Agency Finds County Supervisors' Actions Violated California Law

FRESNO, CA - The Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) is taking Fresno County to task for its attempt to radically cut wages for home care providers in violation of California law.

Fresno County home care providers currently make $10.25 per hour. They have been negotiating a contract with the County for over a year, but rather than continue to negotiate, the County Board of Supervisors voted to implement a "last, best and final" offer that lowers caregivers' hourly rate to $8 and eliminates health benefits for many workers. Additionally, during the negotiations, the County engaged in regressive bargaining - pulling back from proposals previously on the table and backpedaling on wages.

Home Care Providers Win a Temporary Restraining Order to Stop the County of Fresno from Implementing Cuts that Would Harm Seniors and People with Disabilities and Cost the County $33 Million in Matching Funds

OAKLAND - Just days before Fresno County was going to implement a drastic wage cut for home care providers, caregivers and consumers won an important victory as part of their ongoing legal battle to protect the frail seniors and disabled people who rely on the program. Fresno County workers in the program currently make $10.25/hour. They have been negotiating a contract with the County for over a year, but rather than continue to negotiate, the County Board of Supervisors voted to implement a "last, best and final" offer that lowers their hourly rate to $8 and eliminates health benefits for many workers.

Hold Save Home Care Rally at State Capitol with CA Insurance Commissioner Candidate Dave Jones

SACRAMENTO - More than 1,000 seniors, disabled people, and their caregivers from across the state blanketed the State Capitol for a day of action, including an afternoon rally with CA Insurance Commissioner candidate Dave Jones. They sent a clear message to lawmakers: protect the cost effective home care program so that seniors and the disabled can live safely and independently in their homes

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.

Board of Supervisor's votes to cut home care program, jeopardizing program and threatening to worsen Fresno's economic crisis

FRESNO, CA - The Fresno County Board of Supervisors' voted today to shred the home care program - not only threatening the ability of frail seniors and the disabled to live safely and independently in their homes, but also putting Fresno's economy at risk.

The Union Wide Organizing Committee was meeting in Sacramento Friday when news came that Governor Schwarzenegger had proposed cutting California's In Home Supportive Services program in half. The governor's revised budget threatens life saving supportive services for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Californian's, and the jobs of 60,000 SEIU-UHW members. Despite the important work the Committee was doing in the meeting, it was obvious that these union leaders could not sit quietly by while devastating cuts like these were being proposed right across the Capitol Mall.

SEIU plots fresh course with new international president, while NUHW, the financially-strapped group started by Sal Rosselli and former SEIU-UHW officials, suffers more rejection with 43rd election loss

SAN FRANCISCO - More than 500 caregivers in the In-Home Supportive Services Consortium in San Francisco won their election today to keep their union - Service Employees International Union - United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) - in another rejection of the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), the group started by former SEIU-UHW President Sal Rosselli and other former union officials.

Board of Supervisor's proposal for home care jeopardizes program, threatens to worsen Fresno’s economic crisis

FRESNO, CA – The Fresno County Board of Supervisors’s latest threat to the home care program is about to create a sizable mess – not only threatening the ability of frail seniors and the disabled to live safely and independently in their homes, but also putting Fresno’s economy at risk.  

OAKLAND – To honor the memory of our union member, Tiansheng Yu, members of the Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) will come together to hold a vigil on Friday, April 23 at 3:00 p.m. at the 1800 block of Telegraph Avenue in Oakland.
 
Last week, Tiansheng Yu and his son, Jin Cheng Yu, were the victims of a senseless and unprovoked assault in the Uptown neighborhood of Oakland. Tiansheng Yu never recovered from the beating and died Tuesday, April 20.

CLAYTON, CA - Insurance Commissioner Candidate Dave Jones "walked-a-day" in the shoes of Mary Harms, a Contra Costa County home care provider, to better understand how the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program serves as a lifeline for seniors and the disabled across California.

(SACRAMENTO, CA)- In securing another legal victory to prevent cuts to in-home caregivers' wages, SEIU California today won big for frail seniors and people with disabilities who rely on homecare to live at home instead of in more expensive institutions.

"This ruling by the Court is a great victory for all Californians," said Laphonza Butler, President-Elect of SEIU-ULTCW, United Long-Term Care Workers. "It sends a clear message to the Governor that he can't balance the state's budget on the backs of thousands of hardworking in-home caregivers."

Assemblyman Jones to assist with therapeutic activities, personal hygiene, and meal preparation to see firsthand the benefits of the In-Home Supportive Services Program for seniors and the disabled

CLAYTON, CA - Insurance Commissioner Candidate Dave Jones will spend a day at work with Mary Harms, a Contra Costa County home care provider, to better understand how the home care program serves as a lifeline for seniors and the disabled across California on Saturday, March 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. A press availability will follow.