• Prior to UDW representation, wages were $7.11 per hour, with no medical benefits.
• In August of 2002, Orange County home care workers gained representation by UDW, and began the bargaining process for better wages and benefits.
• The first contract included a wage increase to $8.00 per hour, medical benefits for home care workers, and a “Re-opener” (the right to negotiate additional wage increases anytime during this contract if there is increased IHSS funding at the state or federal level).
• In August 2003, after much hard work on the part of UDW and your bargaining committee (made up of volunteer home care workers), a first time contract was ratified (approved – by the County, and by Orange County workers).
• June 27, 2004 UDW and Orange county began negotiating the second contract.
• August 17, 2004 Negotiations Update: Workers and staff attended the Board of Supervisors meeting in which we received the most insulting offer – minimum wage. According to Orange County Director Cynthia Hanna, the offer takes us back at least 5 years. The minimum wage offer was truly a break of faith because UDW settled for $8 per hour last year (after one year of negotiations). During last year’s negotiations, both parties understood the $8 wage was a starting point UDW could build our contract. Clearly, the County has not lived up to their end of the deal. Orange County workers and UDW staff will resume attendance at the BOS meetings this coming Tuesday with workers and clients pointing out the shame of such a ridiculous offer.
• November 2004: UDW continued working to bring a resolution to negotiations. Many providers and their clients made their voices heard in support of Orange County homecare providers.
• September 2005: The Bargaining Unit pushed hard to get County agreement.  Many times UDW together with providers and clients had to petition and lobby the Orange County Board of Supervisors to convince them of the value of home care work.
• December 1, 2005: An agreement is finally reached through arbitration, and wages are increased to $8.40 per hour.
• April 2008: The most recent contract, again took a great deal of work; after lengthy negotiations, many protests and rallies held on the steps of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, as well as visibility with local community organizations and in the press, an agreement was finally reached for a new contract. The contract was overwhelmingly approved (ratified through a vote) by Orange County home care providers. This contract brought wages to $8.90 per hour on July 1, 2008, with raises to $9.30 on July 1, 2009. This is a 10.7% increase in wages over the life of this contract! The contract also includes health 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!

Current Wages and Benefits

Effective July 1, 2009, provider hourly rate increased to $9.30 per hour.

Medical Benefits Package for Orange County

All workers with authorized hours of 80 or more per month will be entitled to participate in a county-paid, comprehensive health insurance plan, which includes:

• Hospitalization
• Medical office visits
• Annual physicals
• Prescription drug coverage
• Emergency care
• Dental &/or Vision (depending on cost)

The County will provide sixty cents ($.60) for every hour of service under this contract for health insurance. A joint Union-County trust fund finds the best plan with the lowest charge for doctor visits, prescriptions, etc.

For more information, contact your UDW Regional Office

Home Care Provider Registry for Orange County

The In Home Support Services Public Authority has established a Registry Service for home care workers and clients under the IHSS program in Orange County. 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:

Orange County IHSS Public Authority
1505 East Warner Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92705

Phone: (714) 825-3174
Fax: (714) 825-3001
e-mail: PublicAuthority@ssa.ocgov.com
Website: http://www.ocgov.com/publicauth/registry.asp

IHSS District Offices for Orange County

Contacting IHSS:

In Orange County, all inquiries are generally directed through the same phone number, listed below. They will usually have the social worker come to your home. 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, or for problems or issues with time cards, call the number below. To find a new client or worker, call the Registry.
Phone: 714/ 825-3000

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

IHSS PUBLIC AUTHORITY

The IHSS Public Authority (PA) is the legal entity established as the “Employer of Record” for individual IHSS workers. The PA is established according to law, for the purposes of collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. The PA also administers other aspects of the IHSS program such as the registry (referral service for providers and clients), training and assistance for home care workers, some aspects of payroll, etc.

Contact:

Orange County IHSS Public Authority
1505 East Warner Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92705

Phone: (714) 825-3174
Fax: (714) 825-3001
e-mail: PublicAuthority@ssa.ocgov.com
Website:http://www.ocgov.com/publicauth/about_us.asp

PROBLEMS OR ISSUES WITH TIME CARDS

Phone: 714/ 825-3000

Also see Payroll and Timecards for IHSS

CENTRAL INTAKE SCREENING UNIT

Phone: 714/ 825-3000

Labor Management Committee Meetings

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 Orange County Regional Office for more information.

Orange 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 call:

Orange County IHSS Public Authority
(714) 825-3174

More details may be found at the Orange County PA Website: http://www.ocgov.com/publicauth/advisory.asp

Your Orange County Board of Supervisors

http://www.ocgov.com/supervisors/supervisors.asp

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.

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 your UDW Regional Supervisor for Orange County

The Board of Supervisors meets Tuesdays:
Board Hearing Room, First Floor
10 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Complete meeting schedule may be found online at: http://www.ocgov.com/supervisors/agenda/supervisorsmeeting04.asp

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).

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.

Write: to address above.

Call or e-mail:

Each Supervisor in the County often 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.