Supporters of County's successful, cost-saving home care program rally against proposed cuts
FRESNO, CA - Fresno County home care workers, consumers and community supporters stood up to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, who are threatening the ability of seniors and the disabled to continue to live safely and independently in their own homes through the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. The Supervisors have proposed cutting the wages of Fresno home care providers and reducing health care benefits. This could result in home care providers looking for new jobs with better wages and benefits and leave clients without care.
Kellie Longo-Albarran, Systems Change Advocate with the Resources for Independence Central Valley, said "IHSS is an absolutely critical program to those who utilize its services. If we continue to cut the program and lose providers, consumers will risk losing their independence and right to live in a community setting. Individuals with disabilities also use IHSS as an income source. In our job development department alone, we have placed at least 12 consumers with disabilities as providers. The independence gained from employment allows people with disabilities to contribute to the local economy. It is vital that this program gets the support it needs."
"I have been in rest homes recovering from surgery and it's not for me. For me, I get sicker if I am in a facility like that. My caretaker takes good care of me and I get to stay home, in my own environment. But she needs to earn a living, so I hope the supervisors do the right thing and approve a good contract for her," said Andy Martinez, who has needed assistance since having major open heart surgery in 1998.
The home care workers, members of the Service Employees International Union - United Healthcare Workers, West (SEIU-UHW), are currently negotiating a new contract and are fighting the County's attempt to cut workers wages by $1 to $9.25 per hour from $10.25 per hour and cut health care coverage.
"I take care of three people with physical and mental disabilities who need constant attention. They don't have family to help them. They need me, but I can't care for them if my contract doesn't allow me to care for myself. I have gotten sick taking care of them, and without my health care I could die. This contract is more than words on paper, its keeping people alive," said Terry Moreno, a Fresno County home care provider
Joining the rally to defend home care and the seniors and disabled in Fresno County who rely on the program were Fresno City Councilman Henry T. Perea, Fresno City Councilman Blong Xiong; and Randy Ghan, Secretary Treasurer for Fresno, Madera, Kings Tulare Central Labor Council, as well as representatives of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Resources for Independence Central Valley and Fresno West Coalition for Economic Coalition. Many of these individuals and organizations are sending letters of support, including State Senator Dean Florez, Councilman Xiong, Councilman Perea, United Cerebral Palsy, Mutiple Sclerosis Society, and the Central Labor Council.
Home care allows seniors and those with disabilities to live independently by helping them bathe, dress, cook and get to and from medical appointments, among other things. Without these services, many would be forced to move to institutional care that costs taxpayers millions of dollars more than the IHSS program.
Contact: Adriana Surfas, 510-869-2246; Amanda Cooper, 510-269-0899
SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West (SEIU-UHW) is the largest hospital and healthcare union in the western United States with more than 150,000 members. We unite every type of healthcare worker with a mission to achieve high-quality healthcare for all. SEIU-UHW is part of the 2.1 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's fastest-growing union. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.
Source: SEIU-UHW
