SAN FRANCISCO -The 2010-2011 budget released yesterday by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom reflects his ongoing support for vital programs that help the aging and the disabled, including In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). By rejecting commission proposals for a 733% increase in the cost of health insurance for home care workers, Mayor Newsom stood up for the home care program as he has done for his entire tenure as Mayor.
Gavin Newsom was forced to make tough choices this year as the county faces an unprecedented deficit” said Dave Regan, Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) trustee. “But he made the right choices– not inhumane cuts that jeopardize those who are most vulnerable. By working together with providers, clients and others, he was able to preserve these vital services. San Francisco is a model in how county governments can tackle these harsh economic times.”
San Francisco has long been a model of investment in vital services such as home care. Unlike any other county, home care workers are compensated for paid time off and have health insurance under the county’s Healthy Workers Program. By investing in quality jobs, San Francisco creates a stable work force that is better equipped to provide life saving services to seniors and people living with disabilities. In turn, this program saves money and improves quality of life by keeping clients at home and out of more costly institutionalized settings.
“Mayor Newsom understands how hard we work and how important our work is,” said Maria Perez, a San Francisco home care provider. “I take care of my disabled daughter and with the proposed increase, I would have been forced to choose between food for my family and the cost of health insurance. I am grateful to the Mayor for the respect he has shown to us and the people we care for.”
SEIU-UHW members made phone calls, spoke with community organizations and lobbied the Mayor in support of IHSS. SEIU-UHW represents 18,000 home care workers in San Francisco.
“Even as the Governor is threatening to cut our program, we have always been able to count on Mayor Newsom to be there for us,” said Xing Xing Liu, a home care provider who takes care of his mother. “All politicians should take notice that it’s possible to invest in people and communities while focusing on the bottom line.”
For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 3, 2010SEIU—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 2.2 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's fastest-growing union. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org
San Francisco has long been a model of investment in vital services such as home care. Unlike any other county, home care workers are compensated for paid time off and have health insurance under the county’s Healthy Workers Program. By investing in quality jobs, San Francisco creates a stable work force that is better equipped to provide life saving services to seniors and people living with disabilities. In turn, this program saves money and improves quality of life by keeping clients at home and out of more costly institutionalized settings.
“Mayor Newsom understands how hard we work and how important our work is,” said Maria Perez, a San Francisco home care provider. “I take care of my disabled daughter and with the proposed increase, I would have been forced to choose between food for my family and the cost of health insurance. I am grateful to the Mayor for the respect he has shown to us and the people we care for.”
SEIU-UHW members made phone calls, spoke with community organizations and lobbied the Mayor in support of IHSS. SEIU-UHW represents 18,000 home care workers in San Francisco.
“Even as the Governor is threatening to cut our program, we have always been able to count on Mayor Newsom to be there for us,” said Xing Xing Liu, a home care provider who takes care of his mother. “All politicians should take notice that it’s possible to invest in people and communities while focusing on the bottom line.”
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For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 3, 2010
Contact: Adriana Surfas, 510-869-2246