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The nation’s eyes have been on Wisconsin since Governor Scott Walker and his legislative allies launched their unprecedented attack on public service workers’ rights earlier this year. With less than two weeks before the August recall elections of six anti-worker state senators, UDW staff members have joined hundreds of other union supporters to fight for working families. Read the rest of this entry »
LAUNCHING A MOVEMENT – AFSCME Sec.-Treas. Lee Saunders and home care providers represented by AFSCME Council 67 participated in The Care Congress on July 12. The Congress launched a national campaign to improve the lives of home care providers and their clients. (Photo by Luis Gomez)
Home care providers represented by AFSCME Council 67 in Maryland, and AFSCME Sec.-Treas. Lee Saunders, helped launch ‘Caring Across Generations,’ a national campaign to improve the future of long-term care in America.
The campaign was officially launched July 12 at The Care Congress, a one-day “town hall” meeting in Washington, DC, which brought together more than 700 caregivers – and recipients of their services – from across the country.
AFSCME helped create The Care Congress in partnership with the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Jobs with Justice and other organizations and labor unions. Read the rest of this entry »
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Medical Certification Form SOC 873
To access this information, point your web browser to: <http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/lettersnotices/default.htm>.
All County Letters (ACL’s) and All County Information Notices (ACIN’s) are used by CDSS to direct the agencies that administer IHSS on new regulations and changes in laws governing IHSS.
CDCAN Report #154-2011 – JULY 25, 2011 – Monday
Says Administration Will Work To Transition Over 34,000 Seniors and People with Disabilities in the Program to Other Medi-Cal Community-Based Services - News Disappoint and Angers Disability and Senior Advocates Including Over 300 Community-Based Providers and 7,000 Workers
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Last updated 07/25/2011 03L45 PM] - Governor Brown vetoed today AB 96, the budget trailer bill that calls for the creation of a new model of Adult Day Health Care saying the such a new “…look-alike program at this juncture is unnecessary and untimely,” in an action that is sure to disappoint and anger tens of thousands of people with disabilities and seniors, their families, hundreds of community-based providers and thousands of workers who provide those services. The Governor as expected, signed a less controversial budget trailer bill also dealing with adult day health centers – SB 91, that would allow those centers to continue to operate as licensed facilities without the requirement of being certified as a Medi-Cal provider. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Lee A. Saunders, Secretary-Treasurer AFSCME
Monday July 25, 2011 Firedoglake
There is no right more precious in our nation than the right of citizens to cast a ballot on Election Day. That is why generations of Americans have sacrificed and even died in efforts to expand the right to vote. Yet across the country, powerful corporate interests and the right-wing politicians who do their bidding are working hard to make it more difficult for citizens to vote. In more than two dozen states this year, bills have been introduced to restrict the right to vote; and in several states where Wall Street-backed Republicans control both houses of the legislature, governors have signed these fundamentally misguided measures into law.
As a result of these cynical attempts to turn back from the progress America has made in expanding voting rights, millions of voters are in for a surprise when they go to the polls. They will find new requirements that have never before existed, requirements that have been put in place to keep particular voters – students, minorities and senior citizens – from having their voices heard in our democracy. Read the rest of this entry »
UDW Director of Organizing and Field Services Johanna Hester
UDW has been honored twice by the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA), the nation’s first and only organization of Asian Pacific American union members.
At the alliance’s national convention in Oakland July 21-24, UDW Director of Organizing and Field Services Johanna Hester was elected APALA’s national president. Ms. Hester had previously served as the organization’s treasurer.
UDW was also the recipient of APALA’s Vincent Foo Award. Mr. Foo was a labor pioneer who won collective bargaining rights for the first time for thousands of Maryland’s school employees some 40 years ago. Read the rest of this entry »
UDW Organizers Raul Romero, Donta Harrison and Javier Lara attend rally in support of Los Angeles Probation Officers
Background Story: The sheriff vs. the probation chief
Two of Los Angeles’ most powerful criminal justice agencies faced off Tuesday during an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Supervisors, each arguing that they’d be better equipped to handle the surge of parolees who’ll soon be flowing into the county as a result of the state’s budget crisis.
Under Gov. Brown’s “realignment” spending plan, California’s counties are being given responsibility for overseeing thousands of low-level state prison inmates who will be released to ease prison overcrowding and to save money. Although the state has agreed to provide funding to the counties for the first year, there are no guarantees beyond that.
Virtually everywhere else in the state, county probation departments have been tasked with these new duties, which are similar to those they already perform. But in Los Angeles, Sheriff Lee Baca has offered a novel and controversial proposal, contending that the public safety mandate of his department should be broadened to include the rehabilitative work of parole supervision.
The Elder Court
In California, the Contra Costa County Superior Court, located in Martinez, runs a unique program, The Elder Court. This is such a brilliant and important idea that you should know about it.
The Honorable Joyce Cram has presided over the court, which is in session every Tuesday, since it was established in 2008, and handles every possible kind of elder-related case – criminal, conservatorships, probate, financial abuse, physical abuse, civil cases, restraining orders, small claims and more. Read the rest of this entry »
The recently passed state budget might be counting its chickens before they’re hatched, according to some in the healthcare industry who are worried about the $4 billion in additional revenue projected by lawmakers.
If the revenue does not come through by December of this year, a series of cuts would be “triggered” in January 2012, including a $100-million cut to the state’s In-Home Supportive Services hours. IHSS, a division of the state’s Department of Social Services, provides in-home services to eligible seniors as an alternative to nursing homes and other facilities.
“For years we were a major target with budget cuts, but it doesn’t make sense because inhome care is five times cheaper than a nursing home,” said Steve Mehlman, communications director at United Domestic Workers Homecare Providers Union. “If they don’t get this revenue, it will trigger some cuts that, from what I understand, would be catastrophic.” Read the rest of this entry »
FRIDAY JULY 22, 11:30amOakland City HalL — DOWNLOAD FLYER
UDW will participate in the “We Are One” march that happen this Friday in Oakland. Over 1000 union and community activists are expected to participate. — will you be one of us? Read the rest of this entry »
In recognition of the 12th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision, the United States Department of Justice issued an extremely important and comprehensive “Statement on Enforcement of the Integration Mandate” of the ADA and Olmstead.
This document will be of interest to all supporters of home care. It is DOJ’s “technical assistance guide.” All advocates should download it and use it in your advocacy efforts. Quote it in your briefs in Court. Quote it in your meetings with government officials. Cite it in your letters to the editor and opinion editorials. This document represents the official position of the highest law enforcement agency in the country. Read the rest of this entry »
July 12, 2011 – August 12, 2011
(888) 227-3152
Available Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm PST
The Union understands that benefits are very important. So we have made special arrangements to secure special rates for the following benefits through Aflac & DHS. Read the rest of this entry »
CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT #144-2011 – JULY 7, 2011 – THURSDAY EVENING
Death Stuns Disability and Senior Rights Advocates Across State - Was President of Californians for Disability Rights (CDR) Statewide Advocacy Organization
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Last updated 07/07/2011 09:30 PM] - Laura Williams, a widely respected and long time disability and senior rights advocate passed away unexpectedly, it was learned today. Williams passed away Wednesday morning at around 10 :00 AM , according to friends.: There are no details available yet regarding services. Read the rest of this entry »
Background
When Governor Jerry Brown proposed the FY 11-12 budget in January, the State was facing an unprecedented combined deficit of $25.4 billion for the current and next fiscal year. With his decision to cancel the sale of state office buildings and his intent to create a $1 billion reserve, the combined deficit grew to an unprecedented $27.6 billion. To make matters worse, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) predicted massive budget shortfalls each year through FY 15-16.
The Administration launched a six-month effort to tackle the deficit in a balanced, bipartisan manner. It proposed to address the deficit through a combination of reductions in state spending ($12.5 billion) and the temporary extension of several major tax rates and other measures to increase revenue ($12 billion). Read the rest of this entry »
