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San Luis Obispo County
is proudly represented by
United Domestic Workers
of America
UDW/AFSCME, Local 3930 |
Index for San Luis Obispo County pages
UDW in San Luis Obispo
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United Domestic Workers of America
200 S
13th Street #210
Grover Beach, CA 93433
(877) 665-6627 Toll Free
(805) 473-4090 Office
(805) 473-2281 Fax |
e-mail inquiries:
Union State Headquarters:
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unionheadquarters@udwa.org
UDW State Headquarters
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New contract approved by 98%!
Ballots are counted for the new contract.
The ratification vote to approve the new collective bargaining agreement between the UDW - San Luis Obispo IHSS Bargaining Unit and the San Luis Obispo IHSS Public Authority was passed with more than 98% of the voting members voting “YES”. This contract will end in June 2010.
UDW was able to preserve your present $10.00 an hour wages when the county wanted to reduce you wage to $9.25.
In addition, we have reopener language in the new contract to discuss a u nion-run Health Benefits Trust with the county. A UDW Health Benefits Trust means that providers make the decisions about health benefits for the members of the SLO bargaining unit and that every penny that is allowable is used to purchase health benefits without any administrative charges.
Congratulations to all members.
San Luis Obispo members attend largest rally of homecare providers in state history
Los Angeles, May 22 Read story & see more photos
San Luis Obispo Local Actions...
San Luis Obispo members & activists form picket line outside Assemblymember
Sam Blakeless's office to protest IHSS cuts.
Read Media Coverage -- 6 Action News Video
| On June 16th 2009 United Domestic Workers of the San Luis Obispo Chapter were successful in putting together a picket line outside of Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee's District office in San Luis Obispo . UDW members were joined by various unions and community organizations. The event was successful with expanding the community support for the IHSS program. Many UDW members expressed how satisfied they were that UDW was organizing their efforts on a local level were they could stay involved.
Providers and their clients gave testimonies in front of the assemblyman's office educating him on the effects that the IHSS cuts would have on them.
UDW picket line member-captains organized a 4-corner march to each intersection. The presence of Home Care provider's, and their clients and advocates grew to over 70 picketers. News reporters began covering the story quickly getting interviews from UDW members and clients and then broadcasting them on the evening news as their top stories.
Here are a few photos taken of that day at the picket line during the testimonies and interviews with reporters and Sam Blakeslee's representatives. During the progression from one corner to the other, members spirits reached high levels of enthusiasm as motorist honked and yelled in support of our demonstration. Members were seen high fiving and hugging with joy and solidarity for each other. |
Call your San Luis Obispo UDW office to join future actions
- NOW IS THE TIME if we are going to save homecare!
Introduction to your UDW elected E-Board
and
Chapter representatives for San Luis Obispo
Chapter Chairperson - Paula Fisk
Chapter Secretary Treasurer -
Stella Carrasco
Chapter Vice-Chair - Vacant
Chapter Executive Board Member - Jackie Sandoval Smith
Chapter Executive Board Member - Delores Branham
UDW
San Luis Obispo
Chapter Chair
Paula Fisk
Paula Fisk is a fifth generation resident of San Luis Obispo County. Her Grandmother, who grew up to be a rancher and a talented horse woman, was born on the old Flint Ranch which is now the Training Center for the California National Guard, Camp Roberts. Paula was raised on her Grandmother's cattle and horse ranch on the Estrella, east of San Miguel.
Paula left San Miguel and continued her studies at Bakersfield College, San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, and Southern Illinois University (SIU). She began a long Federal career as a Community Readiness Consultant (CRC), with the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. She was the Director of Army Community Services for the 7 th Light Infantry Division at Fort Ord in Monterey and at Sharpe Army Depot in Stockton.
Later in her career she worked for the U.S. Department of Justice as a Political Asylum Officer. She also worked for the Social Security Administration and the Office of Hearings and Appeals, for 12 years, first as a paralegal and then as a Hearings Office Manager in both the Sacramento and the San Diego offices.
Paula became a caregiver in 1991. Her client is her Mother, Elizabeth Joyce, age 84. Elizabeth was diagnosed with a mental illness years prior to 1991 but was unable to access the proper medical services to address her mental illness until Paula, through the courts system, was made her conservator.
Since 1991, Paula attempted to hold a full time job and provide care for Elizabeth but because of the lack of employer based work/balance programs, particularly for female caregivers, Paula found herself going in and out of the work place over the years. Finally, Paula took an early retirement from the federal government because of these same gender based prejudices towards female care givers.
Paula is particularly sensitive to the equity and fairness rights that employees so richly deserve and was the former Regional Vice President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), for Region IX, which covered all the western states including Hawaii and Alaska, and was instrumental in the unionization of all Social Security Hearings Office support staff personnel in all of these offices.
Paula became a UDWA member in 2001, almost eight years ago, and has supported the Union through good times and bad. Paula is a spirited advocate for workplace change in support of care givers and recommends that all care givers familiarize themselves with the protections afforded them by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and understand how unlawful discrimination is defined towards care givers.
Currently, Paula is the second Chapter Chair of San Luis Obispo County, who was voted in, only after the resignation of their beloved and dedicated first Chapter Chair, Ms. Debbie Class. She is also a Commissioner on the SLO County Commission on the Status of Women, a member of the SLO County IHSS Advisory Committee, and the Advisor for the Vandenberg Air Force Base Special Needs Families Network
At this particular time in the evolution of the UDWA and the SLO County Chapter, Paula's commitments are to the education of the membership on the benefits of ongoing UDWA membership including the tried and true adage, “strength in numbers”, friendship, support groups, SLO County Senior Center membership benefits, Coast Caregiver Association benefits, Veteran‘s Administration benefits for caregivers, respite care options and getting the word out to the non-members why it is so important they join us in strengthening the only U.S. labor union for caregivers, that is managed 100 percent by caregivers.
Although the SLO County UDWA Office is located in Grover Beach, Paula is looking forward to its relocation soon to a more centrally located address so that is can be more accessible to all union members in the County.
To speak to Paula directly, she can be reached at her home office at 805 226-0225, or a message can be left for her at the Grover Beach UDW office. She welcomes the input and feedback from all members.
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San Luis Obispo holds Open House to celebrate
the opening of their regional UDW office and the 2006 contract victory. More
Photos
San Luis Obispo Ratifies New Contract!
See
negotiation details below
Negotiations History
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Present: Our next negotiations will be held for San Luis Obispo in 2009.
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Sept. 2006: After a great deal of hard work on the part of
your bargaining committee, along with UDW/AFSCME staff, our historic 2nd
contract was ratified for San Luis Obispo. This contract covers Sept 2006 through June 30 2009 at which time we will begin negotiations for a new contract.
Ratification was held Saturday, Sept 30 2006. 41%
of the members returned ballots with 99.6% voting yes! Highlights:
- $9.00 November 1, 2006
- $9.50 July 1, 2007
- $10.00 March 1, 2008
- 60 cents an hour for health insurance (last contract 25 cents/hour)
- $4,000 a year for training reimbursement for CPR
- $4,000 a year for protective supplies for workers
View
complete legal contract (21 page PDF file)
Congratulations to Deb Class, Lori Heizer, and Richard Lawrence and their
fantastic negotiator, Curt Ostrander for this great second contract in San
Luis Obispo. Also thanks go to the UDW Member Call Center which helped
to get the word out to everyone.
- Feb. 2006: UDW and San Luis Obispo home care workers
put together a 12 member bargaining committee, for negotiations
on the second contract. (The previous contract expires June
30, 2006.) This hard
working team has five representatives from the hispanic community,
and the entire committee will begin training together this month. Check
back with this page to get updates. We may ask for your support
during the negotiation process.
Additionally UDW has
formed a Labor Management Committee.
- Jan. 1, 2006: A Symetra (Select
Benefits) Health and
Dental plan will be offered to all eligible Independent Providers
(IP's) who qualify.
- Feb. 17 2005: Regional Director Bob
Battle met with the San Luis Obispo County Health Care Contractor
to discuss how to administer the insurance program because the
25 cents, which was negotiated for health care was inadequate
for even hospitalization. UDW sought legal counsel to determine
our next steps to get health benefits implemented in San Luis Obispo
County.
- August 30, 2004: As a result of intense negotiations and
a lot of hard work on the part of UDW, together with your local
bargaining committee (volunteer home care workers), the first contract
ever negotiated in San Luis Obispo was ratified (approved by vote).
Working continuously since early 2004 the Bargaining Committee
negotiated a contract with the San Luis Obispo County IHSS Public
Authority. The contract will be in effect from September 1, 2004
to June 30, 2006. This
contract includes wage
increases, health insurance, and agency shop for 1,300
workers.
Many workers
attended the ballot count in which 94 percent of the voting
members approved
their contract and 82 percent of the voting members voted to approve
Agency Shop. Workers and staff celebrated the historic contract victory.
Many thanks to the San Luis Obispo County bargaining team members
for their dedication, diligence, and hard work on this historic contract.
- 2004: San Luis Obispo home care
workers authorized UDW to represent them in collective bargaining for better
wages and health benefits. This authorization took place through a "card check recognition," which
means that over 50% of home care workers in the county signed cards
saying they wanted UDW to be their representative.
Wages and Benefits Under the Present Contract
- Under the new second contract,
wages are $9.00 on
November 1st 2006, $9.50 on July 1st 2007, and $10.00 March 1,
2008. Health benefits now have now moved up to $.60
per hour with an
additional $4000 a year for protective supplies for workers, and $4000
a year for training reimbursement for CPR.
- Under the first contract on September 1,
2004 home care workers with the IHSS program had raises to $8.00 per
hour, and on July 1, 2005 wages increased again to $8.25.
- Prior to UDW representation, wages were $6.95 per hour, with no medical benefits.
- See Negotiations for upcoming bargaining
information. We may need your support during upcoming negotiations.
- Medical benefits are also available under the new contract, for all those who work approximately 80 hours per month. To learn more about this coverage, see below: Medical Benefit Information.
Labor Management Committee
for San Luis Obispo County
UDW and the IHSS Public Authority for San Luis Obispo County have formed
a Labor Management Committee (LMC), to address any issues that are not covered
in the contract and to work together on making the program better. If you
have a concern you would like the committee to work on, please contact:
UDWA Regional Office for San Luis Obispo:
(877) 665-6627 Toll Free
(805) 473-4090 Office
IHSS Caregiver Registry for San Luis Obispo:
805-781-1651
IHSS Provider Registry
for San Luis Obispo County
The In Home Support Services Public Authority has a service for home care providers and clients under the IHSS program in San Luis Obispo. By registering with their data-base, you can:
- Find new clients, if you are a provider.
- Register to become an IHSS Home Care Provider for the first time.
- Receive personalized assistance with caregiver/client matching
- Specify your preferences for work hours, location, and duties
Background checks are done on providers who join the registry.
To get more information, contact:
IHSS Caregiver Registry
PO Box 8119
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-8119
Phone: 805-781-1651
FAX: 805-781-1665
Medical Benefits Package for San Luis Obispo County
The Union and the Public Authority worked together to select the best
possible benefits plan within the limits of funding available. Health and
Dental benefits will be offered to all eligible Independent Providers (IP's)
who qualify. Health benefits are carried through Symetra, and
managed by the IHSS Public Authority, Information
on enrollment is mailed to
eligible workers.
In order for a Home Care worker to be eligible to enroll in the plan,
records must show that you have been approved and paid to work 80 hours
or more per month for two of three months, per three month eligibility period.
Co-pay is $10.00 per month. If you have questions about eligibility, call the number below and they
will look up your work history and mail you an enrollment packet if you are
eligible.
Once the cap is reached, newly eligible Home Care Workers will
go on a waiting list.
For more information contact:
IHSS Caregiver Registry
PO Box 8119
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-8119
Phone: 805-781-1651
IHSS District Offices for San Luis Obispo County
Arroyo Grande location:
Dept of Social Services
IHSS District Office
1086 E Grand Avenue
Arroyo Grande CA 93420
Atascadero location:
Dept of Social Services:
In Home Support Services
9415 El Camino Real
Atascadero, CA 93422
Phone (central IHSS number): 805/781-1790
Registry: 805-781-1651
FAX: 805-781-1665
For problems with timecards or payroll call the central IHSS number and ask to be transferred to the correct department (depends on the city where you reside):
Phone (central IHSS number): 805 781-1790
Also see Payroll and Timecards for IHSS
If you can not resolve an issue after a good faith effort, call your union representative for
help.
IHSS PA Governing Board
Local (Regional) UDW Meetings
for San Luis Obispo County
United Domestic Workers Regional Meetings
In the continuation of our efforts to communicate one-on-one with homecare
workers, United Domestic Workers holds regional meetings several times a year.
Locations for meetings vary within the county, so that members in all regions
will have a chance to attend a local meeting.
It is important to the UDW leadership that we keep you well informed on the status of the state budget and other issues that affect your work as an IHSS homecare provider. As founders of the UDW, we appreciate and thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you at meetings!
Next UDW San Luis Obispo Regional Meeting(s)
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 San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors Public Meetings
http://www.co.slo.ca.us/Board_of_Supervisors_Inter.nsf/index.htm?OpenPage
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 San Luis Obispo
The San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors Meets every Tuesday morning at 9:00 AM:
San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors
Government Center Board Chambers
1050 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo
Speakers during the public sessions must fill out a registration card and limit their comments (two, or three minutes - depending on the county). Specific meeting dates can be found on the Board of Supervisors Calendar page.
You can also call or write your Board of Supervisors to let them know you are aware of their decisions and you are concerned about home care workers. You may want to visit their website (link above) to find out which particular supervisor represents your district.
Call:
805/781-5450
Fax: 805/781-1350
e-mail: tarritt@co.slo.ca.us
Write: San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors
Room 370, County Government Center
San Luis Obispo, California 93408
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
San Luis Obispo
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