Union Members Gather to Call, Write Letters to Schwarzenegger Expressing
Outrage
SAN FRANCISCO, June 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An unprecedented number
of home healthcare workers rallied Saturday to protest Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to their hours of service, wages and benefits.
These dramatic reductions would force some of California's most vulnerable
workers and the people they serve deeper into poverty. It also would force
many clients out of their homes and into nursing facilities prematurely.
In San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno, workers, their clients and
supporters gathered to write letters and make phone calls urging the governor
to lay down his budget ax and pledge to save these vital services for seniors
and people with disabilities. Thousands participated in the demand that the
governor craft a budget that's fair to all Californians, and encouraged
Republican lawmakers to withdraw their support of the latest plan.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provides personal care and domestic
services to more than 408,000 seniors and disabled people, enabling them to
live in their homes. The program is funded by federal, state and county
governments.
In his most recent budget proposal, Schwarzenegger advocated "permanently
eliminating domestic and related services" to 84,000 people, or 20 percent of
all IHSS recipients.
The governor also wants to slash matching funds for IHSS wages and
benefits back to the state minimum wage, which would pressure counties to
reduce total compensation for homecare workers from as much as $12.10 an hour
in some counties to $8.60 an hour. This is the third time in his tenure the
governor has proposed cuts that would force low-wage workers into poverty.
Homecare consumers and caregivers defeated similar measures in 2004 and 2005.
"Every day I care for a blind man and a woman with mental disabilities.
They're able to live alone, somewhat independently, with my help. Both my
consumers would be doomed without services," said Rosie Byers, a homecare
worker in San Francisco. "They would both be devastated if they were forced
into nursing homes because of these cuts."
The 150,000-member SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West is the largest and
fastest-growing hospital and healthcare union in the western United States and
represents every type of healthcare worker, including nurses, professional,
technical and service classifications. Our mission is to achieve high-quality
healthcare for all.
Mason Stockstill
cell (510) 206-8247
email mstockstill@seiu-uhw.org
SOURCE SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West
Mason Stockstill, SEIU, +1-510-206-8247, mstockstill@seiu-uhw.org
