suit, filed in the Southern District, U.S. District Court in New York, alleges that GlaxoSmithKline has engaged in unjust practices to suppress competition from generic alternatives to Augmentin, which could be offered to consumers at lower cost. The law firm of Goodkind Labaton Rudoff & Sucharow, LLP, (GLRS) of New York City is representing NYSUT and its largest local, the 130,000-member United Federation of Teachers Welfare Fund in New York City, in the class action suit.

The suit seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief under federal and state antitrust laws.

“The shamefully high cost of prescription drugs in our state is forcing New Yorkers into an intolerable position,” Lubin said. “There are senior citizens who are choosing between paying for heat or paying for their medication. This is a tragedy. Working families are paying the price for the pharmaceutical companies’ greed.”

The AFL-CIO Prescription Drug Task Force is sponsoring a series of meetings across the state to help bring attention to the prescription drug crisis. The first public meeting, co-sponsored by NYSUT, was held in Albany in late June. Future meetings are planned for Rochester, Buffalo and New York City. GLRS and various AFL-CIO affiliates are also pursuing claims where brand-name manufacturers are allegedly colluding.

In memoriam: UUP mourns former union secretary — UUP mourns the loss of longtime labor activist and former union secretary William Cozort of SUNY Cortland. Cozort, who died Sept. 8 following a long illness, served as statewide union secretary from 1981-87. He retired from Cort-land as an admissions counselor and adjunct faculty member. Cozort, who earned his master’s degree in political science and public administration from the University of Kansas, was awarded the Order of the Immigrant Medal in 1966 by the Brazilian government for promoting understanding between the U.S. and Brazil. “I remember the years my father (was active in) UUP with a great deal of fondness,” said son Christopher Cozort. “I am trying to emulate him by getting deeply involved with my union. ... I am recording secretary of United Auto Workers Local 1326.” UUP President William Scheuerman said Cozort was a “solid union person and a friend to all UUPers.” Donations to the William Janice Cozort Scholarship Fund may be sent to: Dr. Gene Crume, Park University, 8700 NW River Park Drive, Parkville, Mo. 64152-3795.

— Karen L. Mattison

Government: Workers insecure with homeland security bill — President George W. Bush and all but one Republican senator, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, are refusing to take a step toward compromise on Bush's demand for the unlimited authority to strip workers in a new homeland security department of their collective bargaining and civil service rights. On Sept. 26, Senate Repub-licans signaled they would rather kill homeland security department legislation than allow a bipartisan agreement. On Sept. 24, a compromise was offered that gives the president much of the authority he wants. While protecting workers’ rights, it would OK the removal of workers from unions if their duties are substantially changed in the new department and if the majority of workers in a particular office are engaged in anti-terrorism intelligence or investigative work.

But on Sept. 26, a vote to close debate fell 10 votes short of the 60 needed to end discussion of the bipartisan compromise that is assured passage should it come to a full Senate vote. Visit http://www.unionvoice.org/ campaign/homeland/2 and urge senators to protect workers’ rights.

In solidarity: Adam’s Mark Hotel on boycott list — The Buffalo AFL-CIO Council voted to support a boycott of the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Buffalo. According to Buffalo council President John Kaczorowski, the boycott was called because this particular hotel has a “substantial record of anti-union and anti-worker behavior.” Operating Engineers Local 17 has filed several unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. Late this summer, UUP shifted its fall policy-making convention from the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Buffalo to the Rochester Hyatt Regency, a move that was endorsed by the Buffalo AFL-CIO Council.

U.S. Census says: Uninsuredness, poverty on the rise — Last year, 1.3 million more Americans were poor and 1.4 million more were uninsured than in 2000, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. For the second consecutive year, income for the typical household fell and working families lost modest economic ground gained in the late 1990s. Almost 33 million Americans were officially poor in 2001. Of the 41 million who were uninsured, 80 percent lived in families with at least one worker. “The American labor movement has called upon the Bush administration to recognize that its policies of cutting taxes for the rich and corporations ... do not yield real relief for working families and the poor,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.