I’m the mother of a teenage daughter and an 11 year-old son. My son was diagnosed with asthma as a newborn. It’s a chronic condition so it’s been a struggle throughout his life. As a mother, I get so scared when he has an attack and I do everything in my power to keep him safe.
Almost as scary as the asthma is the cost of treatment. The prices for his medications and the machine he needs are astronomical, and I simply would not be able to afford them without our paid family healthcare.
So in my family, our medical benefits are truly a matter of life and death. I’ve been at Kaiser West LA for 12 years now, and our new contract means I can keep my loved ones alive and healthy.
I knew from the time I was a kid that I’d go into healthcare. I was always the boy running around the neighborhood with a first aid kit.
Today I still have that same love of helping people. My big inspiration on the job as an Orthopedic Technician is when I get patients who don’t have much hope of being mobile again and am able to help them get back on their feet and living a good life.
At home, my big inspiration comes from my wife and my two daughters—one is four years old, the other is just four months! The paid family healthcare in our SEIU-UHW contract means that my family will get the care we need. And, with my pension, I’ll be able to retire one day knowing that I can take care of my loved ones and live a full life as I grow older.
I am my son’s sole provider. The most important thing for me right now is keeping my job so that I can take care of him.
When Kaiser decided to close the Stockton Call Center I thought I was going to lose my job and my healthcare. But, the job security protections in our union contract gave me the opportunity to train and take the test to be a Coder. I passed the test and got the job.
Because of our SEIU-UHW contract, not only did I keep my job at Kaiser, I actually moved up the career ladder and got a big pay increase. What can I say? I’m thrilled.
I’m really proud of the work that I do as a Medical Assistant in Geriatrics. Growing up, my grandmothers enforced and re-enforced that we should always respect our elders. I know that they are both watching over me to make sure that I go the extra mile every day with the elderly patients in my care.
I have three daughters and one son. My oldest already had braces and braces are not cheap! The $200 increase in dental coverage is a big deal for me and my family. Increased coverage means two to three more visits to the dentist a year that I don’t have to worry about paying for out of my pocket.
I feel a sense of pride that with the union we fought for everybody. I am reassured that for the next three years my co-workers and I will be able to provide good care for our families.
It is with incredible sadness that I let you know that Les Harris, one of our great leaders, passed away Sunday night. Les had an incredible optimism and attitude that anything could be done, something that consistently inspired those of us around him that whatever the obstacle was, there was a way to overcome it. He was a dreamer that had a vision of what a just society looked like, and just as importantly worked hard to lead others to share that vision and whatever was necessary to make it happen. Les, along with Martha Alvarez, were the pioneers of the Let’s Get Healthy California work in South Los Angeles. Whether he was at a health fair at a Chivas game, enrolling low income families into health insurance, leading in the Let’s Get Healthy California Taskforce Advisory Committee or organizing his group of executive board members, Les exuded enthusiasm and joy. In this last election cycle, Les decided he wanted to do something to help get President Obama elected. He went to Las Vegas, door to door in incredible heat, sharing his conviction and commitment to getting the President re-elected and doing something he had never done before.
Les was a family man with an incredible wife and two kids. And his family knew that he loved them, and that he loved his union. And we, in turn, loved Les and we have all lost an incredible leader.
This Wednesday, SEIU-UHW members went to the State Capitol to celebrate a big moment for California’s future, and for SEIU-UHW’s Let’s Get Healthy California campaign. After months of discussion, Governor Brown’s Let’s Get Healthy Task Force—named after our own UHW campaign—released its final report on how to make California the healthiest State in the nation. The report proposes solutions to some of the biggest health issues facing our State: fighting chronic disease, lowering healthcare costs, expanding healthcare access, and providing quality of care. SEIU-UHW played a key role in creating the Task Force, and the report includes many of our recommendations. That’s why we celebrated as government, business, and community leaders promised to commit significant resources to make Let’s Get Healthy California a reality.
“We can have it all…but we can’t have it unless literally millions of people start behaving differently than they are behaving now. Unless we build a culture of health in California…that resides in neighborhoods, communities, businesses, in civil society, we will not get there,” said SEIU-UHW President Dave Regan. For more about the Task Force meeting, read this article by the California Health Report.
The report brought a joyous end to our year-long work to get Let’s Get Healthy California off the ground, and it showed us something important: health is getting contagious in California! That’s why we’re prepared to take real action and ensure that the report leads to real change in Californians’ health.
Jeneua Washinton, Dignity Health Sacramento
“I’m excited that people understand that chronic disease is a serious epidemic that needs to be addressed. But we need action. That’s why I’m going to run a 5K with two of my co-workers and get my hospital more involved in Let’s Get Healthy California!”
Tracy McGlory, Kaiser West LA
“Today proved that more people are with us. Health is getting contagious! That’s why we have to be the leaders keeping this moving forward. We have to make this grow.”
Frank Valdez, St. Joseph’s Medical Center
“This thing is growing, and it’s exciting to see that Let’s Get Healthy California has made it all the way to the Capitol. Now we need to take this great energy and recruit more members to our work and to the 2013 asthma walks!”
James Dade, Jr., Kaiser Richmond
“It’s been great to see that the Governor has pulled together people who can help move Let’s Get Healthy California forward. It really gives me more drive. Now we need 10,000 leaders to help us move this forward. Join us!”
Posted by Steve Ly, Home Care Member -
on December 17, 2012
This week, we spoke with SEIU-UHW home care member Steve Ly, newly elected Elk Grove School Board member, and the first Hmong elected official in Northern California.
How did you become a home care worker? I have two jobs. For a long time, I have been an educator for foster students. But I also care for a relative. It’s meaningful work, because the alternative to that is a nursing home, which would cost more, and I’m able to provide Hmong food and the kind of care that improves my client’s quality of life. Now I can’t imagine my life without this work.
What prompted you to become active, both in the union and in politics? A lot of people complain about things they don’t like in government, but I always say that you can’t really complain if you don’t vote, if you don’t get involved. I try to bring that involvement to the Hmong community. Our community is unique – we are here because of our involvement in politics, because we fought for the U.S. in the Vietnam War. So getting involved here is a natural fit.
How are you working with SEIU-UHW? SEIU-UHW has many Hmong members, but they haven’t always participated. A UHW organizer reached out to network with the Hmong community, and I’ve worked with her to get out the union message. For example, many don’t understand the significance of COPE, our political action fund. I tell them that every campaign sign, every ad you see is paid for by somebody. Unless we pool our money together, and help politicians who fight for us, the billionaires will have all the power. When the elders of the community start to understand that this is our chance to have a say, they get excited about participating.
What do you like about this union? One thing I really like about SEIU-UHW is how they reach out to different communities. They make an effort to have Hmong interpreters and ensure that everyone understands how to participate. It really makes a difference for the Hmong members. The union is their training ground, where they are learning how business is conducted here in the states. It’s part of their journey of becoming American. Next time they go to City Hall to fight for what they believe, they won’t be intimidated by the process.
As a new School Board member, what do you plan to do next? We’re doing a big push for Let’s Get Healthy California. I truly believe that getting healthy is a lifelong battle, and the only way our kids can win it is to start young. We have to get them thinking about eating healthy as a way of life. That’s how you get the whole community to eat healthy, to live healthy. You can’t do it overnight. I know I’ll be working with the union to get this message out in our schools. I’m looking forward to it.
Thanks to Obamacare, extra dollars from the Communities First Choice Option (CFCO) are arriving in California and creating cost savings for counties. As a result, Marin County Home Care providers have won a living wage increase that places their wages as the highest in the state ($11.90 not including healthcare benefits). Connie Barker was one of many home care workers leading negotiations with Marin County Supervisors.
by Connie Barker, Homecare, Marin County
I just got my first raise in five years. It was a long time in coming, but it just goes to show what we can do when home care providers work together on a plan.
As home care workers, we are supposed to get a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) every year, but we hadn’t had one in five years because the County Manager kept saying we couldn’t afford it. But this year, it was different. Obama’s re-election, which we all worked so hard for, meant that the Affordable Care Act would stay in place, and that CFCO money would continue to flow into California. We helped pass Proposition 30, which meant that our home care funding would be more secure. And there was the Coordinated Care Initiative, which changes home care funding and creates cost savings for Marin and other counties. We had done the political work to make all of that possible. So we did our research, crunched numbers and talked to each supervisor personally. We showed them how much money the county is saving. The County Manager looked at the numbers and agreed, granting us our COLA this year.
This success is one more step along the path of changing home care into the more respected, more professional job that it should be. We still have a long way to go: we don’t get overtime, we have no sick time, no retirement, and don’t even talk about pension. But we’re moving forward. And it’s because we’re at the table making our case. For once, we are not just reacting to something awful that’s been done to us. Before, every year we’d be on the chopping block, and every year we’d have to go up to Sacramento and yell and scream. Now, with the Coordinated Care Initiative, we’re not just reacting. We’re putting something forward to make change. We’re taking our power back to set the agenda. And we find that when we do that in an intelligent, thoughtful way, and when we put the power of our people and our passion behind it, we have more allies than we thought. When we have the numbers, and we get together behind a plan like this, we win. For the first time in five years, I got a raise. It feels great. And it makes me feel hopeful for what we could do next.
This week, 25 SEIU-UHW members are joining other union members, healthcare advocates and activists in Washington, DC to urge legislators to preserve Medicaid funding. We’re featuring members’ experiences as they participate in a national day of action and lobby their congressional members.
“My name is Ollie Allen. I have worked as a Medical Assistant in California for 14 years taking vital signs and filling out reports for patients before they see the doctor.
In my many years of working in the oncology, chronic pain and pediatrics departments, I’ve seen thousands of patients—lots of seniors—who have worked hard all their lives and helped build our country. These are proud people who through no fault of their own now need help with healthcare coverage because they lack money.
I’ve also seen a sense of total helplessness. Seniors have broken down, cried in turmoil, wondering how much the doctor’s visit will actually cost them. I’ve seen parents who clearly needed medical attention, sacrificing their own care to make sure their children are taken care of.
I’ve seen thousands of patients and not one of them has asked for a hand out. Nobody has ever come in with an air of entitlement. Nobody’s every said they wanted anything for free. Far too many of these folks see healthcare as a last option. But they should expect to be treated like human beings.
Medicaid gives seniors and families a choice between life and death. With Medicaid, people don’t have to choose between canned food and transportation and skipping prescriptions or going just one more day with chronic pain.
When did we become a country that doesn’t care about the people who helped build the nation? Making people destitute for healthcare is just morally wrong.
Taking programs like Medicare and Medicaid away from seniors and children—while letting the richest among us decide who’s worthy and who’s not—is not what this country was built on. What message are we sending to those who came before us and those who will come after? We must stand together with morality and empathy to protect Medicaid for a healthy future.”
By Karen Faith Wilson-Timmons, Sonoma County Homecare
Every year, I go with my daughter and granddaughter to our local Jewish community center for their big Chanukah party. And every year, I eat lots of latkes – deep-fried, crispy potato pancakes served with a scoop of applesauce or sour cream. They are so good. And even though they are very fattening, I wouldn’t want to give them up for anything. You see, I believe that holiday indulgence is a necessity, even if you’re trying to be healthy. Let me explain.
This year, I worked hard to improve my health and, for the first time, I was successful! I stopped trying to diet and took a more positive approach. I consumed more vegetables and served myself smaller portions. For the first time in my life, I started eating breakfast every day. And I ate light meals throughout the day instead of the traditional three heavier meals. It wasn’t about restricting myself or getting upset when I broke the rules of a diet; it was about changing my habits so that I could feel positive about myself every day. And you know what? I lost 25 pounds.
Even with this change in lifestyle, I still think that holidays and feasts like Chanukah serve an important purpose in life – they provide us with the opportunity for a little indulgence. Life on this planet can be very hard. We can all agree that it has its ups and downs. We need these special occasions to keep us going and to give us something to look forward to when things get rough. But the next day is the next day. It’s what you do the rest of the year that ultimately matters for your long-term health. If you indulge on the holidays and eat sensibly between them, then you should be fine.
So this Chanukah, I’m going to scarf up those latkes. But starting the next day, I’ll be back to eating healthy again. To me, that’s the healthy choice.
Last week I went back to school–but this time I was the teacher, a bunch of second graders were the students, and Mr. Potatohead’s health was the subject.
I went with my Kaiser LAMC/Sunset coworker, Martha Menendez, to teach the second graders of Franklin Elementary School about an issue near and dear to my heart – diabetes. I’m a diabetic, and it’s important for me to start teaching kids how to prevent chronic disease before it’s too late. While studying nursing in Guatemala, I went into rural areas to teach people about how to care for their ailments and stay healthier. Now I’m ready to go out into the urban areas near my workplace to do the same thing for this community.
So that’s just what Martha and I did. First, we got trained with other SEIU-UHW members on how to make fun and entertaining presentations for school kids. We then looked up the school closest to our hospital, contacted the principal, and got to work.
Together with Franklin’s teachers, we gave our presentations to the students. The first focused on a silly skit with Mr. Potatohead whose toy body parts fall off whenever he eats candy or sits all day in front of the TV. The kids then coach Mrs. Potatohead to help her husband make better choices and put himself back together again. Afterwards, we played a game to teach the kids about the sugar content in popular beverages, so that they could learn how to make those choices for themselves.
We learned something important from working with the kids: Chronic diseases are now so prevalent that there are even second graders who know about them. A few of the students told stories about family members with diabetes or shared what they’ve heard about obesity. We realized that starting the conversation gives these kids the opportunity to teach their fellow students too. And they loved it! We even got letters from the kids telling how they’re going to eat more fruits, vegetables, and protein.
We’re excited to take what we’ve learned and bring it to more kids in LA. But most importantly, we’re excited to see more of our SEIU-UHW brothers and sisters getting out in the schools and making a difference.
It’s easy to get started! Here’s how:
Get startup materials from SEIU-UHW by contacting HealthyCA@seiu-uhw.org.
Team up with a co-worker or another SEIU-UHW member–or get started on your own
Go to your kids’ school, or find a school near your work or home
The older I get, the more I understand how important it is to be involved with the community. When we’re looking out at the future of our communities and our whole country, we don’t want to see sickness, we want to see wellness.
That’s why I was out volunteering yesterday in San Francisco with a dozen other SEIU-UHW members for World Diabetes Day 2012. We were doing blood pressure screenings, glucose testing, and getting the word out about diabetes.
And we were dancing. We were dancing because movement like that helps prevent diabetes. Dancing and working out balances our glucose levels – and when we get our cardiovascular system pumping like we did, you know it’s working. And, it’s fun!
This work really is fun, especially when you see people joining in and getting excited about what we’re doing with Let’s Get Healthy California. That right there gets me excited – coming out into the community, dancing, fighting chronic diseases, and then going back to our facilities to get the word out.
My name is Kellye Everhardt, and I’ve been caring for my husband, Carl, for the last 16 years. Carl went through a series of surgeries in the nineties to remove blood clots in his legs, and he ultimately needed to amputate both of them. I quit my job as an electronic technician to take care of him, and am still doing it to this day.
Carl is also a veteran, and this Veterans Day, I’m grateful for the many veterans in my life. Carl served in the Vietnam War, and my father served in the Navy for over 35 years. My nephew is in Afghanistan now, and we’re proud of him for both serving our country and for helping to take care of injured vets.
The veterans in my family have helped make me the strong UHW leader that I am. My father told me that when I get involved in something important, I should do it as a leader. He taught me that if you believe in something, you need to go all the way. That’s why I decided to join the UHW Executive Board and to advocate for the IHSS program this spring. I went to Sacramento every other day for two weeks to talk to legislators about the importance of this program.
When I get discouraged about our work, my husband Carl encourages me to stay involved and to keep going. He helps me to persevere so that we can bring more change and progress.
I’m incredibly grateful for those who serve our country, and for the veterans who have encouraged me to be a stronger leader.
By Yitskhaq Abraham-El, COPE Chair, Kaiser West Los Angeles and Rosalia Rodriguez, Executive Committee Member, Sacramento Home Care provider
Election night was a great one for SEIU-UHW members and our families. For weeks more than 1,500 members knocked on doors, made phone calls and talked to people all across the state. And it paid off big. Take a look at all of our victories here.
We helped re-elect President Barack Obama, passed Prop. 30 to protect our schools, defeated Prop. 32 to save our political voice and elected dozens of candidates we supported.
So what did we actually win? With Obama re-elected, the Affordable Care Act is safe, and now 6 million uninsured people in the state will get healthcare.
We helped stabilize the state budget so there is more funding for home care, hospitals and nursing homes.
We made sure that working people in California maintain their strong voice in politics to speak out for improvements to healthcare and healthcare jobs.
But many of our coworkers are now asking us, “So what happens now?”
Our leadership in this election gives us an incredible opportunity to help shape our future. Over the next few months, the U.S. Congress will decide the future of Medicaid and Medicare, the Governor’s Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force will issue recommendations to reduce chronic disease, and the state legislature will vote on expanding Medi-Cal and funding for healthcare. Each of these could have a major impact on our jobs and our future.
Here are three ways each of us can make a difference:
Join together for political action. We need to keep the pressure on by volunteering, standing up, and speaking out to win the improvements we need.
Join the Let’s Get Healthy movement. Thousands of us need to reach out to our communities through our campaign to help make California the healthiest state in the county.
Contribute to our political action fund, COPE. Together we can build the strong voice we need to help shape a better future.
By Patricia Woods, from Community Hospital of San Bernardino
I joined SEIU members from across southern California to get out the vote for General Richard Roth for State Senate in Riverside County. He’s been so active in supporting the community, especially veteran support programs. That’s really important to me because my daughter was in the Navy, and we have to support our troops.
But I also did it because I know that General Roth will stand up for healthcare and workers like us. He’s already proven his dedication to the Riverside community, with more than 30 years of community service here. His support for a new medical school at UC Riverside will not only improve healthcare here but also bring in thousands of good new jobs.
And we did it! We rocked Riverside and helped elect General Roth to the California State Senate. Now we’ll have a new ally in Sacramento to help us defend funding for healthcare and home care services.
This is the first time I’ve really gotten involved in politics and the experience has been incredible. I always vote, but going out and talking to other voters, helping them understand why we need to elect leaders who will help us fix healthcare—that is how we really make a difference.
I’m not stopping now just because the election is done. There’s a lot more to do, and plenty of ways for members to get involved.[LINK to SIGN UP FORM] We need everyone to step up. Big changes are coming for healthcare, and if we don’t make sure our voices are heard, our clients, our patients, our families will all lose out.
By Karen Linzy, Monitor Tech
St. Francis Medical Center
Do you ever wonder what impact all the hard work we’re doing in SEIU-UHW is having? Let me tell you a true story to remind you.
A friend of mine works at a hospital in Southern California that is what we call “NYU,” as in “Not YET Union.” Earlier this year he grew frustrated about how he and his co-workers were being mistreated by management and so he tried to convince them to join a union. As we all know that’s not an easy job, and after a difficult start he grew disillusioned and was ready to give up.
That’s when I invited him to the SEIU-UHW leadership assembly in LA last month. And that’s when everything turned around.
My friend didn’t know exactly what the event was about, but he went anyway–and he was blown away by the strength and solidarity he was part of that weekend. SEIU-UHW members shared how they were facing the same workplace problems that he faces, but how organizing in SEIU-UHW and winning contracts gives us the strength to improve our jobs and the care we provide. He also heard amazing leaders speak about the work that we’re doing in Let’s Get Healthy California to welcome new healthcare workers into the union and to help our communities live healthier lives.
My friend walked away from the leadership assembly on Sunday inspired and re-energized–so much so that when he went back to work on Monday he started talking again to his co-workers about organizing a union. The difference this time is that he has the tools and the inspiration to win, and he has the support of SEIU-UHW leaders. Members like me are right by his side sharing our stories and answering questions for the workers at his hospital–and we’ll be there with him until they’re our brothers and sisters in SEIU-UHW.
And get this–workers at a nearby hospital heard about the work we’re doing and want in on it, so now we’re organizing THEM into SEIU-UHW too!
So big props to all of us who are taking a lead in SEIU-UHW. Whether we’re participating in leadership assemblies, knocking on doors, phone banking, volunteering at health fairs, or donating to COPE, the work we do every day inspires others to keep pushing to win better jobs and live better lives.
This week, I celebrated my 45th birthday by getting out the vote with my fellow SEIU-UHW members in Las Vegas. I met so many people from around the country on this journey. We all left our homes for days at a time and united for one cause—to re-elect President Obama.
Each door we knocked on was different. We helped some people find their voting location. Others we talked to about the benefits of voting for Obama, preventing further funding cuts to education and the importance of keeping Obamacare. We convinced some young adults to lead by example—they committed to being a model for their younger siblings by voting in their first election. AND…we even changed some minds.
This experience was truly inspiring. I loved every minute of the last fifteen days knocking on doors and talking to voters. In three words: it was awesome.
Regardless of the outcome, I know my actions counted and my voice was heard. The most rewarding part: knowing I helped make change for myself and my children’s generation.
My name is Kou Lo and I am a home care provider from Sacramento County and I am my son’s caregiver.
Taking care of my son is a 24-hour job. He has cerebral palsy so he stays in a wheelchair and he can’t do things on his own. He needs to be fed, he wears a diaper, and he is unable to learn. At night, I have to wake up, put his blanket on him, check the room temperature, check his diaper, and give him medication if he needs it.
It is extremely difficult for me to be away from my son. My wife and I cannot work outside the home – who would take care of him if we did?
That’s why I decided to volunteer in the election. It would be terrible if Prop. 32 passed and if Prop. 30 didn’t pass: it would leave the home care program without protection. Parents like me would not have any way to care for our children.
This is my first time doing this type of political work – talking to fellow Hmong voters by phone. Some don’t understand the two propositions so this is a chance to educate my community. I urge everyone to help out and get involved.
I drove for a while to phone bank today–from my home in Inglewood to the Commerce office. But my journey to decide to volunteer was even longer than that.
At first I was on the fence about Prop 30 for a couple reasons. First, all my kids are grown and out of school, so the shortened school year wouldn’t affect us. Second, I was worried that the money generated from the proposition wouldn’t really go to the schools–we’ve seen that kind of thing happen before.
So I decided to check into it, and after doing my research I found that the funds for Prop 30 are going to be closely monitored by the state. That means that the schools will definitely receive the money needed to stay open and to keep children learning. And even though my own kids aren’t in school any more, I believe there’s a greater good we need to support. Our communities and our neighbors will be better off and better educated if we pass Prop 30.
My mind is made up about voting yes on 30, so here I am on my day off volunteering to make sure it passes.
It’s going to be a tight vote and we can use all the support we can get, so I hope you’ll volunteer too. Click here for all the information or email politics@seiu-uhw.org.
I’ve been taking care of my mom for 6 years. In 2011 I got more involved in the fight to improve home care—fighting the cuts, protesting, going to different cities. And now I’m back in the fight this year, volunteering to help on the election for November.
I’ve been volunteering for Cathleen Galgiani, to help elect her to represent us in San Joaquin County. We need change in Stockton. Things are bad here. And Galgiani’s already shown us how she’ll stand up for our schools, our parks, for healthcare and for our home care program because she’s been in the State Assembly.
But I’m also learning about how scary Prop. 32 is and how, it would take away our voice. Our political voice means everything in home care. I went to Washington last year to protest cuts to Medicare. I saw others who would really suffer from those cuts and it had a big impact on me. I met one lady in a wheelchair who was there. All she could move was her head. She used a pen in her mouth to push a button and make her chair move. And that’s just how she was able to go in and meet with legislators to tell them what cuts to Medicare and Medi-Cal would do to her.
Wow. I learned from her that when you need something, you got to find a way to accomplish it.
I know not everyone in our union is involved like this yet. But I’m telling you, you need to stick up for your rights. Help. Volunteer. You’re not a number on a list of members, your voice counts. Doing this work has made a big change in my life. When I get a call to help stand up for home care, I put everything I’ve got into it. In the long run it will pay off. We’re working for each other, working as a group. We can all make time to do this, we have to.
By Verna Hampton, Kaiser West LA
