Wages for home care workers in Sonoma County will not change on August 1, thanks to the lawsuit filed by SEIU that prevented wage cuts across the state.
SEIU-UHW has written members in the county to reassure them that their wages will remain at $11.50 per hour, despite some confusing information they might receive from county officials.
SEIU filed the lawsuit against Gov. Schwarzenegger to stop cuts to home care wages in his proposed state budget. On June 26, 2009, Federal Judge Claudia Wilken ruled in our favor and ordered the cuts halted. Some members may have received a letter from Sonoma County telling them that their wages were going to be cut on August 1.
However, in response to SEIU's lawsuit and the judge's order stopping the cuts, Sonoma County sent SEIU-UHW a letter on June 29 that said, "Sonoma County will comply and maintain the current wage rate at $11.50 per hour as long as the injunction remains in effect."
SEIU-UHW will continue to monitor pay rates for home care workers in all affected counties. Sonoma County members with questions can call the union's Santa Rosa office at 707-526-4825.