This episode of America’s Workforce Union Podcast spotlights Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the National Labor Office at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, as she commemorates the organization's 60th anniversary. Logue explored the origins of the National Labor Office, the evolving landscape of labor and healthcare, and the partnerships that drive advocacy and support for union members across the nation.
First, Logue reflected on the founding and legacy of the National Labor Office. She outlined how Blue Cross and Blue Shield originated in 1929 with teachers in Texas, who paid a mere 50 cents per month for hospital services, and reached a critical milestone in 1965, when the NLO was formally established. The office was established to serve as the labor voice within Blue Cross Blue Shield, advocating for union members in collective bargaining and influencing healthcare policy to meet the needs of American workers.
Next, Logue emphasized how the NLO has served as a connector and resource, adapting over decades by collaborating with union leaders, healthcare professionals and community organizations. She shared examples, such as the rapid response efforts to disasters, including the distribution of medical supplies during the Los Angeles wildfires, as well as the ongoing education of labor and healthcare leaders. The office actively sponsors events, speaks at conventions and partners with institutions such as Rutgers University to strengthen labor relations, expand negotiating skills and foster long-term relationships.
Finally, Logue discussed the NLO’s current goals and future direction. She highlighted Blue Cross Blue Shield’s unique role as the only national health insurer with a specialized office devoted to labor, thanks to the NLO’s unwavering commitment and advocacy. The organization is focused on advancing workforce development, mental health awareness, women’s health and cancer education, all while building strategic alliances with companies that share union values, Logue said. As healthcare continues to evolve, she said the NLO remains committed to supporting organized labor and achieving healthier outcomes for members and their families.
For more on the NLO’s unwavering dedication to union members receiving the best medical care possible, listen to the full episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast above.
America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.
America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.
