Viewpoint

  • Finally, Hospitals' Unsung Heroes Carry the Show
    Suzanne Gordon
    Jul 15 2009 - 1:41pm

    Since the birth of television, Hollywood has given doctors a permanent starring role in prime-time hospital dramas. But most doctor shows have relegated the nation’s largest healthcare profession - nursing - to the status of bit players.

  • LA Teacher Cuts Prompt Walkouts, Arrests, Hunger Strike
    Joshua Cook
    Jul 15 2009 - 12:59pm

    Each year around budget time, Californians hear a familiar story from Sacramento: There’s another stalemate, because state law caps property tax rates and requires two-thirds of legislators to approve tax hikes.

  • UNITE HERE Split Gets Even Messier
    Paul Abowd
    Jul 15 2009 - 12:47pm

    It’s been three months since UNITE split from HERE, morphing into Workers United (WU) and affiliating with the Service Employees (SEIU). The battle, primarily over money and members, rages on after settlement talks fizzled in May and International President Bruce Raynor resigned from UNITE HERE. Three days later he took the top post at WU as the breakaway union fights for viability in court and in the shops.

  • Cut State Aid? Now's When We Need It!
    Amy Seidenbecker
    Jul 15 2009 - 12:36pm
    ** Print only

    As a state employee, a human service caseworker, I've gotten educated about Illinois's budget woes out of necessity. My job is to determine eligibility and serve people who are poor, disabled, or elderly and rely on state services--Medicaid and food stamps. More of us are in need of these services just as big business interests and their media mouthpieces launch another round of attacks on funding.