In an era of rising healthcare costs and corporate consolidation, a bold movement is taking shape on Long Island—one rooted in solidarity, self-determination, and the enduring power of labor. At the forefront of this transformation is the Nassau Suffolk Building Trades Council under the leadership of President Matthew Aracich, and in strategic partnership with Mark Blum, President of Solidaritus Health and Executive Director of America’s Agenda. Together, they co-chair the Long Island Labor Health Advisory Board, forging a new path toward union-owned and governed healthcare delivery.
Solidaritus Health was born from the urgent need to fix a broken healthcare system that transferred the value and profits from Wall Street to Main Street. Founded as an initiative of America’s Agenda, Solidaritus Health, Inc. launched in 2017 with a single Taft-Hartley client: UAW members in the Midwest. Within one year, the program delivered an unprecedented 24% reduction in health spending while significantly improving health outcomes and without cutting benefits or compromising care. That success validated the whole-person advanced primary care model, proving what’s possible when labor takes the lead in healthcare design, investment and governance.
Since then, Solidaritus has scaled across three states, building custom care delivery networks designed for and governed by the very unions and employers they serve. These networks prioritize access, quality, and accountability—reinvesting savings into better care, healthier members, their families, and stronger union health and welfare funds.
The model is simple: take control of healthcare delivery, cut out wasteful intermediaries, and put power back in the hands of labor and employer trustees.
Movement is gaining momentum across US coastlines. On the East Coast, Long Island stands as the flagship of the future of healthcare infrastructure. Through the Long Island Labor Health Advisory Board, labor leaders and contractor management are collaborating on a solution built for the unique needs of the region’s union workforce. The goal is clear: to develop a dedicated advanced primary care network across Long Island— built, by labor, governed by labor, serving labor, and accountable to labor shareholders.
On the West Coast, building trades councils are uniting under the same common vision that Jacques Loveall, President, International Vice President saw early on and supported the opening of three Solidaritus Health centers in Rocklin, San Jose and South San Francisco, California for his members and families of UFCW 8 – Golden State.
Matthew Aracich brings deep credibility and a lifelong commitment to advocating for the well-being of working families. His leadership ensures that the interests of Nassau and Suffolk’s union members are at the heart of every decision.
Aracich emphasizes the program’s impact on member empowerment in a recent address:
Our new Solidaritus Healthcare Program is about to stand the primary care template for the Building Trades Members on its end. By focusing on the location of our members, we are able to offer unparalleled access to high-quality care, scheduling innovative treatments, and personalized wellness plans that were previously unavailable in the downstate region. By integrating advanced technologies, innovative research, and a patient-centered approach, this program ensures that individuals receive not only immediate care, but long-term health support tailored to their specific needs. With an emphasis on controlling costs for preventative measures, early intervention, and streamlined care coordination, we are empowering our members to take control of their health in a way that transforms lives and sets a new standard for healthcare on Long Island, all while the council’s affiliates have direct ownership in the plan.
Mark Blum’s strategic vision and decades of experience in healthcare reform are instrumental in operationalizing that mission into an actionable, sustainable model. Together, they are building a coalition strong enough to change the rules of healthcare—not just for today’s members, but for generations to come.
During a recent conversation, Vincent Alu, Business Manager Laborers Local 66, captured the spirit of the movement solution, “This is more than an initiative. It’s a revolutionary movement.”
As the Long Island coalition takes shape, it sets a national example for what’s possible when labor leads with vision and courage. For labor leaders, signatory contractors, and workforce champions—this is your call to action. Join the movement. Shape the future. Build the legacy.
Mary Fogarty, National Taft-Hartley Liaison at Solidaritus Health, captured this spirit of legacy and transformation in a recent address:
“Just as previous generations shaped and built the New York City skyline, Solidaritus Health will be your legacy—built in your communities, by labor for labor. Together, we’ll transform healthcare for future generations of members and their families.”