Opinion & Letters from Members

Opinions & Letters

Your participation is what makes our representation work.

At UDW our job is to help you have your opinions heard by your community and your legislators, as well as get you networked with other workers in your local area for idea exchange and support.

Read Stories and Letters by UDW members and clients:

Oral Petition to Riverside Board of Supervisors
Felice Connolly, UDW member, Riverside CA, August 28, 2007

On September 28 2007 many UDW homecare workers, clients, and family members appeared at the Board of Supervisors public session to show support for the negotiations taking place in Riverside county for higher wages. Felice Connolly was one of the home care workers that testified before the board.

"...I therefore urge the members of the BOS to please approve a wage increase so that families like mine can have a livable income. This will also have a domino effect for the benefit of the IHSS program. The program will have more qualified providers to take care of the sick, elderly and physically challenged population of our county. "
Read Entire Presentation

Letter to Legislators and Home Care Workers
Mary Barnes, UDW member, San Diego CA, July 2007

"...I want the world to know how mentally draining and taxing this can be on one person without the help of other family members. Our hours are long, and our wages are low. It’s an inconvenience to have our checks mailed, and I have already experience a stolen check. It’s important that everyone including political officials, know that we save the tax payers lots of money by not having our loved one in Long-term facilities, or nursing homes."
See Letter and Photo

Oral presentation to the Board of Supervisors in support of home care providers & their clients
Kimberly Schroff, UDW member, Riverside CA, May 1 2007

"...We have made the hard decision that has affected our livelihood because of the sudden catastrophic disabilities some of us are facing now and for those who were born from birth with permanent disabilities.
For myself, one day out of the blue, my entire life changed dramatically, I have a son who has a violent uncontrolled seizure disorder who can have anywhere from 1-20 seizures in a day, an hour or over 100 in a week- all unpredictable, especially with the best doctors and medications available today, and surgery..."
Read whole presentation...

Home Care Provider speaks out about the Governor and his budget priorities

Mary Burch , Home Care Worker from Turlock CA, April 15 2007

"Well, here we go again,the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. In regards to the article on the governors aides getting raises. I think the thousands of IHSS workers are in the wrong field. I mean come on now, taking care of the poor and disabled for a measly $8-50 and hour?"
Read Letter...

Oral Statement to the Board of Supervisors
Felice Connolly home care provider from Riverside County,, August 23, 2005

"... I am saddened by the events that resulted in the court order for AFSCME to take over the UDWA and represent the Home Care Workers in our negotiation with the Public Authority of Riverside County. I thought hard and searched deep in to my heart before I decided to work with AFSCME/UDWA. My main concern and loyalty lies with the home care workers. I want to move forwards rather than backwards, and that is why I stay on as a member of the Bargaining Committee. At this time AFSCME is our means to move forwards..."
Read Full Statement, July 26...

Letter of appreciation from home care worker in Stanislaus:
April 9, 2005

Thank you for representing me in the Union of Domestic Workers of America.

Sincerely,
Paris Creal

PS The pay raises are greatly appreciated, it makes my work feel more valued.

Letter From Riverside Home Care Worker
Jayme Cole, Spring 2005

This letter was published in the Editorial Section of the Press Enterprise:

"...When I contacted United Domestic Workers of America regarding this situation, they sent a representative out to my home that very same day. They gently reminded me it was OK to ask for help. They told me I had good reason to feel frustrated." Read Letter...

Letter From Perris Worker About the Budget Cuts
Oscar H. Diaz, January 30 2005

This letter was sent to UDW, and to our State and Federal representatives, as well as to the newspapers:

"Please do not allow the State budget cuts and the elimination of 80,000 home care workers. Do not allow the hourly rate of home care workers to be reduced to minimum wage." Read Letter...

Home Care Worker Tells Her Story to the Legislators
Nan Van Hoose, January 23, 2005

"These services should not be subject to the whims of the budget makers in Sacramento." Read Letter...

Who Pays for the In Home Supportive Services Program?
by Chris Long, August 7 2004

"If you work for a company like a grocery store, and are lucky enough to be represented, your union only has to negotiate with one employer. UDW has to negotiate with the county that runs the program, the state government that set up the program and pays 50% of our wages and the federal government that contributes the other 50%. That is a lot of work to do with the dues that we pay, and our union, UDW, does an incredibly good job. They just finished saving us from a governor that wanted to cancel half the program and cut the rest of us back to minimum wages." Read Letter...

Open Letter to UDW Members Regarding your Union Dues:
from K. Loomis, August 7 2004

"I know there are many of you who are so busy surviving, that you don't have time to get involved in anything else...Some of you may wonder if the union is just another organization that wants a piece of your life. Some of you may not have raises or medical coverage yet. My county was among one of the first to get representation, so I want to let you know that it worked, and that it is worth much more to us than what we pay in dues." Read Letter...

The Art of Bargaining
by Kristine Loomis August 1 2004

"In the case of In Home Support Services, we are dealing with a badly needed service that requires better funding. And in that respect, homecare workers, clients, the union, and the county are actually in agreement and could work together with mutual respect. And seeing each other as possible allies in a search for solutions, rather than adversaries fighting for control, is something worth accomplishing." Read Article...

The Measure of Our Value
by Chris Long April 5 2004

"Since I began networking with other home-care providers I have come to know them as a diverse group of dedicated people. Many of us are highly qualified, some of us left high paying jobs or careers in order to honor a commitment to a person we cared for deeply. I am offended by the portrayal of us in recent media coverage as welfare recipients. The quality we have in common is the commitment to provide care, we are "care providers". With an aging population we are - dare I say - politically important." Read Article...

United Domestic Workers encourages the opinion of its members. Homecare workers and their clients need to be visible. Let your voice be heard!

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