(OLEAN) – With the debate over President Obama’s 2010 National Health Care Law reaching a fever pitch now that the U.S. Supreme Court is in the midst of deciding whether or not to throw out some of its key components, Organized Labor is joining with the Health Care Access Coalition in Cattaraugus County for what Cattaraugus-Allegany AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Karen Fenner tells WNYLaborToday.com is an effort to “create a good discussion on affordable Health Care for not only Union Members, but our entire community.”

“(Organized Labor in Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties) has had an alliance with the Coalition for quite some time,” Fenner said.  “Our goal is to have affordable Health Care for not only our Members, but the entire community.  And we all need to come out, attend this public discussion and talk about what needs to be accomplished.  Right now, (the situation) is a real mess.  But we need to keep discussing what we ‘all’ need to do as one to get things accomplished.”

Fenner will take part in the Health Care Access Coalition’s scheduled Saturday symposium in Olean that’s called: Am I My Brother’s Keeper?  Health Care and Social Responsibility, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Christ United Methodist Church on Linwood Avenue in Olean.  The Coalition, whose members include a variety of area Community Representatives, St. Bonaventure University Facility and Pre-Med Students, supports a Universal Health Care Option “so all can be covered,” Athena Godet-Calogeras, who heads the group, tells Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper.

“My hope is that we can continue to attract members of our community who realize that having Health Care for ‘all’ is not an individual responsibility.  We ‘all’ have a right to Health Care and we need to push this concept for the entire Nation.  It’s (the Coalition’s goal) we achieve Universal Health Care so everyone can be covered.  That’s why we’ve banded together.  We want to keep on networking with people and keep pushing forward on this,” Godet-Calogeras said.

Cattaraugus-Allegany CLC President Fenner told WNYLaborToday.com that it’s extremely important for Organized Labor to be heavily involved in the discussions for a number of reasons.  “It doesn’t help Labor to put business ‘out of business’ and part of the overall costs (for employed Workers) involve Health Care.  We need affordable/accessible coverage and that’s why I’m taking the time to attend Saturday’s discussion,” she said.

Godet-Calogeras of the Health Care Access Coalition says Health Care “is an issue that affects Labor” and that “it’s great to have Organized Labor be part” of the overall discussion.

“It’s good to know that our Labor Unions are involved in this and that the Unions have said ‘yes’ to attending,” said Godet-Calogeras, who addressed the monthly meeting of the Cattaraugus-Allegany CLC’s Executive Board and Delegates Meeting earlier this week in Olean.  “Of course, there’s a very strong connection between Workers and Health Care and the Health Benefits they receive.  We’ve got to band together and work hard to achieve this.”

The Health Care Access Coalition engages in a number of actions that address specific Health Care Needs in rural Cattaraugus County, as well as advocating at both the State and National Levels for the Legislative/Systematic Changes that are necessary to bring about Universal Health Care.  Believing in Health Care as a right, the Health Care Access Coalition works to promote affordable, comprehensive and quality Health Care for all through education and advocacy.

Saturday’s symposium/public discussion is free to the public.  A number of morning workshops have been scheduled, including: Faith and Health Care; Business and Health Care; Media Coverage of Health Care; and Health Care Around the World. 

After a brief lunch break, a keynote address will be delivered by Physician Wendy Johnson, who has more than 15 years experience in Public and International Health as a Clinician, Teacher, Policy-Maker, Technical Adviser and Manager.  Dr. Johnson, who currently serves as Director of New Initiatives for Health Alliance International and as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Global Health at the University at Washington, has focused her work with marginalized populations both in the United States and Internationally.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For more information on the Health Care Access Coalition, visit www.healthcareaccesscoalition.org.   For more information on the Coalition’s Saturday event in Olean, call 716-372-3348.