So in WA, we have about 5-6 locals. Each negotiates their contracts separately and I understand that. But they also negotiate health coverage separately too. WHY?!?

We'd have lower payments and better coverage if ALL HALLS went through the same provider( at least state by state, not sure if nationally is possible).

For that matter, unions in WA represent about 17% of the workforce. If all the unions joined together to pick one provider we'd have huge negotiating power. Union workers account for 557,000 in WA state, larger than any employer by far (AMAZON, the largest employer, has ~80,000 employees). Nationally unions are 14.6 million members strong.

14.6 million Union Members- that's seven-times as many workers than Walmart, the largest U.S. employer. Damn do I hope we can band together to get better health insurance.