UDW Homecare Providers Union El Dorado District Office
6256 Pleasant Valley Road, Suite 1
El Dorado, CA 95623
(530) 344-1753 Office | 877-822-9411 Toll Free|  (530) 344-1757 Fax
E-mail inquiries: unionheadquarters@udwa.org   

Your El Dorado District Elected Officers

District Chair: Josh Cain
District Secretary Treasurer: Timothy Wagster
District Vice-Chair: Ovidiu Hurduzeu

El Dorado District Chair

Josh Cain

Negotiations History

• 2002: Prior to UDW representation, wages were $6.75 per hour, with no medical benefits.
• February 24, 2003: El Dorado County IHSS workers authorized UDW Homecare Providers Union (known then as “United Domestic Workers of America”) to represent them, through a representation election. This means that a majority (over 50%) of the home care workers who voted, said “yes” they want to be represented by UDW in collective bargaining for better wages and health benefits.
• April 24, 2003: Negotiations began for the first contract ever negotiated in El Dorado county.
• October 2004: After more than a year at the bargaining table, and many appearances before the Board of Supervisors, UDW (together with your local El Dorado bargaining committee) reached agreement with El Dorado County on their historic first contract.
• November 1, 2004: The first contract was ratified (approved by vote).
• December 1, 2004: The 2004 contract went in to effect, which provided increased wages and first time health care benefits for IHSS homecare providers. Healthcare also included dental and vision. Under the new contract as of December 1, 2004, provider wages went to $8.00 per hour, with raises to $8.25 by July 2005, then $8.50 in July 2006, and $9.00 by July 2007 built in to the contract.
• 2007-2010: Negotiations for the second contract were very tough, spanning a three year period. During this time your El Dorado Bargaining Committee (volunteer homecare providers) together with UDW had to meet continuously with the county, and push past many seemingly insurmountable barriers to reach agreement. These were and continue to be, very turbulent times for the IHSS program; the Schwarzenegger Administration reduced state participation and attempted to decimate IHSS, proposing rollbacks to minimum wage. Reduction of state wage participation was temporarily stopped through lawsuits. The new El Dorado contract, despite this negative climate, was able to preserve the $9.00 an hour wage and even increase health care benefits.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE ABLE TO VOTE ON ALL CONTRACTS AND IN UNION ELECTIONS: Paying dues does not make you a union member.  To be a member you need to have signed a Membership Card.   

Signing a membership card does not mean you pay any additional money – it does give you membership rights and privileges. Take your power and send in a signed union card.   

Wages and Benefits Under the Present Contract

Wages under the present contract are $9.00 per hour. Health Benefits are as follows:   

Benefits Package, including health, dental, and vision benefits Medical Benefits Package negotiated by UDW in to the contract, are administered by the El Dorado IHSS Public Authority. In order for a Home Care provider to be eligible to enroll in the Plan, data records must show that the provider has been approved and paid to work 70 hours or more per month for two consecutive months prior to the enrollment period. The Public Authority will provide health, dental and vision benefits for those who work a minimum of 70 hours per month for two consecutive months, with no monthly premiums. Information on enrollment will be mailed to eligible workers.   

For more information on the complete details of coverage, qualification requirements, or an application, contact:   

El Dorado Public Authority For IHSS
 
937 Spring Street
Placerville, CA. 95667
Tel:  (530) 621-6384 

Home Care Provider Registry for El Dorado County

The In Home Support Services Public Authority has established a Registry Service for home care providers and clients under the IHSS program in El Dorado. By registering with their data-base, you can:   

• Find new clients, if you are a provider.
• Get a list of available, screened providers if you are a client that needs a worker.
• Register to become an IHSS Home Care Provider for the first time.
• Say what type of client you want and be matched with your requirements.
• Get training for yourself and for your client.

Background checks are done on providers who join the registry.   

To get more information, contact:   

El Dorado Public Authority For IHSS 

937 Spring Street
Placerville, CA. 95667
Tel:  (530) 621-6384 

IHSS District Offices for El Dorado County

Contacting IHSS: To make an application to become part of the IHSS program (as either a worker or a client), if you are already part of the program and need to talk with someone about your hours, to find a new client or worker, contact the office below.   

El Dorado Public Authority For IHSS 

937 Spring Street
Placerville, CA. 95667
Tel:  (530) 621-6384 

For problems or issues with time cards or payroll, you should also contact the IHSS Public Authority at the above location.  

If you can not resolve an issue after a good faith effort, call your union representative for help.   

El Dorado County Labor Management Committee

In each county, UDW Homecare Providers Union and the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authorities (IHSS-PA) form a Labor Management Committee. These Labor Management Committees (LMC’s) have been established to provide homecare providers and management alike, an opportunity to work together to discover, discuss, and resolve issues/problems of mutual concern not covered by the Memorandum of Understanding (contract).   The LMC will commonly explore and make recommendations about issues mutually identified that have impact on the working relationship between the UDWA, IHSS-PA, IHSS Home Care Providers, and IHSS Consumers.  

Joining a Labor Management Committed in your county is a great way to get involved with your union. Contact the El Dorado County Regional Office for more information.   

El Dorado County IHSS Advisory Committee

Meetings are open to the public   

IHSS Advisory Committees were created by a law which says the people who use the IHSS program should have a voice in how it is administered. This same law requires that the Board of Supervisors and the governmental departments who run IHSS listen to the recommendations of their IHSS Advisory Committee.   

AC members must be comprised of a majority of IHSS providers and consumers, that are volunteers from the community who have first-hand experience with the IHSS program. The positions are appointed by the county Board of Supervisors.   

Joining the IHSS Advisory Committed in your county is a great way to get involved in making the program better and meeting other providers and clients in your community. Advisory Committee’s are funded to provide transportation and expenses for members.   

Meeting times and dates are usually posted at the County Courthouse prior to the meeting. For more information go to the El Dorado County Website.   

Or contact:   

El Dorado Public Authority for IHSS
937 Spring Street
Placerville, CA. 95667
Tel:  (530) 937-621-6384 

El Dorado County Board of Supervisors

 http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/BOS/  

After the State sets the level of funding appropriated for IHSS, your County Board of Supervisors are the authorities who set pay levels and benefits in your county. UDW must negotiate with the County Supervisors, through their representatives, for your pay raises and benefits. When home care workers appear at the Board of Supervisor meetings, we talk to the Board about the importance of our work, and let them know that we want them to represent us with their decisions. As taxpayers and voters, we elect members of the board, and they are therefore accountable to us.  
Read more about County Supervisors and IHSS 

The Board of Supervisors hold public meetings, during which anyone is allowed to speak. During negotiations it’s important for home care providers to attend these meetings and speak before the board. Even if you are not comfortable speaking, your presence is crucial and shows political interest and influence. Bring your client(s) and family members. There is power in numbers! 

 UDW can let you know when it is best to attend. Contact  UDW, El Dorado    

The El Dorado Board of Supervisors meets at:   

Board of Supervisors Meeting Room
330 Fair Lane, Placerville
CA 95667   

These meetings are open to the public. Speakers during the public sessions must fill out a registration card and limit their comments (two, or three minutes – depending on the county). For complete agenda and next meeting time, go to the El Dorado Board of Supervisors web page above, or call the number below.   

You can also call, write, or email your Board of Supervisors to let them know you are aware of their decisions and you are concerned about home care workers.   

Call: 530/ 621-5390   

Write: to address above.   

Each Supervisor in the County has his or her own email address, office, and phone number. It is therefore best to go to their Website, where you can get all their individual data as well as determining which one represents your particular district in the County.