Your bargaining team, comprised of homecare providers, has negotiated a new 31 month contract with the Orange County IHSS Public Authority. This contract will be in effect from October 1, 2007 until April 30, 2010, at which time we will renegotiate new terms.

 NEW CONTRACT LANGUANGE FOR 2007 - 2010

WAGES. The wages for home care providers in Orange County will increase by $.50 an hour to $8.90 per hour as soon as implemented by the State Controller (estimated at June or July 2008). Effective July 1, 2009, provider hourly rate will increase from $8.90 to $9.30 per hour. This is a 10.7% increase in wages over the life of this contract!

The 2007 – 2010 UDW Bargaining Team Curt Ostrander, Chief Negotiator, UDW/AFSCME; Marguerite Morrison, NUHHCE; Willas DeMorst, Chief Negotiator, UDW Orange County Home Care Providers Teresa Gorrido de Cuin, Theresa Le, Christine Nguyen, Terrilyn R Woodfin, Elizabeth Arenales

THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS OF THE FIRST CONTRACT WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT; THEY ARE:

1. RECOGNITION. County recognizes United Domestic Workers of America as the exclusive representative of home care workers employed by the IHSS Public Authority.
   
2. HEALTH BENEFITS. All providers with authorized hours of 80 or more per month will be entitled to participate in a county-paid, comprehensive health benefits, which include health insurance, dental and vision benefits.
   
3. DIRECT DEPOSIT. The Public Authority and the Union have worked together towards the establishment of a direct deposit system with the State Controller so providers’ paychecks can be deposited directly into their bank accounts on payday, without delay. Direct deposit availability to providers begins in 2008.
   
4. TRAINING. New home care providers may be required to attend orientation training. The Union and the Public Authority may establish other training programs as necessary.
   
5. GRIEVANCE.The procedure for resolving complaints of providers who believe the Public Authority has violated the Union contract includes a series of steps ending with binding arbitration.
   
6. LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. Union providers and Public Authority representatives will meet regularly to work cooperatively to solve problems and make new improvements in client care and the in-home services program in Orange County.
   
7. NO STRIKE/NO LOCKOUT. There will be no strikes and no lockouts during the life of the contract and during negotiations for its renewal.
   
8. PUBLIC AUTHORITY RIGHTS. The Public Authority is as an agency independent of the County of Orange. Unless otherwise specified in this contract, it retains the right to determine the methods, means and personnel by which its operations are to be conducted.
   
9. AGENCY SHOP. Under an “Agency Shop”, all providers, with certain exceptions, must become members of the Union and pay Union dues. It takes a lot of work, a lot of money, a lot of time and a lot of dedication on the part of Union members and Union staff to gain IHSS improvements, negotiate a Union contract with pay raises, and maintains an office and staff members for the benefit of the members. The law does allow certain exceptions: providers who choose not to become union members may not participate in the running of the Union, including voting on union contracts, and still must pay dues and fees for the cost of representation. Providers who do not support the Union’s political and organizing activities, must still pay their “fair share” of the Union’s expenses in representing them.

 

 

 

Union State Headquarters: UDW State Headquarters
Your Regional Office: UDW Orange