December 2006, Electronic Version, page 1

Contents:

Page 1:	Page 2:
Message from Doug Moore, UDW Deputy Administrator Thanks to our Activist Members San Diego Health Care Victory UDW Moves Forward - Members Speak!	UDW Around the State UDW 12th Constitutional Convention Earn a Quality Home Care Provider Certificate for no cost

Home Care Providers are Stronger Than Ever!

UDW Thanks our Most Active Members

UDW has been very successful in the past year. But we are only successful because we have members who spend time volunteering at the union offices.

Thousands of UDW members have made phone calls, attended rallies and talked with other providers in the past year. Our hard work has led to big wins, including the San Diego health care agreement and the San Louis Obispo contract.

To get stronger, more of us need to get involved. To find out how, call the UDW headquarters today at 1-800-244-2778.

A Message from Doug Moore, UDW Deputy Administrator:
UDW: Stronger and Stronger

Just over one year ago, the United Domestic Workers of America (UDW) was in serious trouble. Our former leaders took dues money for their own personal use. And they gave high-paying jobs to friends and family members.

That is when our parent unions, the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees (NUHHCE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), stepped in. AFSCME and NUHHCE understood that UDW’s home care providers work too hard to have their dues money misused. So AFSCME and NUHHCE kicked out our former leaders and placed UDW under an “administratorship.” I was named the union’s Deputy Administrator, and my job was to help make things right with UDW.

Since then, UDW has become stronger and stronger. Last year, our union was bankrupt. In fact, we were worse than bankrupt. We were almost $3 million in debt. It was so bad, we couldn't’t even get a credit card!

Today, all of that has changed. With AFSCME’s help, we erased our debt.

This means our union has a stronger voice to win the respect we deserve. Last month, San Diego providers won a big victory that lowered the cost of health care. In Santa Barbara, ADDUS providers won a six-month extension of the contract. And providers in San Louis Obispo just won a new contract that includes three raises and improvements to health care!

What does all of this mean? It means UDW can fight for stronger contracts that include higher pay, better health care, and more benefits. It means UDW has the money to hire staff and open offices which benefit providers. It means that UDW is stronger today than we have been in years.

And now it’s time for the next steps. In this issue, you’ll find the UDW convention call, which includes all kinds of information about our convention scheduled for early next year. Please read it over and get involved. With you’re help, we’ll make UDW stronger than ever.

In Solidarity,
   
Deputy Administrator