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UDW Organizing/Field Director Recognized in AFSCME’s National Magazine

From AFSCME national publication
AFSCME WORKS magazine

Members Connect with LGBT, Latino, Asian Pacific Groups

Asian American Activist | Johanna Hester of UDW Homecare Providers Union (UDW)/AFSCME Local 3930. (Photo by Michelle Lapitan)

 

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) has chosen as its national president Johanna Hester, director of organizing and field services for UDW Homecare Providers Union (UDW)/AFSCME Local 3930. A union member for more than 20 years, Hester helped organize Filipino nurses in San Jose in the 1990s. She is now championing the home care cause, and has become one of the most respected labor leaders throughout California.

This July, during its national convention in Oakland, Calif., APALA also honored UDW with the Vincent Foo Award, named after a labor pioneer who won collective bargaining rights for thousands of Maryland school employees 40 years ago. Read the rest of this entry »

Brown Administration Moves Forward on $623 Million Medi-Cal Provider Rate Cuts After Approval From Federal Government

CDCAN Report #182-211 October 27, 2011

Department of Health Care Services Withdraws Medi-Cal Provider Cuts To Physician and Clinic Services for Children, Home Health Services, Subacute Distinct Part Nursing Facilities and Outpatient Hospital Services – Public Stakeholder Meeting To Answer Questions on Cuts To Be Held in Sacramento Next Week by Department of Health Care Services 

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN)  [Last updated 10/27/2011 08:20 PM]  – Saying that the State was committed to preserving and maintaining access to important Medi-Cal services while also achieving needed savings to close an enormous budget shortfall, the Brown Administration announced late this afternoon that it received approval from the federal government to go forward on implementation of over $623 million in Medi-Cal provider rate reductions impacting most – but not all – Medi-Cal providers.  The news comes as the State faces yet another year of an on-going and unresolved budget shortfall that could mean another round of spending cuts and other reductions in 2012..  Read the rest of this entry »

NAACP’s Freedom Fund Dinner Event

The NAACP San Diego Branch celebrated its 38th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner with the theme of “Civil Rights and Workers Rights: WE ARE ONE!” on Saturday, October 15, 2011. The night began with the Buffalo Soldiers  as the official honor guards. NAACP President Lei-Chala Wilson welcomed the audience of approximately 350 community and labor attendees, the largest audience in the past 20 years. 
Read the rest of this entry »

Jobs Now!

Millions of families are out of work – or face that threat like never before. However, middle-class jobs are held hostage by Republican leaders – who blocked President Obama’s “American Jobs Act” last week. It’s simply appalling – I can’t think of a better word.

And that’s why we need you to stop what you’re doing right now and call your senators: 1-888-659-9563. Since they said no to the whole bill, President Obama and Democratic leaders are going to put it up for a vote one piece at a time. This week’s vote is on a proposal to send $35 billion in aid to states and communities to rehire teachers, firefighters and police. They need to hear from people like you who are on the frontlines of this crisis.

Here’s what to say:

Hi, I’m __________ from __________. I’m calling today to urge Senator _________ to vote YES on S. 1723. This crucial legislation will help ease the economic tailspin we’re in by proving funding to retain or create 400,000 jobs in education, and for police officers and first responders. This bill will benefit every single American by strengthening our education system and keeping our communities safe. Can I count on Senator _________ to vote YES?

It’s a small first step towards getting our country out of the worst jobs crisis since the Great Depression, and it completely pays for itself with a small tax on millionaires – something that an overwhelming majority of Americans support.

At a time when millions of middle class families can’t find a job – or face losing theirs – it’s time for the Senate to stop playing politics with people’s lives and get America back to work. Please pick up the phone and call your senators right now: 1-888-659-9563.

Riverside Health Fair & Provider Appreciation – Join Us Nov 19th

 

Free Blood Pressure & Cholesterol Screening,
Zumba Instructions, Massages,
Child Activities and much more!

When: Saturday, November 19, 2011
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Where: Public Authority
12125 Day Street., Moreno Valley, CA

Download Flyer

Read the rest of this entry »

Californians for Olmstead: A Blueprint for Advocates

“Our Homes Not Nursing Homes”

A Blueprint for Advocates: Recommended Next Steps to Advance California’s Implementation of the Supreme Court’s Olmstead Decision 

Like the similar civil rights decision of Brown v. the Board of Education, the Supreme Court’s 1999 Olmstead decision, validating the rights of people with disabilities to live in community settings instead of institutions, has been slow in making the large-scale changes that advocates expected. The economic recession has impeded progress and even set back California’s implementation efforts. However, the 2010 passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as health care reform, is driving immense changes to long-term living programs and services that will potentially have a lasting impact on Olmstead implementation in the state. This Blueprint for Advocates provides an overview and context for the major change processes the state is undergoing, and suggests key strategies for advocates to continue to promote Olmstead implementation in a rapidly evolving landscape. Read the full report…

San Diego County Leader & Labor Activist Geshalem Perez

30 Under 30 San Diego County Leader No. 18: Geshalem Perez

Encinitas Patch >The Neighborhood Files

 
Geshalem Perez said she knew early on she wanted to “help people in some way.” So when she heard a union leader speak in her San Diego State University’s “Social Movements” class, she found her calling.
Perez, 28, is the organizer for three unions, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, after having been involved with labor unions for a number of years.

“After having graduated from SDSU in 2007 with a B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Diversity and Change, I’ve been actively involved in the labor movement, helping to empower workers and strengthen the middle class,” she said. “I feel both humbled and strengthened being able to fight for the rights of working class people—currently as an organizer on staff for the UDW Homecare Providers Union, which has greatly engaged and retained me within this movement.”

Perez, who said her biggest accomplishment is participating in groups such as the board of directors for Justice Overcoming Boundaries as a Fiesta del Sol co-chair, the Labor’s Training and Community Alliance, the Foundation for Change and Train of Thought San Diego, said she hopes to continue to serve the Labor and Green Movements.

As she continues to grow in the community, Perez thanks her parents for being her inspiration.

“Being the hardworking people they are, they definitely helped instill a strong work ethic within my core values,” she said.  Read More…

Battleground Bulletin: AFSCME Members Lead “America Wants to Work” Week

This week’s Battleground Bulletin reports on AFSCME members and our allies who have been fighting across the country this week to create good jobs for American workers.

AFSCME Members Lead “America Wants to Work” Week

AFSCME members have taken to the streets this week alongside labor and progressive allies to pressure Congress to pass meaningful jobs legislation and protect workers against state attacks.

 
(From R-L) Jesse Jackson, AFSCME Sec.-Treas. Lee Saunders, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Rev. Al Sharpton. (Photo by Luis Gomez)

  Read the rest of this entry »

Orange County UDW Activists Join Protest; Call Out Speaker of the House John Boehner


Above Donta Harrison (UDW O.C. Regional Coordinator), Miguel Mondragon (UDW Organizer) and Tafari Gebre- OCLF Executive Director at protest rally held during the GOPs Reagan Cup Golf Tournament and fundraiser in Newport Beach.

Christine Nguyen (UDW O.C. Chapter Chair), member Javier Lara and many other UDW members and supporters turned out at the protest carying signs and chanting.

Protesters gave Boehner a “Working Families Welcome,” telling him to “STOP PLAYING GAMES AND WORK ON PASSING A JOBS BILL THAT GETS AMERICA BACK TO WORK!”

Also see

Media Coverage:

Merced Sun-Star: Program for disabled faces cuts

By YESENIA AMARO Merced Sun-Star

John Salgado enjoys cutting grass and pulling weeds.  It keeps him busy and out in the community.    But more than anything, it’s a job that gives him independence.

Salgado is among about 300 Merced County residents with developmental disabilities who receive services from the Kings View Work Experience Center. The center has two sites, one in Los Banos, which serves around 50 people, and the one in Atwater, which serves around 250 people, said Samuel Kalember, executive director for the center.

The center dispatches about 12 crews — each with about 11 to 12 members — throughout the county to work at various sites. The crews do mostly janitorial and landscaping work, foreclosure cleanup and construction cleanup.

In addition, the center offers vocational services. It also teaches some of its clients daily living skills and independent skills “so they can become more independent in the community,” Kalember said. Read more

UDW Participates in OC Protest of House Speaker Boehner

Occupy Golf Course, or What Happens When You Interrupt Boehner’s Golf Game
Huffington Post, October 17, 2011

By Rick Jacobs, Courage Campaign Chairman

Speaker Boehner has a job, and that’s to create more jobs. But when he’s not keeping the House from voting on the American Jobs Act, he likes to go golfing and raise money. Unfortunately for him, we at the Courage Campaign aren’t about to let that stand as an excuse to not do his job, which is what we did today.

Today, Speaker Boehner joined Orange County Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher and Ed Royce at the swanky Pelican Hill Resort for a round or two of golf with the 1% who can easily afford to contribute thousands of dollars to use metal poles to chase after small white balls on their enormous lawn. Even though he was here among his base, he seemed a bit confused and then angry when I told him I was there on behalf of the over 27,000 members of the Courage Campaign who signed a petition demanding that he and the 19 Republican members of the California House delegation hold a vote on President Obama’s American Jobs Act.

Here’s how it went. About 60 of us met at 7:00 a.m. at a shopping center here in Newport Beach. Our numbers included friends and allies from among the Courage Campaign membership, California Federation of Teachers (CFT), UDW Homecare Providers Union (AFSCME), SEIU 1877 (Justice for Janitors), IBEW, the Orange County Central Labor Council, UNITE HERE 11, MoveOn.org members, and folks from Occupy Irvine. We shuttled folks over to the entrance of the resort, where four or five security guards stood watch to check for, well, us. Several police vehicles were nearby and kept driving around, including a paddy wagon; I guess they felt sorry for us not having golf carts.

The energy was terrific. Ana, Eddie, Anthony and Arisha from Courage Campaign’s staff stayed up most of the previous night making signs. The Labor Council brought more. AFL-CIO jobs signs turned up as did some MoveOn and #Occupy signs. Happily, our friends brought a couple of bullhorns, chants and two drums with drummers. What a raucous racket we raised starting at 7:30 a.m.!

We knew we’d never get inside to meet the Speaker if we took the direct approach, so we rented a room (thanks to our members making that possible) in which four staff spent the night. Three of us — Eddie, Ana and me — dressed as if we were golfers. Eddie even rented two sets of clubs!

We took the hotel shuttle to the front gate where the protests were going on in fine form. After a few hesitations, we were admitted to the inner sanctum. And sure enough, there was the Speaker, wearing shorts, a red jacket and huffing away on a cigarette. After a few discussions with the amply present staff, we caught him walking back from a smoking break. Here’s what happened:  Read More

See Video of Petition Delivery:

Read the rest of this entry »

Killing Medicaid the California Way

The Obama administration may be complicit in eviscerating Medicaid
 
 

By Bruce C. Vladeck & Bruce C. Vladeck

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Virtually all of the debate over the health care legislation enacted last year has focused on the constitutionality of the individual mandate, the requirement that, by 2014, nearly all Americans either purchase health insurance or pay a fine if they fail to do so.

But last week the court also heard oral arguments in another case that could, indirectly, have a far greater impact on whether the act can meet the goal of expanding health care access by broadening eligibility for Medicaid, by 2014, to 15 million people.    

One of the central substantive requirements of the Medicaid program, which serves more than 50 million poor and disabled Americans, is what’s known as the equal access mandate, which requires states to set the rates at which they reimburse Medicaid providers at levels sufficient to ensure an adequate supply of providers. As both Congress and the executive branch have understood since Medicaid’s creation in 1965, there would be little incentive for providers to participate in Medicaid if their payments were too far below market levels.

Nevertheless, in response to vast budget shortfalls, the California Legislature in 2008 enacted an across-the-board 10% cut in reimbursement levels for Medi-Cal, the state Medicaid program. Three groups of Medicaid beneficiaries and providers sued the state, arguing that the categorical reduction was inconsistent with, and therefore pre-empted by, the equal access mandate.  Read More…

IHSS Consumer’s pride & solidarity

Click to see larger imageWhen Joey Rowland from San Luis Obispo heard about UDW’s efforts (and victory!) stopping the waste of taxpayer dollars on fingerprinting for timecards (passage of SB930), he wrote us the following email:

“Now this is the U.D.W. Union that makes me proud to be a member, and not only a member but a proud citizen of California governed by a caring man by the name of Mr. Brown. Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication! Know that I and everyone involved in the I.H.S.S. program is thankful for your loyalty, dedication, love, and time. Please keep up the great work, and I hope to hear more victories to come. Thank you from the very bottom of all our hearts especially mine.”

— Joey Rowland (Disabled citizen that receives IHSS services.)

Joey also sent us his tongue-in-cheek “visitors guide” artistic collage, shown below along with his comments: Read the rest of this entry »

San Diego: IHSS Public Authority Fall Newsletter for IHSS Providers & Clients

Also see UDW San Diego Page
More San Diego Chapter News

Click to download PDF

Information for San Diego IHSS Homecare Providers and their Clients
Download Newsletter (PDF)

The San Diego IHSS Public Authority Website has back-issues of this newsletter
and other local information for homecare providers in San Diego. 

Gov. signs pair of Evans bills; legislation aims to protect contractors, repeal IHHS rules

Times Standard

Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed a pair of bills authored by North Coast Sen. Noreen Evans to repeal rules in the In-Home Supportive Services program and protect commercial contractors.

Senate Bill 930 removes “unneeded and costly laws” from the books and saves the state an estimated $41.6 million, according to Evans’ office. Specifically, the bill repeals three portions of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2009 In-Home Supportive Services anti-fraud initiative, repealing fingerprinting requirements and mailing restrictions for providers.  Read Story

UDW VICTORY: Governor Signs SB 930 – Would Repeal IHSS Recipient Fingerprint Requirements & Repeal Prohibition of IHSS Worker Use of PO Boxes to Receive Their Paychecks

Thank you to all supporters!In a major victory for IHSS consumers and providers, Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation which would end the wasteful and ineffective requirement of placing fingerprints on IHSS time sheets. More than 500 UDW members sent FAX messages to the governor urging him to sign it.
 
The UDW sponsored bill—SB 930 (Evans) repeals requirements that In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) recipients provide fingerprint images and that provider timesheets include spaces for provider and recipient fingerprints. The bill also repeals the prohibition against providers using a post office box address to receive their paychecks. Read the rest of this entry »

More Realize They Face Pricey Long-Term Care

National Public Radio
By    You may also Listen to this Story 

A new poll by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health finds that more people than ever are becoming aware of the likelihood that they will need potentially expensive long-term care health services as they age. But they still don’t understand how that care gets paid for.  Read full transcript

State Controller Report: September State Revenues $301.6 Million Below What Was Hoped For in 2011-2012 State Budget

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
Report #179-2011 – OCTOBER 10, 2011 - MONDAY

Prospects Increasing That State Budget “Trigger Cuts” Will Be Pulled In December Triggering Up To $2.5 Billion In New Additional Mid-Year Spending Cuts – Developmental Services, IHSS, Education All Could Be Impacted  

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN)  [Last updated 10/10/2011 08:05 PM] -  State Controller John Chiang released today his monthly analysis on the State’s finances reporting that California’s revenues for the month of September fell $301.6 million below what was projected in the 2011-2012 State Budget, making more likely the prospect that State budget “trigger cuts” will be pulled in December resulting in automatic spending cuts impacting a wide range of programs including developmental services, education and In-Home Supportive Services.  With economic troubles growing across the nation and around the world, the grim news by the State Controller was not unexpected.  Read the rest of this entry »

Governor Signs SB 930 that Would Repeal Fingerprint Requirements for IHSS Recipients

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
Report #175-2011 – OCTOBER 9, 2011 - SUNDAY

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN)  [Last updated 10/09/2011 01:00 PM] - Governor Jerry Brown today signed  SB 930 by Sen. Noreen Evans (Democrat – Santa Rosa, 2nd State Senate District) that will repeal the requirements that In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) recipients provide fingerprint images on IHSS worker (provider) timesheets and repeals the prohibition against IHSS workers from uysing a post office box address to receive their paychecks.  The bill will impact the over 450,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors who receive IHSS and the over 405,000 persons who work as providers in the program across the State.  The legislation also would made other changes regarding certain appeal rights for IHSS workers and their use of a post office box to receive paychecks. Read the rest of this entry »

Hear Audio from Supreme Court Case on IHSS Wages

Click here for the link to the audio of October 3rd Supreme Court oral argument in the Medicaid provider rate cases.  The consolidated cases include the Dominguez case, which relates to homecare provider wages statewide.  This link will take you to the page for the consolidated cases, identified as Douglas v. Independent Living Center of Southern Cal., Inc.  You can play the audio directly from that site or download it to your computer.

Other articles:

Capitol Alert: Jerry Brown signs bill nixing fingerprinting of food stamp recipients

Sacramento Bee, October 6 2011

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation this morning eliminating the state’s requirement that food stamp applicants be fingerprinted, a bid to increase participation in the federally-funded CalFresh program.

Supporters said fingerprinting deterred participation, with just half of eligible Californians receiving assistance. California is one of three states and one city that require applicants to be fingerprinted, according to a legislative analysis. Assembly Bill 6, by Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, D-Los Angeles, was among a batch of food-related bills Brown signed today. He also signed Assembly Bill 152, also by Fuentes, that provides a tax credit to California growers for the cost of fresh fruits or vegetables they donate to food banks.

The Senate Appropriations Committee estimated the tax credit will initially cost the state General Fund $200,000 a year.  See Full Story

Why the GOP Won’t Vote on the American Jobs Act

   By Gerald W. McEntee, President AFSCME International
   Published on the Daily Kos website

On Tuesday, the Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia, told the press that he would not schedule a vote on President Obama’s American Jobs Bill.  That’s appalling, but not surprising.  With its current leadership, the House never schedules votes on bills to increase employment in the U.S.   If you look closely at their record, you’ll see that putting more people to work is the last thing they want to accomplish.  It would be bad for the billionaires who finance their campaigns, and it would hurt their chances of maintaining power.  

None of the folks on TV news will mention it, but the truth is that the bosses on Wall Street and right-wing talk radio like high unemployment.  It drives down wages and increases profits.  That makes most corporate CEOs happy.  High unemployment delights the Rush Limbaughs of the world, too.  It makes President Obama fail, and that’s been their hope since day one of his presidency.  Remember, it was Limbaugh who told his audience in the earliest days of 2009:  “I want to see him fail.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jobs Bill is Not Moving – Send a letter to congress

Millions of Americans are out of work and can’t provide for their families. Yet, the Jobs Bill is not moving.

Thousands of demonstrators are occupying Wall Street — and Main Streets everywhere — demanding an economy that works for all Americans, not just the wealthiest. Yet, the Jobs Bill is not moving.

Sent to Congress by President Obama nearly one month ago to invest in infrastructure and create jobs, the Jobs Bill is just sitting there.

Read the rest of this entry »

Battleground Bulletin: DC 37 Leads Protest of School Worker Layoffs

This week’s Battleground Bulletin reports on AFSCME members’ fight for working families at the Women’s Conference in Milwaukee and on the steps of City Hall in New York.

AFSCME Women Show They are Ready for 2012 Battles

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis with AFSCME Women's Conference Attendees

More than 900 AFSCME women assembled in Milwaukee, WI  this past weekend to listen, learn and demonstrate in preparation for state battles through the remainder of 2011 and into the 2012 election season. These strong AFSCME women were joined by sisters who are leaders in the workers’ rights movement including U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. Both praised the activists for their fight on behalf of American workers. Read the rest of this entry »

U.S. Supreme Court Hearing on Case that Impacts Medi-Cal Rates and State Participation in IHSS Wages

Featured content, SCOTUSblog (Supreme Court of the United States Blog)
By Lyle Denniston, reporter

Analysis

When the Supreme Court has been doing something under the Constitution since 1824, as one Justice pointed out Monday, that perhaps should not need to be explained and maybe ought even to be free from reconsideration.  But some members of the Court seemed to be suggesting, in an important public benefits case from California, that it might be time to take a new look at how open the courts should be to claims that states are getting in the way of enforcing federal law.  At stake, it appears, is the fate of Ex parte Young (which dates to 1908, but embodies an older constitutional principle  — the right to sue state officials directly for violating a federal law’s guarantees).

The Young precedent, of course, had its defenders on the bench during the oral argument in Douglas v. Independent Living Center (09-983), and two related cases, but they sometimes seemed on the defensive.  Read More 

Also see CDCAN Report on this subject