Robby Stern

Robert "Robby" Fred Stern, a graduate of the University of Washington's Law program, was involved as a leader of Students for a Democratic Society and other new left activist organizations in the 1960s and early 1970s. He was first married to Susan Stern whom he met at Syracuse University and later married his current wife, Dina Burstein, with whom he has two children. He left his law office in 1993 and gained a position at the Washington State Labor Council where he served as Lead Lobbyist and Special Assistant to the President until his retirement in April 2008.

New Jewish Agenda

Agenda, Summer 1984, Issue Number 15, Staff and Writers, identified Robby Stern - Seattle, photo on Page 2, also identified as Kadima/New Jewish Agenda along with Issac Romano, Kadima/NJA.

Seattle social security protest

Approximately 75 spirited protesters celebrated the 57th anniversary of the enactment of Medicare in Seattle on Friday, July 29 2022, with a picket line and rally outside the Columbia Center chanting, “Whose Medicare? Our Medicare!” and “Medicare is not for profit! Keep your corporate hands off it!”

The Seattle rally and picket line was initiated by Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action and co-sponsored by Health Care is a Human Right Washington, Voices for Health and Healing, and Physicians for a National Health Program WA. Most of the crowd were from King County, reinforced by members from Clallam County, Everett, San Juan Island, Whidbey Island, Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, and Kitsap Peninsula.

PSARA Co-President Jeff Johnson, retired president of the Washington State Labor Council, chaired the rally, leading the crowd in chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, ACO REACH has got to go!”

PSARA Executive Board member Rick Timmins of Whidbey Island told the rally that it took seven months for his for-profit Medicare Advantage provider to approve treatment of a tumor on his earlobe.

PSARA Education Fund President Robby Stern pointed out that Seattle-based Amazon has dived into the ACO REACH feeding frenzy, purchasing “One Medical” and its subsidiary “Iora” in a $3.9 billion cash buyout.

Faye Guenther, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 3000 representing 50,000 grocery store workers in Washington State, charged that Wall Street banks and corporations “are getting their greedy fingers into health care. Greed does not help.”

Rachel Berkson, an aide to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, thanked the crowd for supporting Jayapal, who has recruited 54 of her House colleagues to sign a letter to Biden and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra demanding ACO REACH termination.

Seattle City Councilwoman Theresa Mosqueda thundered, “How many times do we have to stand here and say: ‘Don’t privatize Medicare?’” She led the crowd in a chant, “Hands off Medicare! Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security are here to stay.”

Other speakers included Katie Garrow, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of MLK Labor, a central council with 150 unions representing over 100,000 workers, and Dr. Hugh Foy, retired surgeon from Harborview Hospital and the UW Medical system. Both strongly defended Medicare, denouncing privatization and calling for a single-payer Medicare for All system.

A delegation of three—PSARA Co-President Karen Richter, Health Care Is A Human Right WA leader David Loud, and Timmins—went up for a meeting with Regional Director Ulrey and the Division Director of CMS. The group delivered a demand to Ulrey’s boss, Becerra, that the Biden administration terminate ACO REACH and all other schemes to privatize Medicare. Ulrey agreed to share our concerns with Becerra.

Congratulating communist, Will Parry

At his 90th birthday party, April 24 2010, Communist Party USA member Will Parry picked up his guitar and led 400 union brothers and sisters, family, comrades, and friends in singing "Carry It On" ending, "No more tears, for we're still singing."

Sponsored by the Puget Sound Alliance of Retired Americans, the celebration resounded with songs, poetry, and heartfelt tributes. Parry together with his late wife, Louise, helped build the labor movement and the senior citizen movement in the Pacific Northwest. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Washington, he worked as a factory worker at Longview Fiber, a box factory organized by the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers.

Robby Stern, PSARA president, told the banquet crowd, "Will has had an inspiring presence in the lives of everyone who is here. I have had the responsibility of stepping into the incredible shoes of the incredible Will Parry."

Seattle social security protest

Approximately 75 spirited protesters celebrated the 57th anniversary of the enactment of Medicare in Seattle on Friday, July 29 2022, with a picket line and rally outside the Columbia Center chanting, “Whose Medicare? Our Medicare!” and “Medicare is not for profit! Keep your corporate hands off it!”

The Seattle rally and picket line was initiated by Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action and co-sponsored by Health Care is a Human Right Washington, Voices for Health and Healing, and Physicians for a National Health Program WA. Most of the crowd were from King County, reinforced by members from Clallam County, Everett, San Juan Island, Whidbey Island, Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, and Kitsap Peninsula.

PSARA Co-President Jeff Johnson, retired president of the Washington State Labor Council, chaired the rally, leading the crowd in chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, ACO REACH has got to go!”

PSARA Executive Board member Rick Timmins of Whidbey Island told the rally that it took seven months for his for-profit Medicare Advantage provider to approve treatment of a tumor on his earlobe.

PSARA Education Fund President Robby Stern pointed out that Seattle-based Amazon has dived into the ACO REACH feeding frenzy, purchasing “One Medical” and its subsidiary “Iora” in a $3.9 billion cash buyout.

Faye Guenther, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 3000 representing 50,000 grocery store workers in Washington State, charged that Wall Street banks and corporations “are getting their greedy fingers into health care. Greed does not help.”

Rachel Berkson, an aide to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, thanked the crowd for supporting Jayapal, who has recruited 54 of her House colleagues to sign a letter to Biden and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra demanding ACO REACH termination.

Seattle City Councilwoman Theresa Mosqueda thundered, “How many times do we have to stand here and say: ‘Don’t privatize Medicare?’” She led the crowd in a chant, “Hands off Medicare! Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security are here to stay.”

Other speakers included Katie Garrow, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of MLK Labor, a central council with 150 unions representing over 100,000 workers, and Dr. Hugh Foy, retired surgeon from Harborview Hospital and the UW Medical system. Both strongly defended Medicare, denouncing privatization and calling for a single-payer Medicare for All system.

A delegation of three—PSARA Co-President Karen Richter, Health Care Is A Human Right WA leader David Loud, and Timmins—went up for a meeting with Regional Director Ulrey and the Division Director of CMS. The group delivered a demand to Ulrey’s boss, Becerra, that the Biden administration terminate ACO REACH and all other schemes to privatize Medicare. Ulrey agreed to share our concerns with Becerra.

Social Security birthday

Robby Stern, Patty Murray,Jim McDermott

A 75th Birthday Celebration of Social Security featuring US Sen. Patty Murray, US Rep. Jim McDermott and others was held August 16, 2010, at the Phinney Neighborhood Association’s Greenwood Senior Center, 525 N. 85th St. in Seattle.

There was birthday cake (donated by AFT Washington’s Retirees Chapter) and a sparkling apple cider toast (by the WSLC’s Jeff Johnson) as participants stress the importance of the Social Security system and the importance of stopping those who would use the deficit as an excuse to attack the program and cuts its benefits.

The event was organized by the Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans and Social Security Works – Washington which includes the Coalition of Labor Union Women,Puget Sound Chapter APALA, Seattle Chapter, Physicians for a National Health Program, Western Washington chapter, Washington State Jobs with Justice.

Speakers included Robby Stern, Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans, Will Parry Alliance for Retired Americans, Senator Patty Murray, Rep. Jim McDermott, Bette Reed, Marilyn Watkins, Teresa Mosqueda, Jeff Johnson, Washington State Labor Council.

Remembrance

Nearly 200 people gathered at the Urban Horticulture Center on the University of Washington (UW) campus, Mar. 9, 2014, to honor George Starkovich for his lifelong work as a union organizer, an activist for jobs, peace, and equality. Starkovich died April 26 at age 91.

His family, including his widow, Pat Starkovich, were in the crowd for the celebration. Daffodils and ornamental trees that George Starkovich once tended were coming into full bloom on campus.

Born April 27, 1922, Starkovich became a coal miner at age 15, following his father into the mines near Bellingham, WA. He became class conscious and kept that understanding the rest of his life. His parents were immigrants from the town of Lic, Croatia and Starkovich visited his relatives there over the years.

Dick Major, Secretary of the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge #439 said he and George Starkovich were considered "young turks" who resisted pressures that pulled other immigrant groups to the right. When Starkovich's father died, George asked Major to deliver the eulogy. "For me, George was a friend. Rest in peace, George."

Robby Stern, President of the Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) called Starkovich "a passionate man" fired by a love of working people and their unions.

80th anniversary of Social Security

80th anniversary of Social Security celebration in Seattle on Saturday, Aug. 8 2015 at Westlake Plaza, Seattle.

• Sen. Bernie Sanders, US Senate
• Rep. Adam Smith, US House of Representatives
• Sen. Pramila Jayapal, Washington Legislature
• Hon. Kshama Sawant, [Seattle City Council] Member
• Lynne Dodson - Secretary Treasurer, Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO
• Heather Villanueva - Senior Community Strength Organizer, SEIU 775, Board member, Ingersoll Gender Center
• Rebecca Saldana - Executive Director, Puget Sound Sage
• Gerald Hankerson - President of Alaska, Oregon, Washington State Area Conference NAACP
• Marcelas Owens - Youth leader, Washington CAN!
• Hugh Foy, MD. Physicians for a National Health Plan Western Washington, Professor of Surgery, UW School of Medicine, Director of the Surgical Specialties Clinic, Harborview
• Jackie Boschak - President of Washington Alliance for Retired Americans

Organised by Robby Stern of Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action, and Chuck Haunreiter, Washington Community Action Network.

Pramila supporter

Facebook, August 10 2016

In 2016 Washington State's District 7 seat had become available because Representative Jim McDermott, retired after 37 years in the U.S. House.

After winning the consequent primary Pramila Jayapal's victory in the primary was greeted with jubilation here in the Emerald City as hundreds of her grassroots supporters cheered her at a post-election celebration.

Imogene Williams was one of scores of members of Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action who worked hard to Jayapal in the primary. PSARA does not endorse candidates but Williams said she attended a house party for Jayapal at the home of PSARA President, Robby Stern, who personally endorsed her.

"I'm very, very enthusiastic about Pramila," Williams told the People's World. "She is a wonderful candidate to work for. I asked for 400 pieces of her literature to cover my own precinct and the neighboring precinct to the north and distributed all of them.

References

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