Negotiations History

The United Domestic Workers of America has been representing California IHSS Home Care Providers since 1980 and Placer County since 2003 when UDW won recognition by the vast majority of the providers. Your union, the UDW, represents only IHSS Home Care Providers in California. Your present contract was negotiated by a bargaining team comprised of Home Care Providers, for the term of January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009

• January 2007: Placer County ratifies new contract, taking wages
  up to $10.00 per hour during the three year contract, which also includes
  health benefits. This second contract was another hard-won effort, but once negotiations with the county were completed it was approved by 99% of voting members.

  

• August 2004: After a great deal of hard work on the part of UDW
  and your Placer bargaining committee (volunteer home care workers)
  our first contract was implemented.  With a record turnout, nearly
  1,000 Placer County home care workers, represented by the United Domestic
  Workers of America (UDW), won their first In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
  contract. The
  contract, ratified by 97 percent of those voting, includes a 26 percent
  wage increase over a two-year period, plus health, dental, and vision benefits.
  Pay will go from minimum wage – $6.75 an a hour – to $8.50 an hour from
  August 2004 to July 2006! This contract was the first time Placer
  County’s IHSS workers began earning more than minimum wage and receiving
  any benefits for providing services, which are essential to the health and
  safety of their elderly and disabled clients.

  

• August 2003: Placer County IHSS workers authorized United Domestic
  Workers to represent them, through a card check recognition process.
  This means that a majority (over 50%) of the IHSS home care workers in the
  county signed cards saying they want to be represented by UDW in collective
  bargaining for better wages and health benefits.

Under Assembly Bill 1682, UDW-sponsored legislation, enacted in 1999, counties
are required to establish an employer of record for their IHSS home care workers,
bargain for wages, and other terms and conditions of employment. The Placer
County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to create a new IHSS Agency,
a Public Authority, to serve as the IHSS workers employer of record. The Placer
County IHSS Public Authority provides the framework for collective bargaining,
contract administration, registry and referral services, and other improvements
to the program providing in-home care for the elderly and disabled.

Wages and Medical Benefits

Wages are $10.00 per hour, effective February 1, 2010

The current UDW contract includes health insurance benefits as follows:

Due to the new contract, 80 new medical benefits slots will open to providers
who meet the eligibility requirements with 25 additional medical slots being
added year two and three of the contract with a total of 130 new slots. This
will aid in keeping the medical benefits waiting list short.

The Public Authority will provide comprehensive health benefits for those who work a minimum of 65 hours per month, with no monthly premiums. The package will include:

• Health
• Dental
• Vision

The Union and the Public Authority worked together to select the best possible benefits plan. Information on enrollment will be mailed to eligible workers. Providers may contact the IHSS Public Authority with questions about their health benefits.

Placer County Public Authority For IHSS

379 Nevada St.

Auburn, CA 95603

Phone: 530/886-3680

Home Care Provider Registry

for Placer County

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

Placer County Public Authority For IHSS

379 Nevada St.

Auburn, CA 95603

Registry: 530/886-3680

Website: Placer County Public Authority For IHSS

IHSS District Offices for Placer County

Contacting IHSS:

Referral (new clients etc) 530 886-5401

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PROBLEMS OR ISSUES WITH TIME CARDS

(This number is for Independent Providers, already with the program)

Phone: 530/886-2930

Also see Payroll and Timecards for IHSS

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Placer 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:

Placer County Public Authority for IHSS: IHSS AC meets monthly, (third Friday of the month) 1:30 to 3:pm

175 Fulweiler Conference Room A. -
Auburn CA, 95603

Meetings are open to the public.

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Placer 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 Placer County Regional Office for more information.

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Placer County Board of Supervisors

http://www.placer.ca.gov/bos/bos.htm

Your County Board of Supervisors are the authorities who ultimately decide whether home care workers get pay increases 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 UDW, Placer county.

The Board of Supervisors meetings are usually held in the Placer County Administrative Center, the Domes:

Placer County Board of Supervisors

Main Auburn Office

175 Fulweiler Avenue

Auburn, CA 95603

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.

Call:

530/889-4010

Write: to address above.

e-mail: bos@placer.ca.gov

Additionally, Placer county Board of Supervisors has field offices in Roseville and Tahoe. For complete details, go to their
Website, where you can also get county supervisor’s individual data as well as determine which supervisor represents your particular district in the County.