Index for Placer County Pages

Union State Headquarters: UDW State Headquarters

UDW in Placer County

WE ARE FIGHTING BACK!!!!
Photo & Letter Writing Campaign

We need all providers, their families and friends to write their representatives in order
save the IHSS program!!!!

Please join us, so we can help you write your story
and attach a photograph.  We need to show legislators
we are real people and not statistics

Monday – Thursday 9AM – 6PM
UDW Office
800 Sunrise Ave., Suite C,
Roseville, CA

For more information please contact
William Reed 916-396-6601 or
UDW Placer office 916-751-2450

Introduction to your UDW elected E-Board and
Chapter representative for Placer County

Chapter Chairperson - William Reed
Chapter Secretary Treasurer - Charlotte Leal
Chapter Vice-Chair - Terry Stockdale
Chapter Executive Board Member - Tamara Demchuk
Chapter Executive Board Member - Carolyn Haines

Placer County providers win new contract!

Counting ballots -- Your new contract, which will be in effect until December 31,
2009 was ratified by members (mail-in vote; ballots counted January 5, 2007 at UDW
Headquarters) with 262 return ballots and 258 voting "YES" for a 99% Yes vote.

- CONGRATULATIONS TO PLACER COUNTY! -

Thanks go out to the hard working home care providers who contributed their time to the bargaining team, as well as UDW/AFSCME staff and negotiations who made these raises and benefits a reality

New wages:

• $9.00 per hour February 1, 2007
• $9.50 per hour on January 1, 2008
• $10.00 per hour on January 1, 2009

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 Benefits Under the Present Contract

• The present contract, for January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009 specifies the following wage structure:
  $9.00 per hour February 1, 2007
  $9.50 per hour on January 1, 2008
  $10.00 per hour on January 1, 2009
  Read Contract Summary (English)
  Read Contract Summary (Spanish, PDF file)
  
• Medical benefits - including dental and vision, are also available under the new contract, for all those who work a minimum number of 65 hours per month. To learn more about this coverage, see below: Medical Benefit Information.

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

Medical Benefits Package for Placer County

January 2007 update:
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

IHSS District Offices for Placer County

Contacting IHSS:
Referral (new clients etc) 530 886-5401

---

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

---

IHSS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

---

Local (Regional) Meetings
for Placer County

In the continuation of our efforts to communicate one-on-one with homecare workers, we hold union meetings several times a year. Locations for meetings vary within the county, so that members in all regions of each county will have a chance to attend a local meeting.

Your next Placer meeting

UDW House Meetings
You can also host a "House Meeting" in your own home, or put together a meeting at your local church or community center. UDW will help you, and it is a great way to get to know other workers and clients in your area. Contact UDW Regional Director for Placer county

IHSS Advisory Committee Meetings
IHSS 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.

This is not a UDW (union) meeting. The IHSS Advisory Committee is a committee that is appointed by the Board of Supervisors, and includes IHSS home care providers (and clients - when possible). Its purpose is to provide ongoing advice and recommendations regarding IHSS to the Board of Supervisors, The Department of Social Services, and the IHSS Public Authority.

---

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.

 

How to Get Involved

Your union can not represent you without your involvement! We need your voices to be heard, and we need your help in communicating with others in your community.

If we are in negotiations in your county for better wages and benefits, the best thing you can do is to come join us at the public Board of Supervisors meetings. We try to fill the room with as many workers as possible so that they know we have a voice in the political process. To find out more contact your UDW Regional Office. If you can not come in person, you may also call or write your local Board of Supervisors.

You can also get involved by joining UDW committees and other volunteer positions to help home care workers and their clients:

• Becoming a Steward (communicating with your local neighborhood groups and individuals to let them know about important issues and meetings, etc).
• Bargaining Committee (contract negotiations)
• Labor Management Committee (LMC); communicating with IHSS Public Authority, and helping to address issues between home care workers and IHSS administration, that are not covered by the contract.
• Volunteer for local "phone-banking" campaigns, where you speak to other members and let them know about upcoming events or meetings.
• Host a "House Meeting" in your own home, or put together a meeting at your local church or community center.

For more information, contact Regional Office for Placer