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Examples of Oral Presentations (Speakers)
The following was presented by a home care worker,
during 2003 negotiations for the first contract in Riverside:
Good Morning. My name is Chris Long, and I live near Desert Hot Springs.
I first came to California 13 years ago to visit my friend who I had known
many years. When it came time to leave, her condition was such that she
could not keep herself clean,….. she could not protect herself from
rats that woke her up when they bit her, or a cockroach that crawled into
her ear. I could not find adequate care for her. So I stayed and I've been
involved in her care ever since. We've been married for a year and nine
months as of May 10.
Last Wednesday I was informed by your chief negotiator for the public
authority governing IHSS, that he was under no obligation to offer any
increase in economic benefits. We know he speaks for you.
There is money for war. There is $9.50 an hour available to pay a crossing
guard. There was obviously a lot of money available to finance the construction
of this building but your negotiator tells us he is bargaining in good
faith, but he is not obliged to offer any thing. Please - we are defined
by our choices not our obligations.
It was a choice on my part to haul my wife back and forth to and from
classes at the local community college in spite of inflammatory episodes
that would have kept many people totally bed ridden, it was not an obligation.
The program depends on people, whether friends or family, who are paid
4 or 5 hours a day but are on duty or on call, 24 hours a day 7 days a
week.
We have programs that give girls a safe haven if they will take an unwanted
child to the hospital instead of throwing it in a dumpster. The $7.11 an
hour for half the time you work, funding formula, for home care is exhausting
the caregiver that stands between the elderly, the disabled and the dumpster.
It is very, very hard to hear your negotiator speak about negotiating
coming from what he is or is not obliged to do, when each one of the 8,000
caregivers in this county has to be motivated not by obligation but by
compassionate choice.
We provide care and service of a kind that the county should be eager
and proud to support, with a wage that reflects the caregivers real and
incredibly valuable contribution to the community.
Finally the level of funding for home care makes a statement about the
values and priorities expressed in this county. Please let's, at least
be as proud of our disabled and elder care as we are of this fine building.
Thank you for your time and attention.
The following was presented by a disabled recipient of In Home
Supportive Services, during 2003 negotiations for the first contract
in Riverside:
My name is Kristine Loomis, from Desert Hot Springs. I am a recipient of In Home Support Services. I am here today because I want you to meet us and know who we are. I want you to know how important this program is, why I am really grateful for it's existence, and why it should be adequately funded.
I was stricken with rheumatoid arthritis twenty years ago, when I was in my twenties. Before I became disabled I was a professional, had a degree, investments, and a promising future. As my disability became worse I had to stop working, and within ten years I was destitute, and living by myself in a 16X24 foot cabin in the desert near Palm Springs.
I had no family that could help me, but I didn't ask for any government assistance until I was literally in a wheelchair. During the years before my marriage, every IHSS worker that I had was a skilled person that could easily have made higher wages if they'd chosen to abandon me to my fate. I watched these people sacrifice their lives for me, and consequently become worn out, sick, and have to live in poverty themselves in order to help me. My husband spent many hours filling in the gaps in my care, without pay, before we were married. Even with this dedication, I faced a situation of long periods spent alone where I could not protect or look after myself adequately. I did in fact, literally have rodents bite me at night, and had to crawl across the floor with a broken hip – dragging myself with my hands for over an hour to reach the phone and call for help… My previous IHSS providers had to quit, because they couldn't afford the cost – mentally, physically, or financially – of being an IHSS worker.
What I want to say to you, is that we are worth more. This program is extraordinarily important. It has kept me out of an institution. During the years I have received IHSS support I have gone to college and am now on the verge of being able to start supporting myself. Without the help of IHSS I could not have done this. But my life is hanging by a thread. I am constantly living with the fear that my husband might get sick or become unable to care for me. He is sixty-four years old. I have used up all my other friends. If something happened to him I could not replace his help for minimum wage especially since pay is usually for less than half the actual hours required. We are not the only ones in this situation. I am speaking for thousands of others who cannot be here today.
You have the power to change this situation. I have been told that this is not a matter of legal obligation. But I believe we are defined by our choices in life, not our obligations. Please do the right thing.
Thank you.
The following was presented by a home care worker, during recent events that resulted in AFSCME taking administratorship of UDW:
Good morning and thank you for allowing me to address the board today. I am Felice Connolly from Homeland. I am my daughter's caregiver, who qualified for the IHSS program after she turned 18 in 1998. As I have stated in my past addresses to the board, our family has had to advocate strongly for my daughter to obtain government services like the IHSS.
I am saddened by the events that resulted in the court order for AFSCME to take over the UDWA and represent the Home Care Workers (HCW) in our negotiation with the Public Authority of Riverside County. I thought hard and searched deep in to my heart before I decided to work with AFSCME/UDWA. My main concern and loyalty lies with the home care workers. I want to move forwards rather than backwards, and that is why I stay on as a member of the Bargaining Committee. At this time AFSCME is our means to move forwards. Our bargaining team has developed a good rapport with the Riverside County negotiating team. I want continuity of that relationship and be able to arrive at a consensus of what is best for home care workers.
The decision of the UDWA Executive Board to merge with SEIU was made without consulting the members. To my mind that is a pure political maneuver. That decision is now dividing the members. Those who are not aware of what went on are probably confused. I only wish that the issue could be put forth in simple, plain, and easy to understand language, rather than legal or technical language that would probably cause more confusion.
I understand that SEIU was using scare tactics to get members to sign up new membership cards to choose SEIU to represent us. I have spoken to some members who have been visited or phoned by SEIU and were told that if they do not sign up, their wages will be reduced to $6.75 by October. SEIU, please do not deceive the home care workers. How many of the 40% you claim chose to sign up with you signed up because of the fear factor, and punching the panic button?
SEIU also claims that they could get a better contract for Riverside Home Care Workers. If that is so why did they settle for $8.10 an hour which means there was no pay raise for the Home Care Workers of Los Angeles County? Currently, the HCW in Riverside County make $8.50/hour plus $.60/hour for medical benefits for our first contract. I am proud to say that I am a member of the Bargaining Committee that negotiated that first contract. And, I am grateful to the Board of Supervisors for supporting the Home Care Workers. I feel that I made a difference in the lives of the Home Care Workers of Riverside County.
I am requesting the Board of Supervisors to remain neutral, and abide by the court ruling. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to present my side of the issue.
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