Policy

AFL-CIO Calls Obamacare "Highly Disruptive"

Fears loss of affordable coverage

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As Republicans in Congress debate their strategy for obstructing the implementation of Obamacare, some of President Obama's closest allies are airing their grievances over the law's negative consequences.

At a convention in Los Angeles on Wednesday, the labor organization the AFL-CIO passed a resolution declaring that the Affordable Care Act will drive up costs of union-sponsored health plans to the point that workers and employers are forced to abandon them.

While the resolution is strongly worded -- it calls implementation of Obamacare "highly disruptive" to union health care plans -- some unions wanted to take the resolution even further. A draft originally offered by Sean McGarvey, head of the AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Department, said the AFL-CIO could no longer support the health care law and called for its repeal unless changes were made to protect union multi-employer plans.