LABOR UNIONS

Workers in organized labor have been members of managed care plans for a long time. Their unions keep track of problems and sometimes work with employers to develop innovative benefit packages.

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

9000 Machinists Place, Upper Marlboro, Md. 20772, Web site: www.iamaw.org. Contact: director of strategic resources Stephen Sleigh (301) 967-4724, fax (301) 967-4583. Represents 500,000 workers. Has information on health costs and trends in collective bargaining that it is willing to share with reporters. Surveys members to assess their satisfaction with plans.

Service Employees International Union

1313 L St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, (202) 898-3200, fax (202) 898-3491, Web site: www.seiu.org. Press contacts: Jill Gallagher (202) 898-3330, Joni Ketter (202) 898-3374. Represents about 600,000 health care workers among l.3 million federal and state employees. Makes available a number of studies on managed care issues.

United Auto Workers

8000 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48214, (313) 926-5000, fax (313) 331-1520, Web site: www.uaw.org. Press contact: Reg McGhee (313) 926-5291; president Stephen Yokich. Union represents some 750,000 active workers and 550,000 retirees. Has worked actively with auto makers and other manufacturers to promote HMOs and other forms of managed care.

United Food and Commercial Workers

1775 K St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006, (202) 223-3111, fax (202) 466-1562, Web site: www.ufcw.org. Press contact: Greg Denier; director office of negotiated benefits David Blitzstein; president Douglas Dority. Union jointly administers health plans (with employers) for some 3 million people, including workers and their dependents. Has been at the forefront of pushing for cost-reduction measures.