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Articles of interest to home care workers and their clients
Also see Press Releases
and our Events & Community Actions page
Below are links to articles and news covering subjects
of interest to home care workers and their clients. Articles are
ordered by date, starting with the most recent. Scrolling down
the page will give you earlier dates, where you will find press
coverage on the Administratorship of UDW, as
well as the jurisdiction challenges and budget cuts faced by California
homecare unions during 2005.
If you find an article you feel should be posted here for other members,
please send your suggestion to Webmaster
Budget cuts impact on poor must be weighed
April 22, 2008. Paradise Post Editorial Board
Another example of shortsighted thinking is not paying a decent wage to people
who provide in-home healthcare for the severely disabled, such as stroke victims.
They are usually treated as second-class workers who are often paid only slightly
more than minimum wage with few benefits. It's true that some IHSS workers have
other incomes -- but many do not. It seems the state needs to look at offering
improved pay to those whose only income is via IHSS. . .
the central reason these social programs are so-often targeted is that they
don't have any well-financed group, such as the California Teachers Association
or the Prison Guards' Union, supporting them. In today's world if a group with
deep pockets isn't fighting for you, you're toast.
Read
Story
CDCAN Disability Rights News Report
March 26, 2008.
California State Budget Crises:
* Governor says it would be "Big Misake" to blame budget deficit
on illegal immigration.
* New Poll Shows More Californians Favor Tax Increases
* 56% of Californians "Very Concerned" About Spending Cuts
* Major Budget Subcommittee Hearings In April
* IHSS, SSI/SSP Set for April 16th - Regional Centers 4/23
* Most Actions Will Wait Until Governor's May Budget Revisions
Read Newsletter
An exodus from Medi-Cal
March 24, 2008. Los Angeles Times
Further cuts in reimbursement rates are forcing doctors to reject
new patients.
After San Diego ear, nose and throat physician Ted Mazer recently
billed the state's medical insurance program for the poor for a
tonsillectomy, he got a check for $168, too little to cover surgical
costs. The balance came out of his pocket. Now legislators have cut the rates even further, leaving Mazer
resolved to shut his doors to new Medi-Cal patients. Almost every other specialist
in his field countywide has already done the same, he said.
"I am the last guy I know of still taking [Medi-Cal] on a regular basis," he
said. "I am seeing patients from the Riverside and Orange County lines all the
way down to the border." Statewide, many other doctors report that they too are
abandoning Medi-Cal, even those who had stuck with it for years out of a sense
of professional responsibility.
Read
Story
Medi-Cal faces delay in treatment approvals
March 23, 2008. Sacramento Bee
Pharmacists, medical equipment suppliers and senior-care providers say delays
in Medi-Cal treatment approvals are causing hardships for them and their patients.
Treatment approval requests that used to take a few days can now take weeks to
be authorized by the state department that manages Medi-Cal. The result: Providers
are sometimes tending to patients and doling out drugs and equipment for free – hoping
they will be reimbursed later, but with no guarantees. Compounding the problem
is a 10 percent cut in Medi-Cal reimbursement that takes effect July 1. There
is also an expected one-month delay in reimbursements this summer.
Read
Story
Economic justice for the unfortunate
March 8, 2008. Southern California In Focus
Orange County
, Calif. "...There are 12,000
In Home Service Providers (IHSS) in Orange County who give "to kith
and kin" by providing necessary care for the elderly, blind
and disabled in the home. Orange County is the lowest paying county in the
state at $8.40 an hour. The county can access state and federal funds
to raise this wage to $11.50 an hour, but those in charge would have
to take action. Fortunately, an interfaith organization called Clergy
and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) is addressing this issue
with the Orange County Board of Supervisors..."
Read
Story
Candidate Experiences Life in Homecare Worker's Shoes
March 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
FRESNO, Calif. Nathan Magsig, a
candidate for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, "walked a day" in the
shoes of a county homecare worker on Wednesday, as part of SEIU's program
to ensure that candidates running for office understand what life is like
for working people in America.
Magsig spent the morning with Norma Raya, who cares for Veleta Coker
under the county's In-Home Supportive Services program. IHSS workers like
Raya take care of seniors and people with disabilities in their homes,
allowing them to remain independent and avoid having to move into nursing
homes at a higher cost to taxpayers.
Read
Story
Budget cuts could keep kids in abusive situations
February 28, 2008. North County Times
San Diego - "...But another group seeking more state
funding administered by the county said county officials'
comments about looming cuts to child welfare services seemed
to have a less noble cause than alerting the public.
Karen Keeslar, a consultant with the United Domestic Workers -- the union that
is representing 22,700 San Diego County in-home caregivers in their demands
for wage increases -- said it appeared the county was using
the child welfare issue as a negotiating tool.
In-home support workers earning up to $9.25 an hour are trying to negotiate a
contract that would pay them up to $12.15 an hour.
At the last supervisors' meeting two weeks ago, County Chief Administrative Officer
Walt Ekard said the pot of money the county uses to pay for child protective
services -- known as realignment money -- is the same pot the county uses to
spend $38 million for the caregivers' program..."
Read Story
Disabled Community Feels The Brunt of Budget
Woes
February 26, 2008. San Leandro Times
San Leandro - The Disability Action Network hosted a forum at the Marina Community
Center last week to oppose the governor's proposed budget cuts to social service
programs. Other non-profit groups — as well as San Leandro residents that depend
on services like Medi-Cal and In Home Support Services (IHSS) — joined the forum
to give a personal face to the programs that are in danger of being cut. “We
need more involvement from the community,” said moderator Vicki Plaugher of the
Disability Action Network. “Sacramento must be reminded that they can't act for
their own interests. They work for us and we need to send a strong message that
these cuts shouldn't rest on our backs alone.” Plaugher encouraged everyone concerned
about the cuts to send a letter to their state senator or representative urging
them not to vote to approve Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's recommendation of
a 10-percent, across-the-board cut to all statefunded social service programs
to alleviate the state's $16 billion deficit.
Read
Story Personal Finance Notebook: Delaying tax filing
might affect your rebate check
February 26, 2008. Sacramento Bee
SACRAMENTO— "...More on Medi-Cal; Q: It was very sobering
to read your recent article about the woman's family asking about
Medi-Cal trying to recover proceeds after her home is sold. I am
in a similar situation. My mother has had Alzheimer's for 11 years.
She has no income other than her Social Security. Two years ago she
qualified for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and IHSS (In-Home
Supportive Services), which help pay for her 24-hour live-in caregivers.
Will the government try to get that financial assistance back if
she enters a nursing home or dies?"
Read
Story *Note from webmaster; click link to read story and
scroll to questions at bottom of the article to find information re IHSS
and Medi-Cal
Advocates for disabled, seniors fight budget cuts
Coalition appeals to governor, legislators not to break safety nets
February 23, 2008. The Valley Herald
SAN LEANDRO — "Alfonso Jackson fell from the fifth floor of his building
at work in 2000. Having broken "every bone in my body," Jackson said, he was
not supposed to survive...He eventually recovered. And through the county's In-Home
Supportive Services program, Jackson, who uses a wheelchair, was able to get
help and live a fairly independent life.
But with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to cut all state-funded programs
by 10 percent to mitigate the looming $16 billion budget deficit, Jackson said
his supportive care would be significantly affected."
Read
Story In-home caregivers protest for a raise
February 14 2008, North County Times
SAN DIEGO ---- Amputee Michael Staton shivered in his wheelchair in a steady
drizzle outside the San Diego County Administration Center on Thursday, part
of a prayer-protest demanding better pay for in-home caregivers. Staton and others
said caregivers such as Staton's girlfriend, Susan Stansberry, find it hard to
live on the $9.25 an hour the county pays her, and deserve more. "She feeds me,
cares for me, goes to the pharmacy for me," said Staton, who lost all of one
leg and part of another to a circulatory disease. "I'm this much short of a vegetable.
They don't pay her enough for what she does." Carrying signs reading "Have a
heart," dozens of in-home caregivers, religious leaders, union officials and
patients held a Valentine's Day prayer vigil and protest to demand that county
supervisors offer more money to caregivers, who are negotiating a new contract.
Read
Story
In-home caregivers protest for a raise
February 14 2008, North County Times
SAN DIEGO ---- Amputee Michael Staton shivered in his wheelchair in a
steady drizzle outside the San Diego County Administration Center on Thursday,
part of a prayer-protest demanding better pay for in-home caregivers.
Staton and others said caregivers such as Staton's girlfriend, Susan Stansberry,
find it hard to live on the $9.25 an hour the county pays her, and deserve
more. "She feeds me, cares for me, goes to the pharmacy for me," said Staton, who lost all of one leg and part of another to a circulatory disease. "I'm this much short of a vegetable. They don't pay her enough for what she does."
Carrying signs reading "Have a heart," dozens of in-home caregivers, religious
leaders, union officials and patients held a Valentine's Day prayer vigil and
protest to demand that county supervisors offer more money to caregivers, who
are negotiating a new contract.
Read
Story
Budget cuts hit state's most vulnerable
February 11 2008 ,
Mercury News
Santa Clara, CA -- Every day, 73-year-old Ingeborg Dale swallows
a variety of pills to ease the pain from her bouts with cancer,
diabetes and a weakened heart. Dale's flagging health keeps her
confined to her cramped apartment in Santa Clara.
Her lifeline to the world is an In-House Supportive Service care worker who is
paid by the state to clean Dale's home, prepare her meals, run
errands, bathe her and drive her to doctor's appointments. The
care worker visits Dale five days a week - except for Saturdays
and Sundays - for about 5 1/2 hours each visit.
When her IHSS worker leaves on Friday, a bleak thought crosses Dale's mind: "There goes my everything." Under
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's draconian plan to solve California's $14.5 billion
deficit, it will take longer for that IHSS worker to return to Dale's home. She
is one of millions of Californians who will be drastically affected if the governor's
across-the-board 10 percent budget cuts become reality. Essential safety net
programs, such as IHSS, Medi-Cal and foster care, will be gutted.
Read
Story
Orange County Board of Supervisors Denies Full Wage Increase Proposal For Home Care Providers
January 29, 2008, Press Release Newswire
Santa Ana, CA (PRWEB) -- Home care providers
of the United Domestic Workers (UDW) Tuesday will rally outside
the Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting, criticizing
the Supervisors' failure to negotiate a fair deal
to provide home care providers for seniors, the blind
and people living with disabilities a fair living
wage. The home care workers are part of the In-Home
Supportive Services program, an alternative to institutional
care that uses state, county and federal funds to
provide care for IHSS consumers. Individuals eligible
for IHSS services are disabled, age 65 or older,
or blind and unable to live safely at home without
help and financially unable to purchase needed services...."I
understand I am not going to get rich doing this
work, caring for the elderly and disabled in Orange
County, but at least let us have a little dignity
by providing us with a livable wage"
Read
Story
Delayed pay hurts Santa Clara County home-care workers
Fixes promised, but budget cuts could make things worse.
January 29, 2008, Mercury News
SANTA CLARA CA: The only nursing homes Wanda Sutton could
afford for her 86-year-old mother reeked of urine, and the residents
cried a lot. So when she found out Santa Clara County would pay her
$12.10 an hour to stay home and care for her mom's late-stage heart
disease and mild dementia, it seemed a blessing. ...Sutton and many
of the other 14,000 local caregivers in the joint federal, state
and county program known as In-Home Supportive Services say
their paychecks from the county have been chronically late, sometimes
by months. While county officials vow that increased staff and an
automated system are on the way, some workers say the problem is
a sign that the program's growing so fast, the county can't keep
up.
Read
Story
Schwarzenegger Cuts Funding for Elderly, Blind, and DisabledCalifornians in Proposed State Budget
January 10, 2008, California Progress Report, Jovan Agee
SACRAMENTO – Governor Schwarzenegger today dismissed any possibility
of new state revenues to close a growing budget gap and instead proposed
cuts to a popular state program that allows more than 400,000 California
seniors and people with disabilities to receive home care and avoid
unnecessary, expensive and unwanted institutionalization. . .
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cut taxes when he first came into office by what
is now nearly $5 billion yearly, and he has never made up the revenue loss.
His "car tax" cut now will total over $20 billion since the governor took office
in 2003. . .
"When you have Republicans and Democrats working together to protect the IHSS
program, it's obviously foolish to continue proposing drastic cuts in state funding
to that program, said Jovan Agee, Political & Legislative Director for the
United Domestic Workers of America. “IHSS is fiscally and morally responsible—the
kind of program California taxpayers want to see more of, rather than dismantled.”
Read
Story
Suit alleges retaliation for complaint
January 07, 2008, Press Telegraph
Los Angeles, CA — Leo James Terrell is expected
to address the Board of Supervisors today on behalf of his client,
Palmdale resident and Department of Public Social Services employee
Sandra Siedenburg, who works in the county's In-Home Supportive
Services program in Lancaster. The lawsuit seeks unspecified
damages and asks the court to issue an injunction barring the county
from spending any more money on the program if it continues to
ignore allegations of fraud and elder abuse.
Read
Story
Governor visits local hospital, looking to build
health-reform support
December 19, 2007, Union Tribune
San Diego, CA — " ...His visit to Kaiser's medical
center on Zion Avenue in San Diego came two days after the Assembly
passed legislation that would provide health insurance for 3.6
million of the 5.1 million Californians who are uninsured. .
. House Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, appeared at the
San Diego hospital shortly before the governor arrived. He said
Monday's vote breathed new life into the reform effort which,
at times, has been near death.
'We are a hop, skip and a jump away from making sure California has the best
health care in the country,' he said.
. . . Joining the two state leaders at the San Diego hospital
were regional heads of the Service Employees International Union and the United
Domestic Workers as well as representatives of the San Diego Regional Chamber
of Commerce and the San Diego North Chamber of Commerce. "
Read Story
Press Release re SB 868; IHSS Criminal Background
Checks
October 10, 2007
Sacramento, CA—The Governor has signed legislation by
Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) that will provide
greater protection for individuals who rely on In-Home Supportive
Services (IHSS). Senate Bill 868 will expand the use
of fingerprint background checks for IHSS workers who provide
residential caretaking services to approximately 375,000 poor,
elderly or disabled Californians who are unable to function
safely without assistance. . ."
Read
Story
Labor of Love Can be Financially Draining
Octobber 9, 2007 New American Media
FREMONT, Calif – Benjamin Baez is 100, needs someone to bathe him, change his diapers and remind him when it’s time to eat. Yet, he can count himself lucky because he has people in his own family who care for his every need. “He’s slipping, but I take care of him 24/7,” said
his daughter, Linda Pleger, as she wheeled him into the Fremont
Senior Center last week, where about 50 other elderly residents
had gathered, their caregivers in attendance so the City of Fremont
could recognize them for their service.
Read
Story
On the job with an In Home Supportive Services
worker
September 15, 2007 Imperial Valley Press Online
"...Lily Sandoval says she works 10 hours a day, five days a week as an
In-Home Supportive Services worker. That equals out to 50 hours a week and about
200 hours a month. But as an IHSS worker, the hours she works with Isabel and
Jose Fernandez are determined by Imperial County Social Services. So, before
Isabel and Jose could receive an in-home worker, it was determined they were
eligible for about 21 hours worth of service each week, Sandoval said. . . Sandoval
started working as an IHSS worker about five years ago in Riverside County. There,
she said, she was making about $9 an hour and was receiving medical benefits.
After moving to the Imperial Valley two years ago, she started working as an
IHSS worker, figuring she’d get paid the same, with similar benefits.
“We had a union, we had medical assistance and we were told how to work as a
provider,” Sandoval said.
The pay locally is minimum wage at $7.50 an hour, and there are no medical benefits.
. ."
Read Story
State Budget Signed; impact on IHSS
August 29, 2007 UDW website, Legislative Updates
"...The final version of the budget did not contain any reductions
to In-Home Supportive Services or any additional reductions to SSI/SSP
grants. Unlike the Governor’s January and May versions of the
state budget the final version did not “cap” state
participation in IHSS wages and benefits at $11.10, but instead
guaranteed the state would fund wages and benefits to $12.10. Also,
the budget places a deadline on the Department of Social Services
and the State Controller to have direct deposit implemented on
or before June 30th 2008 (SB 84)."
Read Story
Breaking News: Governor signs state budget
California Disability Action Network; August 24, 2007
SACRAMENTO (CDCAN updated 08/24/07 1:10 PM) - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 77, the 2007-2008 State Budget in a ceremony under the State Capitol Rotunda but drew immediate criticism from advocates for a major cut to a mental health housng program that served thousands of people with mental illness.who are homeless. The bulk of the cuts to Medi-Cal centered on changing caseload expenditure projections - though there was a cut made to funding meant for rate increases for Medi-Cal managed care plans.
Read
Story
Union looks for recall of supervisors
Record Bee July 13, 2007
LAKE COUNTY - An effort by In Home Support Service's (IHSS) labor union is underway to recall four of the county's elected supervisors. And according to union president Tyrone Freeman, the statewide union is prepared to spend between $1.5 and $2 million to that end.
Read
Story
Blame assigned in heat wave
Sacramento Bee June 30, 2007
Two Sacramento County offices did not respond adequately to last
July's deadly heat wave, with one department making less than a
third of the welfare checks ordered by the governor on the aged,
blind or disabled residents it serves, the Sacramento County grand
jury wrote in a report released Friday.
Although 20 temporary workers were hired to help with calls, In-Home Supportive
Services contacted only 5,510 of its 18,000 clients over a three-day
period, the report said. "This is unacceptable," the report said. "IHSS has a staff of 150 and it reported that all people not on vacation were available to make calls during the emergency."
The report found two clients of Adult Protective Services died during the extended heat, including one person while "a
case worker was on her way for a scheduled visit."
Read
Story
EFCA (Employee Free Choice Act): Our Fight Has
Just Begun
AFSCME Blog "Green Line," June 26, 2007
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Do you hear it? It’s the sound of time running out
for the folks who want to trample on workers’ rights. Today, 51 Senators
stood for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), an initiative that would allow
workers to join unions – either
by ballot elections or majority sign-up – without employer interference. Although
maneuvering from a minority of anti-union legislators prevented a vote on the bill, the
message was clear: Workers’ rights will be restored sooner rather than
later.
Read
Story
In home care provider concerned over lack of funding
Eyewitness News, Kern County, June 26, 2007
"Russel Huesby cares for his disabled wife, and now he and his union say
that the county is cutting back on an in-home assistance program and it's putting
a strain on many people trying to makes ends meet. We asked the county if the
quality of care is being compromised. They say state guidelines make sure the
program helps everyone effectively. Russell Huesby says he's having a hard
time paying bills after the county reduced the amount of money he's paid for
taking care of his disabled wife...Recently a social worker came to the Huesby
home to asses the amount of hours allotted to Russell for his wife's care. Those
hours directly relate to how much money the Huesby's are given; money Russell
says is essential to their survival. Huesby says the county cut his hours in
half and that now he can't even pay his bills."
Read
Story
See Video About this Story
Supreme Court Doesn’t Care About Those Who
Care
The Green Line, AFSCME Blog, June 13, 2007
"...On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that home care workers don’t
have a right to fair treatment. Home care workers – you know, the folks
who do back-breaking work – the cooking, cleaning, bathing and lifting – that
allows your elderly parents or your disabled cousin to live at home with independence
and dignity. Yup. The Supreme Court ruled that these low-paid, dedicated
and caring workers are not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act and thus not
entitled to minimum wage or overtime pay. In other words, we don’t need
to pay a livable wage to workers who make life livable for others. Nice."
Read
Blog
IHSS providers, workers to see new method for background checks
Lake County Record-Bee, June 12, 2007
LAKE COUNTY -- The State Senate just approved a bill Wednesday that would affect how background checks are conducted for In Home Support Service providers. It wouldn't exactly require background checks, but it would mean the providers and the clients wouldn't have to pay for them.
Authored by Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas (D Los Angeles), the bill would reimburse local Public Authorities (PAs), which head up the IHSS program, for statewide criminal background checks through the Department of Justice Live Scan system.
Read
story
Court: No OT for Home Care Workers
Time Magazine Online, June 11, 2007
(WASHINGTON)— "...Home care workers are not entitled to overtime
pay under federal law, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, a setback for a growing
labor force of more than 1 million people.
The unanimous decision came in the case of Evelyn Coke, a 73-year-old retiree
who spent more than two decades helping the ill and the elderly and is now in
failing health herself.
The Labor Department did not exceed its authority when it excluded home care
workers from overtime protection and 'courts should defer to the department's
rule,' Justice Stephen Breyer wrote, relieving employers and angering workers'
rights groups."
Read
story
The unsung -- and unseen -- caregivers
Los Angeles Times, June 11, 2007
"...At some point in their lives, vast numbers of baby boomers and their
children will become caregivers for ill and elderly relatives. Ten years ago,
a study estimated that nearly 1 in 4 American workers provided informal care
for an elderly or ill family member. Today, experts think that about 46 million
American adults (or 1 in 6) do so and predict those numbers will surge in the
coming decade, as a wave of baby boomers age, expected life spans grow and institutional
care becomes more costly and uncertain."
Read
Story
IHSS raise debated
Record Bee, Lake County, June 6, 2007
LAKEPORT -- A $1 per hour raise for In Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
workers got mixed reviews during a Tuesday discussion in the county Board of
Supervisors meeting. Although the board's decision to ask the state for funding
necessary for the wage hike was unanimous, speakers from IHSS's labor union and
some workers themselves raised questions about the board's approach.
Read
Story
Spending Changes in Governor Schwarzenegger's May Revise of 2007-08 California Budget: A Detailed Analysis by Category
California Progress Report, May 15, 2007
Yesterday afternoon the Governor released the May Revision of his January Budget Proposal. The May Revise makes several major changes to his proposed budget.. If an item is omitted, it is because it was not changed. Following are items that will affect local programs.
Read
Story
Blueprint for State
Spending
Riverside Press Enterprise , May 14, 2007
"Gov. Schwarzenegger on Monday announced his revised state budget.
Here are key details about the
governor's spending plan and changes from his January budget:" Includes
impacts for Riverside Inland Empire.
Read
Story (PDF file)
Gov. Schwarzenegger Undermines Crucial Home Care Program
California Progress Report, May 14, 2007
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today ignored the voices
of Californians who are elderly and have disabilities, their home
care workers and advocates and proposed a devastating state funding
freeze, which will lock in low wages for home care workers and
make it harder for the people who need long term services to find
and keep good workers.
Read
Story
Governor Schwarzenegger's
May Revise of 2007-08 California Budget
Official Report from Governor's office, full text, May 14, 2007
The language referring to limits on state support of IHSS is contained on page
49 of the pdf file in the next to last sentence of the first paragraph.
View document
(PDF file)
Supreme Court Decision:
Live-in caregiver shouldn't mean automatic Medicaid cut
The Columbian, Associated Press, May 3, 2007
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Washington state can't cut Medicaid
benefits by 15 percent simply because a disabled person lives with
a caregiver, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday "A
15 percent reduction across the board ... does not address, and in
fact ignores, the realities of the recipients' individual situations," Justice
Charles Johnson wrote for the court.."
Read
Story
Ashburn’s Caregiver Background Checks Bill Advances
California Chronical, Political Desk,
April 25, 2007
Sacramento --- "...Under current California law, participants in the In-Home Social Services (IHSS) caregiver program for low income patients must be cleared through a Department of Justice background check. Unfortunately those caught in the middle, people who don’t
qualify for IHSS, but cannot afford to use a private agency,
lack the legal authorization to request a background check on
a potential in-home caregiver..."
Read
Story
Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees hand Governor
defeat on home care funding freeze
San Francisco Bay area Independent Media Center ("INDY"),
April 19, 2007
Sacramento --- The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health
and Human Services today rejected Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget proposal
to freeze state funding for wages and benefits for California's In-Home
Supportive Services (IHSS) program workers. Both legislative committees
with oversight of IHSS funding have now dismissed the administration’s
draconian spending cut.
Read Story
United Domestic Workers Newsletter
The Care Provider, April Issue, 2007
Update on the Administratorship, UDW's financial report,
changes to the UDW Constitution and more...
Read
Issue
(PDF file, has
English; Spanish; & Vietnamese)
Web Page format (English only)
Shift alarms parents
Sacramento Bee, April 8, 2007
When San Jose developmental center closes in 2008, they
worry their children won't get care they need...After operating for
more than a century, the state-run Agnews Developmental Center in
San Jose is slated to close in July 2008. And the nearly 250 developmentally
disabled residents, some of whom have lived there for decades, will
be scattered into smaller homes.
Read
Story
Senate committee to decide on Gov. Schwarzenegger’s budget attack on California’s
disabled
San Francisco Bay area Independent Media Center
("INDY"), March 28, 2007
IHSS Advocates decry Governor's gamble with independence
for people with disabilities...SACRAMENTO – On Wednesday, March 28, the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee will decide the fate of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s
budget plan of slashing funding for a popular state program that
allows more than 365,000 California seniors and people with disabilities
to stay safely at home and avoid unnecessary, expensive and unwanted
institutionalization. Since elected, Schwarzenegger has made a
ritual of proposing severe cuts to the In-Home Supportive Services
(IHSS) program. This year, Schwarzenegger has Sen. Dave Cogdill
(R-Modesto) doing his bidding with SB 782.
Read
Story
Care workers' union adopts new constitution
San Diego Union Tribune , March 28, 2007
Members of the United Domestic Workers of America have adopted a new constitution that decentralizes control of the San Diego-based home-care workers union and lays the groundwork for the organization to emerge from a court-ordered trusteeship in the coming months.
Read
Story
Disabled Nominee Pulls Out
Sacramento Bee, March
15, 2007
Private consultant was accused of giving advice on
how to skirt access laws. A controversial Schwarzenegger administration
appointee to a state commission on building standards withdrew
his nomination Wednesday after disability rights advocates raised
questions about his commitment to compliance with disability
access laws and his ties to private industry.
Read
Story
In-home caregivers push Stanislaus for pay raise
Modesto Bee online - ModBee.com, March 12, 2007
"...The in-home workers would like a raise to $10 an hour or more — $10.50
is the maximum amount allowed by the state.
Curt Ostrander, a collective bargaining representative for the American Federation
of State, County and Municipal Employees International, said the raise would
not cost the county. The state and federal government would cover virtually all
of the increase, he said."
Read Story
New Bills Affecting Disabled, Elderly, and
IHSS recipients
in 2007 Legislature
United Domestic Workers of America website, March 10, 2007
UDW tracks, supports, opposes, and sponsors legislation to help
home care providers and their clients. Follow
this activity and keep up to date on important legislation:
Read Detail of 2007 Bills
Change in Medicaid eligibility proposed
California Disability Community Action Network,
e-alert. March
2 ,
2007
Legislation to implement an important
change to the Medicaid program in California as required by the federal "Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005" was referred to the State Senate Health
Committee for further action, though no hearing date has been set. The
bill, SB 483 by State Sen. Sheila Kuehl (Democrat - Santa Monica,
23rd District) would, for the first time, put in place a limit of
$750,000 on a person's equity in their home as one of the conditions
to be eligible for the Medicaid program (called Medi-Cal in
California). There are specific exceptions (hardship waivers) to
this requirement for spouses and for children with disabilities who
remain in the home.
Read
E-alert
KCRA 3 Investigates: Relatively Few Home-Care
Fraud
Cases Prosecuted
KCRA3.com, Sacramento County, March 1, 2007
Sacramento County is prosecuting fewer cases of alleged
fraud involving in-home supportive services for the disabled and
the elderly than some other smaller counties in California.
While other counties rely on police and district attorneys for such cases, Sacramento
County uses welfare investigators.We're not seeing the cases come
to us for prosecution," Chief Deputy District Attorney Cynthia
Besemer said. Read
Story
Advocacy Groups Watch State Budget
The Salinas Californian, Feb.
16, 2007
"I wish I were a state budget expert. I wish I
were one of those people who could read all of that technical jargon
and instantly understand all of the implications for people and
programs. Who am I kidding? I can't even download songs onto my
iPod or shoot a video with my cell phone. But I digress....Well,
here's what we know so far. The Governor has proposed a limit on the state's
share of wages and benefits for workers in the In-Home Supportive Services
(IHSS) program at the level that was in effect in each county as
of Jan. 10. Counties would not receive additional funding for any
wage/benefit increases after that date."
Read
Story Also see UDW report on this issue
Federal Deficit
Reduction Act impacts some IHSS recipients.
California Disability Community Action Network. Feb. 8 ,
2007
*
State Issues A Draft "All County" Welfare Directors Letter
* Draft Instructions on Medi-Cal Citizenship Requirements
* SSI/SSP & Medicare Recipients Among Those Exempt
* Impacts CalWORKS, IHSS Recipients Who Aren't Exempt
* Stakeholder Meeting Set for Feb 22 in Sacramento
Get
Details
Upcoming Senate Budget Hearings in Sacramento
that will affect persons with disabilities, elderly.
California Disability Community Action Network. Feb.
8 , 2007
*
Sen Budget Subcommittee on Health & Human Services Hearings
* Regional Center & Developmental Center Hearing Set April 9th
* IHSS, SSI/SSP Community Care Licensing Hearing April 19th
* First Senate Medi-Cal Budget Hearing March 26th
Get Details
Supervisors discuss demands of home care workers
Eureka Reporter - Humboldt County, Feb.
7, 2007
Allegations questioning the county’s commitment to its home care workers dominated the 15-minute public hearing portion of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.
IHSS workers, represented by California United Homecare Workers, launched a campaign at the county Courthouse demanding increased wages and health care benefits.
More than one dozen IHSS workers and care recipients made passionate pleas to the board asking for more pay so they could make living wages or continue to receive vital health care at home.
But information surfaced that another labor group was trying to decertify the CUHW union in a “hostile takeover,” which had stalled the ongoing wage negotiations.
Read
Story
Equity E-Newsletter
National newsletter, Winter
2007
Feature Article: Educating Democracy: Tax And Financial Service Needs Of Working Americans With Disabilities
Special Section: National Partners Launch Real Economic Impact Tour
Informational Update: Income Tax preparation for persons
with disabilities
Program of the month: Building Economic Stability
for Individuals with Disabilities
and more...
Read
Stories
Riverside County honors their home care workers
UDW Website - Riverside, Tuesday
Nov. 14, 2006
On Tuesday November 14th, in honor of National
Caregiver Recognition month, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors
held a proclamation honoring Riverside County care providers
and awarding them for hard work and community service. One home
care worker from each of the six districts in the county were honored
publicly and given certificates by the Board of Supervisors. Home
care workers are nominated by their clients who send in letters to
UDW in Riverside or the Riverside IHSS Public
Authority, telling about the wonderful things their home
care worker does for them.
Read
Story
Latino Backlash Could Doom GOP
New America Media- New York, Thursday
Nov. 9, 2006
The anti-immigrant rhetoric and legislation from many
Republicans (and some Democrats) is stoking flames of resentment
against Latinos among the GOP's largely white base. Should Latinos
get fed up and refuse to vote Republican -- and exit polls suggest
a large majority did just that on Nov. 7 -- the GOP could be doomed
politically for years to come. Roberto Lovato is a New America Media
writer based in New York.
Read
Story
Working People Win Big -- statement
from AFSCME president Gerald McEntee, AFSCME website, Wednesday
Nov. 8, 2006
Yesterday voters created a wave of change, and today we
are sailing on a deep blue sea. This election was a clear message
from the American people that they want their leaders to stand up
against the powerful lobbyists and big corporations that have run
our government for far too long.
Read
Story
Last-minute deal extends county caregivers' health insurance
North County Times - San Diego, Wednesday
Nov. 1, 2006
The county-supplemented health insurance for roughly
3,000 "in-home support" workers -- care givers who help make sure
that seriously ill, disabled, frail and elderly persons can stay
in their homes rather than be sent to institutions -- was scheduled
to run out Tuesday. However, Doug Moore of the United Domestic
Workers of America said Wednesday that the county, with the union's
help, was able to reach a new health care agreement for the workers
at the eleventh hour with Kaiser.
Read
Story
Because They Care: Adult Social
Services of the Health & Human Services Division of County of Marin and
In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority of Marin Present Provider
Appreciation Gala on Saturday, November 4, 11:30am
CA (PRWEB), Marin County, November 1, 2006
The In-Home Supportive Services Public
Authority of Marin ("Public Authority") in collaboration
with Adult Social Services of the Health and Human
Services Division of the County of Marin is pleased
to announce a gala recognition ceremony for In-Home
Supportive Services (IHSS) care providers in Marin
County on Saturday, November 4 at 11:30am at the Marin
Youth Center (1115 Third Street in San Rafael. The
luncheon and ceremony honors and appreciates IHSS care
providers who are employed by IHSS recipients -- Marin
County residents who are low income, elderly, blind
or disabled. The event will include a buffet luncheon,
awards ceremony, healthy cooking demonstration, and
live entertainment
Read
Story
Equity E-Newsletter
November Edition,
2006
Feature Article: Walking the Line: Using Debt to Create
Wealth
Leslie Parrish, Center for Responsible Lending, provides insight
into how carefully managing debt, avoiding predatory lending, and
use of "good" credit can help people of low-incomes escape poverty
Profile of the Month: Debt and Disability: Three Stories on the Impact of Disability on Personal Finances Debt
issues can take on a whole other dimension when factoring in disability.
The circumstances are all different, yet one thing ties these stories
together: they all encountered debt as a direct result of their disabilities
and their disabilities have made their struggle to eliminate debt
much more challenging.
Insurance is Preserved for Home Care Workers
San Diego Union Tribune, Tuesday
Oct. 31, 2006
Health care providers represented by the United
Domestic Workers no longer have to worry about having their
medical insurance cut off tomorrow. The employees union
has reached an agreement with the county to save insurance benefits
for 3,000 in-home health care worker
Read
Story
Governor's
Six Vetoes Spark Criticism
Eureka Reporter, Tuesday Oct. 30, 2006
Claiming to speak for more
than 300,000 seniors, TR Wilson of the Public Authority Advisory Board
led approximately 30 caregivers, seniors and people with disabilities
Wednesday in criticizing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for “repeated
attacks” on the “most humane, compassionate and cost-effective
program in the state.” Wilson was the first of seven people
to speak at an Adorni Center event organized to focus public attention
on the governor’s decision to veto five home
health care bills on Sept. 29 and another on Sept. 30.
Read
Story
Legislators, Seniors and People With Disabilities to Challenge Governor's Veto
Press Release, Fresno, Tuesday Oct.
24 /PRNewswire/
In the wake of Governor Schwarzenegger's recent across-the-board vetoes of bipartisan legislation written to protect and enhance California's In-Home Supportive Services Program (IHSS), homecare recipients and their supporters are gathering in front of Fresno's State Building on Wednesday, October 25, to raise awareness of this vital state program and to call on Sacramento to make homecare a priority
Read
Story
200 Gather on Steps of San Francisco City Hall
to Challenge Governor's Veto
Press Release, SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 19
/PRNewswire/
Today, San Francisco Supervisors Sophie Maxwell, Aaron Peskin and
Tom Ammiano, along with senior organizations, disability groups, homecare workers
and community leaders, joined with homecare consumers to speak out against Governor
Schwarzenegger's across-the-board vetoes of bipartisan legislation written to
protect and enhance the State's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program.
Read
Story
Legislators, Seniors and People with Disabilities
Challenging Governor's Veto
Press Release, San Franscisco, Wed, 18 Oct
2006/PRNewswire/
"...these homecare recipients and their supporters
are gathering together in counties up and down the state to denounce
the vetoes and call for a renewed commitment to protecting homecare.
Since those requiring homecare are often unable to travel, the"virtual
caravan" will collect the photos and stories of these IHSS recipients
along the way and deliver them to the Governor's office at the final
stop in Los Angeles."
Read
Story
Local Seniors and People with Disabilities
Kickoff "You Can't Veto Our Voice!" Virtual Caravan
Press Release, SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 17, 2006/PRNewswire/
Campaign Launched
in Response to Governor's Across-the-Board Vetoes of Homecare Legislation --
Today, senior organizations, disability groups, homecare workers, community leaders
and elected officials joined with homecare consumers to speak out against Governor
Schwarzenegger's unilateral vetoes of legislation written to protect and enhance
the State's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program. Today's event is part
of a statewide "virtual caravan" to denounce the Governor's attacks on the IHSS
program and call for a commitment to protecting homecare.
Read
Story
Sonoma County
Homecare Workers to Rally at the Board of Supervisors
Press Release, PRNewswire. Oct.
16, 2006
SANTA ROSA -- On Tuesday, October 17, at 8:30 a.m., In
Home Supportive Service (IHSS) workers, their consumers, and community allies
will rally in front of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors (BOS) to protest
the County's offer of a 0% wage increase over the next three years.
Read
Story
Union files complaint
against SD County, alleging unfair practices.
KESQ News
Chanel 3 website, Associated Press, Oct. 16, 2006
SAN DIEGO. A union has filed a complaint,
alleging San Diego County has failed to negotiate a solution to rising
insurance rates for nearly three-thousand home health care providers
The complaint by the United Domestic Workers was filed last
Read
Story
County faces unfair practice complaint
San Diego Union Tribune; SignOnSanDiego.com,
Oct. 12, 2006
Home-care union disputes benefits The United Domestic Workers
union has filed a complaint against the county, claiming unfair
labor practices. Nearly 3,000 home health
care providers will lose their medical benefits at the end of the
month because insurance rates are going up. The unfair practice charge,
filed last week with the state Public Employment Relations Board,
alleges the county has not negotiated a solution in good faith.
Read
Story
County's 'Heartless' Schemes Would Strip Thousands of Health Insurance, Force Them Onto Public Assistance, Says UDW
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire
Affordable Solutions Exist, But County Appears More Willing to Swell Medi-Cal Roll -
San Diego County home care providers represented by the United
Domestic Workers (UDW) filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) with the state
Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) against county supervisors this
week. The charge was filed because supervisors have proposed "heartless" schemes
to weaken affordable health care benefits for home care providers -- despite
affordable solutions offered by the UDW.
Read Story
The Price of Freedom
Equity E Newsletter, October 2006
Megan O'Neil, World Institute on Disability, challenges people with
disabilities and others working to help people rise out of poverty
to
not only vote, but also to learn what candidates think about the
programs that affect their daily existence.
Read Story
County's in-home workers get raise
Mercury-Register Online, Sept. 28 2006 (Butte County)
After years of controversy, a contract for Butte County's In-Home Supportive
Services was approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.Representatives
of the IHSS group thanked the supervisors for granting a raise from
$7.11 to $8.15 an hour. The county will also pay 60 cents an hour into
a health care fund for the workers. Previously the workers did not have
health care coverage.
Read
Story
Today, Fresno Residents Applaud County Board of Supervisors as They Support Homecare Consumers and Workers
FRESNO, Calif., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Fresno County
Board of Supervisors affirmed their commitment to provide quality homecare
to Fresno residents by voting to approve a groundbreaking new contract
that significantly improves wages and benefits for local homecare workers.
Read Story
California Disability Community Action Network (CDCAN)
News Report re Bills impacting IHSS
#080-2006 September 25, 2006
SACRAMENTO - Several bills relating to In-Home Supportive Services
(IHSS) that impact well over 300,000 children and adults with developmental
and/or other disabilities and seniors who receive those services and over
300,000 persons who are IHSS workers are waiting for action by the Governor,
with only 5 days left for him to sign or veto bills sent to him by the
Legislature before they adjourned for the year on August 31. The Governor
could take action on these bills any day now. [Note: CDCAN will issue a report as soon as that
happens.
Read Full Report
California Disability Community Action Network
(CDCAN)
News Report re Healthcare and Developmental Issues
#079-2006 September 22, 2006
SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as expected, vetoed
today SB 840 by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (Democrat - Santa Monica),which would
have put in place a single payer system of health care for all Californians, saying
that he could not support a "government run health care system". The
California Legislature, controlled by the Democrats, became the first
Legislature in the nation to pass a comprehensive single payer health
care bill, in August., though on a strictly party-line vote. The
measure if enacted, would have had major impact on the healthcare of
hundreds of thousands of children and adults with developmental disabilities,
physical disabilities, mental health needs, traumatic brain and other
injuries, and seniors.
Read Full Report
Happy "Doughnut Hole" Day. . . Not!
AFSCME Green Line Blog, September 22, 2006
As of today, nearly 7 million seniors and disabled persons will have to
pay for the full cost of their prescription drugs – on top of their
monthly premiums. They are victims of the dreaded Medicare Part D “doughnut
hole.” The coverage gap affects beneficiaries whose annual costs
fall between $2,250 and $5,100.
Read Posting
In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority of Marin secures funding
to launch new program and expand benefits for in-home service caregivers
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) September 5, 2006
The In-Home Supportive
Services Public Authority of Marin (“Public Authority”),
which manages caregiver referral services and administers health
benefits for individual caregivers working on behalf of the California’s
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, has received two new
funding allocations from the County of Marin to create a new program
to meet the short-term needs of IHSS recipients and to enhance
benefits for in-home service caregivers.
Read Article
Make sure to check out the new AFSCME Blog:
http://www.afscmegreenline.org/
Dedicated Caregivers Fill an Important Position
Lake County Record-Bee, August 10, 2006
I am a provider with IHSS. Have you ever thought what might happen if you
or your loved one suddenly became disabled or ill and needed full-time
nursing care or home care? Would you then quit your job to care for them
or would they, to care for you? Have you ever put yourself in the shoes
of the folks in this position or imagined the problems they encounter,
such as the costs of nursing facilities or a home health nurse?
Read Article
Community Land Trusts: Creating Permanently
Affordable Housing for All
World Institute on Disability - Equity E-newsletter, August 2006 Issue
Colin Bloch, Burlington Community Land Trust Homeownership Director,
illustrates the Community Land Trust concept that is sweeping the
nation
and providing opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve
the
dream of owning their own home.
Read Article
Supportive services, union, near accord
Oroville Mercury-Register Online, August 3, 2006 (Butte County)
"After years of rhetoric and recriminations, Butte County and the union
representing supportive services aides for the indigent sick and elderly
may be close to a contract. The California United Homecare Workers,
which represents about 2,300 "in-home
supportive services" workers, has reached a tentative three-year agreement
with the county that would see the hourly wage go from $7.11 to
$8.15. . . the IHSS workers must have their mail-in ballots postmarked
by Aug. 18."
Read
Article
United Domestic Workers Newsletter:
The Care Provider,
July 2006
"...As 2006 unfolds, your union continues to make genuine progress
as we strive to become bigger, better, and stronger than ever. First,
UDW is scoring impressive gains in becoming a well-run and financially
sound organization. Remember, financial mismanagement was the chief
reason UDW was placed under administratorship a year ago by its parent
union, AFSCME.
Read Entire Newsletter including financial report
Fresno County Homecare Workers to Rally for a Living
Wage
FRESNO, CA, PRNewswire, Source: SEIU United Healthcare
Workers-West
July 17, 2006
"...Fresno County IHSS workers currently earn $8.15 per hour, and receive
no sick leave, vacation pay, pensions or dental benefits...Although
millions of dollars are available in state and federal matching
funds to supplement Homecare workers' wages (at a rate of four dollars
for every one dollar the county contributes, up to $10.50 an
hour), Fresno has so far refused to allocate the small investment in County
dollars necessary to draw down those funds. Over the last two
years, Fresno County could have received $42 million in state and federal
matching funds for Homecare."
Read Article
'Bad rap' is unsubstantiated
Record-Bee, July 14 2006 (Lake County)
The editorial entitled "IHSS union needs a reality check" which appeared in the July 1 Record-Bee makes it very clear that the Lake County Publishing Editorial Board needs a reality check.
The editorial says that In-Home Supportive Services workers "too often get a bad rap because of the criminal element that tries to move among them".
I remind the editorial board that the criminal element tries to move among
all of society, not just the IHSS workers. Why not then do background checks
and drug testing on everyone?
Read
Article
Five Charged in pay scheme
Inside Bay Area, July 8, 2006 (Oakland)
District attorney says county employee took
funds for disabled
An Alameda County employee, her husband and three others face felony
grand theft and conspiracy charges for their suspected role in a
payroll scheme that took more than $140,000 from the In-Home Supportive
Services program for disabled residents. Court documents say Kyiandra
Michelle Curtis, 32, an IHSS payroll specialist, issued paychecks to her
husband and three acquaintances by fraudulently saying they were acting
as service providers for IHSS clients who had died or were no longer receiving
county services.
Read Story
IHSS Union Needs a Reality Check
Record-Bee, June 30, 2006 (Lake County)
This week, a great thing happened at the Board of Supervisors meeting. Supervisor Anthony Farrington made a motion to give In-Home Supportive
Services workers a much-needed and absolutely deserved raise of $2
and hour. The rest of the board wholeheartedly supported the motion. IHSS
workers in the audience cheered. And the union said "No."
Read
Article
World Institute on Disability
Disability
and Asset Building Communities Working Together
Equity
E-Newsletter
Summer 2006
Covering concerns of the disability community on many issues.
Wheelchair Access: A personal journey
Sacramento Bee, June 30 2006
...Suddenly things like curb cuts, wheelchair ramps and well-maintained
sidewalks -- the lack of them, or more precisely in my neighborhood, the
serendipitous nature of them -- became very personal.
Read Story
County extends ADDUS contract for six months
SantaMaria Times, June 28, 2006 (Santa Barbara)
After hearing the pleas of several elderly and disabled
residents, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors decided Tuesday
to delay shifting 350 residents into a county-run assistance program....supervisors
said they didn't feel comfortable terminating the contract until they
understood how it would affect Addus clients and providers...The board
agreed to extend the contract for six months, until Dec. 31
Read
Story
Escalating home care fraud costs tax payers millions
San Gabrial Valley Tribune, June 28, 2006 (West Covina)
In-home care workers paid to look after the dead. Homeless men and
women recruited to collect government checks that don't belong to them.
Con men using one ID to receive medical payments and another to provide
care to themselves for even more money.
Read Story
Supes to resume negotiations with IHSS union
Record-Bee June 27, 2006 (Lake County)
...The purpose of Tuesday's hearing was for the Board of Supervisors, sitting
as the board of directors for the PA, to decide on a course of
action since the PA had declared an impasse in their negotiations with the
United Domestic Workers of America (UDW). The attorney leading
the negotiations for UDW, Elizabeth Garfield, was adamant that they were
not at the point of impasse...
Read Story
UDW Newsletter
United Domestic Workers of America, June 1, 2006
As 2006 began, so did a new UDW. With the addition of Addus HealthCare as well as county IHSS public authorities, we now have 13 bargaining units in 11 counties. We are proud that all UDW bargaining units are now covered by union contracts. At a minimum, these contracts guarantee increased wages, health insurance, more worker rights, and a grievance procedure.
Read Entire Newsletter
Contract limbo worries clients
Santa Maria Times, May 25 2006 (Santa Barbara)
The county Social Services Department recently indicated that it was looking to cancel the contract because it could provide more cost-efficient services through a state-mandated program.
Read
Story
Bills have disabled in limbo
Families ask county
for help with caretaker fees
Inside Bay Area, May 25 2006
Judith Radousky and her family have struggled to care for her 88-year-old
father-in-law, providing care themselves and with the help of friends
and hiring a caregiver on their own dime.
The toll on the family is tremendous,
said Radousky of San Leandro. She told her one son to put off college
for a year, so the family could pay for a caregiver.
Alameda County is supposed to provide help for families
like Radouskys. But all too often, those families find themselves
waiting for months to get that help, she and others said.
Read
Story
Group supports new measures for IHSS
Lake County Record-Bee, May 25 2006
LAKEPORT New testing and background check procedures may soon be
in place to help protect people who receive in-home care...In-Home
Supportive Services (IHSS) Advisory Committee members unanimously
agreed on Wednesday that the Board of Supervisors should draft an
ordinance that would require all IHSS providers submit to a criminal background
check, receive basic training and undergo randomized drug testing.
Read
Story
May Revise - CAPA's Summary of how the Governor's
06-07
Budget will Affect
IHSS
California Association of Public Authorities, May 12 2006
"Governor Schwarzenegger unveiled his May Revision to the state
budget proposal for fiscal year 06-07 today
and the IHSS components are not substantially different from the
January proposal... " Document contains complete IHSS overview
including the Caseload Estimate, Wages & Benefits, Quality Assurance
Initiative, Public Authority Administrative Costs, IHSS Advisory
Committees and much more...
Read Memo (PDF file)
Home care workers protest in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara Spirit, Friday, May 12, 200
Several ill and disabled Santa Barbara residents gathered in front of the county courthouse to fight for their health care. Addus Health Care was hired by Santa Barbara County to provide elderly and disabled individuals assistance in their homes. Now, the Department of Social Services has cancelled the contract with Addus.
Read Story
AFLCIO Blog
May 2006
Read news on legislation and politics contributed from diverse
points of view. AFLCIO Blog also has a sign-up for "action alerts" so
that you know about issues you can act on which might affect your
rights.
Read Blog
Disability Rights News Report - Advocacy Without Borders
California Disability Community Action Network (CDCAN) Bulletin,
April 26, 2006
Urgent news from the Capitol on In Home Support Services legislation.
Several In-Home Supportive Services Bills Acted On
* Assembly Budget Subcommittee May 3rd Hearing Includes Update
on IHSS
* Dept of Social Service's Public Hearing On Proposed IHSS
Regulations 5/17
* Advocates Raise Concerns on IHSS Quality Assurance in 4/25 Townhall
Read Article
Townhall Meeting on IHSS Quality Assurance Program
April 25, 2006 California Disability Community Action Network (CDCAN)
This is an audio recording, available online through CDCAN with very
specific information on how this statewide guideline is unfolding.
Listen to the recording by going to the CDCAN website: http://www.cdcan.us/telemeeting/frame.htm and then clicking on "Audio Archive" at the top of the page.
IHSS, county, differ on money
Paradise Post (Butte County),
April 22, 2006
County officials and representatives of In-Home Supportive Services workers
have been in contract debates for several years. These debates have involved
multiple unions representing IHSS workers, each side accusing the other of
stalling, state legislation hanging overhead as a threat to speed things up
and numerous public comments at Board of Supervisors meetings accusing the
supervisors of lacking conscience or not being willing to bargain in good faith
Read
Article
March 31st is Cesar Chavez day
Read about Cesar Chavez:
Historic connection between UDW and Chavez
Quotes
by Chavez
Article
in UFCW Newsletter (pdf file, scroll to page 10)
Bill means to punish Butte County
Chico ER, March 30 2006
OROVILLE -- Butte County could get a $52.7 million rap on the knuckles
for allegedly not playing fair with local in-home health care workers.
Read Article
Provider says IHSS workers lack training
Lake County Record-Bee, March 17, 2006
LAKEPORT -- As Lake County's Public Authority and the union for
the In-Home Supportive Services providers continue in the negotiation
process, one provider is taking it upon herself to improve the
professionalism and safety for all IHSS providers in Lake County. IHSS provider Christy
Murch, who addressed the Board of Supervisors during the public comment
period at Tuesday's board meeting, is concerned by the lack of training
she and the other providers receive. Murch
has begun an IHSS provider support group that will enlist the help
of community resources to get them the training and education...
Read
Article
Self-Directed Services Meets Asset Building Opportunities:
A Primer for the Future
World Institute on Disability, E-newsletter, March edition
Megan O’Neil, World Institute on Disability, provides a comparison
of programs that allow
individuals with disabilities to direct their own Medicaid services and ways
to incorporate
financial literacy and asset building to further increase their economic self-sufficiency.
Read Article
Bush vs the Workers - Hard times in the land of plenty
Public Employee (National Magazine), Jan-Feb edition
Corporate profits have soared more than 50 percent since 2001,
yet workers’ real wage and salary income has actually declined
over the same period; during a typical post-recession recovery,
wages and salaries have at this point grown by more than 7
percent. Meanwhile, real median household income dropped for
the fifth year in a row.
Read
Article
Will the real IHSS bargaining unit please stand
up?
Paradise Post (Butte County), February 22, 2006
A closed-session negotiation meeting for IHSS was scheduled to take place during
the last supervisors' meeting on Feb. 14. But nobody was present to bargain against
the county. The reason? While the county still recognizes the United Domestic
Workers of America as the official bargaining unit for IHSS, a new union, California
United Homecare Workers, has said it is taking over as the official
representative for IHSS.
Read
Article
Home Care Workers are Fighting and Winning
Public Employee (National Magazine), Nov-Dec 2005 edition
Sixty thousand home care workers represented by UDW throughout the state
already have won, or are on their way to winning, first-time contracts
that raise wages and grant health care coverage. For example, 9,000
Riverside County providers gained a two-year contract that represents
a 27-percent wage increase since 2003.
Read Article
Special Update: The Split in the Labor Movement
Public Employee (National Magazine), Nov-Dec 2005 edition
Resolving Differences, Moving Forward; AFSCME was, and remains,
disappointed by the divisive action of the "breakaway" unions. America's
workers are stronger when their unions work together in solidarity. This
split has been a major distraction from the vital business of protecting
working families, especially now, when public services are on the chopping
block.
Read Article
One on One
with Barbara Ehrenreich
Public Employee (National Magazine), Nov-Dec 2005 edition
It's been the historical role of
unions to fight not only for their own members but also for the
entire working class. Another source of activism has been community
coalitions — of churches, unions, students and citizens — working
for living-wage legislation in their local areas. It doesn't
cure everything, but it changes the whole outlook for the entire
labor market.
Read Article
Voters
Reject Schwarzenegger's Bid to Remake State Government
LA Times,
November 9, 2005
Overall, the special election called by Schwarzenegger
to win public validation of his agenda sparked a campaign that
became the costliest in California's history. All told, the yes
and no campaigns on the eight initiatives spent more than $250
million.
Article
no longer available
IHSS Workers Picket Supes
CN&R News Review, September 29, 2005 (Butte County)
A group of in-home care workers picketed outside
the Butte County Board of Supervisors' meeting Tuesday, charging that the
county was turning down "free dollars" from state and federal sources that
could be used to pay them more than the $7.11 an hour they make today.
Read Article
Union claims county ignoring pile of money
Chico ER, September 27, 2005 (Butte County)
OROVILLE — A union representing about 2,600 home care workers claims
Butte County is ignoring a pile of money it could use for raises. County
officials agree there is money out there, but say it isn't free.
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Truce
brings joint union for home-care workers in state
The San Diego Tribune, September 20, 2005
Calling a truce in their three-month war over
representing home-care workers in California, two giant unions said
yesterday they will create a new joint union that will cover the
25,000 home-care workers who aren't already unionized.
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Article
Reasons to vote against Prop 75
The Santa Maria Times, September 17, 2005
You all know the
story about the wolf that dresses in sheep's clothing so he can gobble
up his unsuspecting victims one by one. Well, Proposition 75 is a prime example
of a wolf pretending to be a sheep. It is funded by a coalition of
ultra-wealthy, right-wing donors and corporations who are pretending
to be champions of the people, protectors of workers' rights and workers'
paychecks.
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Article
Health-care union accuses rival of unfair practices
The Press-Enterprise, September 7, 2005
The union that represents home health-care workers in Riverside County and eight other
California counties has accused a rival union of using misinformation and coercion to
keep its members.
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Home health care
issue on mind of picnickers
Times-Standard , September 6, 2005
...Touched by what he saw, Lawlor began helping organize doctors around the
country. "The situation is remarkable, in terms of services provided and the
lack of money provided. These people make minimum wage. If it wasn’t for them,
the cost of caring for people in the home would be astronomical. And the California
governor has the audacity to say, let (the patient’s) relatives take care of
them."
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Rival
raiding membership, union says
San Diego Union Tribune , September 1, 2005
The United Domestic Workers of
America filed a complaint with the state labor relations board yesterday, charging
that a rival union is trying to usurp it by fraudulently persuading members
to switch allegiance.
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Home Care Workers OK New Contract
North County Times, August 15, 2005
Leaders of a union representing more than 9,000 home-care workers said a contract negotiated on their behalf was overwhelmingly approved. It was a vote that the officials cast as a rejection of a larger rival union bidding to represent the workers.
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Prop. 75 Could Weaken Clout of Unions
Los Angeles Times, August 14, 2005
Proposition 75, backed by a coalition of business groups and anti-tax advocates
aligned with the Republican Party, would require unions to obtain written permission
from members each year before directing money from their dues into political
campaigns.
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Judge calls for arbitration in home-care tiff
San Diego Union Tribune, August 11, 2005
A federal judge has refused to step into a squabble between two unions competing
to represent the same group of home-care workers throughout California.
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AFL-CIO rift turns allies into enemies
Chicago Tribune, August 14, 2005
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- A labor war unlike any in decades has broken out in California,
where two large unions--once uneasy allies, now open enemies--are going door
to door from the mountains to the desert competing for member s...
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Union leader who's ready for challenge
San Diego Union Tribune. August 2, 2005
Flora Walker had been in San Diego for less than a day when someone locked her out of her office...
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Unions battle for control of home care workers
North Country Times. July 26 2005
RIVERSIDE ---- A pair of unions are fighting over control of Riverside County's 9,000 home care workers and the dispute spilled into the county Board of Supervisors' meeting Tuesday...
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AFL-CIO orders SEIU to stop recruiting from rival
San Diego Union Tribune. July 21, 2005
The AFL-CIO yesterday ordered the Service Employees International Union to stop efforts to recruit home-care workers in California who belong to a union...
Read Article Leaders of domestic workers union resign, recruit for rival SEIU
San Diego Union Tribune. July 19, 2005
The deposed leaders of the United Domestic Workers of America have resigned from the union and are recruiting UDW members to join a competing union...
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Restaffing at seized union is slowed by missing data
San Diego Union Tribune. July 7, 2005
The international union that seized control of the San Diego-based United Domestic Workers of America said yesterday that it is having trouble putting UDW workers back on the job because of missing records...
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Struggling with an imperfect union
San Diego Union Tribune. July 3, 2005
Ken Seaton-Msemaji remembers the Aug. 14, 1977, conversation as if it were yesterday. Cesar Chavez, head of the United Farm Workers of America, was pushing for someone to help organize home-care workers, a low-profile group of people who help the elderly and disabled in their everyday lives. He was certain his vision could become reality...
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Union placed under control of its parent
San Diego Union Tribune. July 2, 2005
A federal judge in San Diego has placed the United Domestic Workers of America union under the control of its parent organization for an indefinite period...
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Judge's Ruling 'A Major Victory for Home Care Workers'
PRNewswire,
SAN DIEGO. July 1, 2005
U.S. District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz today affirmed the authority of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to place the United Domestic Workers union (UDW) under administratorship because "if the administratorship is not imposed ... AFSCME may completely lose the ability to protect itself and the members of UDW."
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UDW's parent unit outlines financial allegations
San Diego Union Tribune. June 28, 2005
A federal judge yesterday refused to stop the takeover
of a San Diego-based union from its elected leaders, but said he would issue
a written decision later this week on how long it should remain outside their
control.
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Judge puts UDW under control of its parent
San Diego Union Tribune. June 25, 2005
A federal judge yesterday put the United Domestic
Workers of America under the control of its parent organization only hours
after it learned the UDW was attempting a special election to join another
union.
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Unions sue each other for control
San Diego Union Tribune. June 18, 2005
The seizure of the United Domestic Workers of America by its parent organization wound up in court yesterday as each side sued each other…
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UDW trusteeship decision delayed
San Diego Union Tribune. June 22, 2005
A federal judge yesterday delayed putting the United Domestic Workers of America into a trusteeship, but ordered the San Diego-based union not to make any financial disbursements without prior approval of its parent...
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Domestic workers union is in turmoil
San Diego Union Tribune. June 16, 2005
A San Diego-based union that represents 40,000 domestic and home-care workers statewide has been taken over by its parent organization, which alleges financial mismanagement by the union's officers and executive board.
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Los Angeles Home Care Providers to Receive Nearly $8 Million in Rebates of Illegally Seized Union Dues
National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. For Release: March 30, 2005
More than 97,000 Los Angeles County home care providers will receive checks in the mail this week as part of a civil rights lawsuit settlement that requires union officials to rebate an estimated $7.5-8 million in illegally seized compulsory union dues. The rebates are the result of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 434B officials' illegal forcing of home care providers to pay for politics and other activities unrelated to collective bargaining, as well as seizing fees in excess of the negotiated amount.
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Home-care standoff
Sacramento Bee,
January 20, 2005
The governor again wants to cut
funding for a health care program for
the poor, but he will face a tough union
fight.
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Voter information about legislation
of concern to home care workers
Links for tracking Bills or Legislation, and voter information:
Sites specific to home care issues, that can help you research
legislation and voting information:
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