Unions will be more involved in HMO reform and regulation than in universal health care efforts. The labor movement is beginning to focus on a defense of the employer based health care system. It would be useful to understand labor's assessment of forces and political possibilities. Either way, it takes labor out of many health battles. Health worker unions are moving very institutionally.
Labor responds to the organization and direction of capital.
Health care unions were based on old hospital based structure of industry. They will not spend much capital trying to change the new system until they are embedded in it. They need support for health care worker organizing now, if they are to help the health care movement later. Interesting institutional response from labor as purchasing bloc. If you cant beat them, be them.