Candlelight Vigil Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
HOMECARE WORKERS TAKE A SOMBER STAND AGAINST POVERTY-LEVEL WAGES AND PREVAILING LACK OF HEALTHCARE AT CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
SAN BERNARDINO, CA (November 26, 2008) – San Bernardino County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers held a candlelight vigil at the County Board of Supervisors building to highlight the dire situations surrounding workers and those they care for. The vigil is the result of the County’s lack of commitment in recent contract negotiations to protect the program by not taking advantage of available State funding for increased wages and benefits.
Presided by the Reverend Paula Cripps, Regional Director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice for the Inland Empire (CLUE), the vigil presented an opportunity for workers and homecare recipients to share their personal stories of what the homecare program means to them and the struggles associated with being a low-wage worker.
”Being a provider is a financial struggle,” says IHSS worker Maria Rinallo, who cares for her disabled son. “It’s hard to make ends meet. That is why we are asking the County to approve wages and benefits that reflect the very important work we do and will lift workers out of poverty.”
Currently in negotiations with County officials, San Bernardino homecare workers earn just $9.25 an hour, receive no vacation time or sick leave, and most go without health benefits.
“The State is willing to reimburse the county for wages up to $11.50 an hour,” explained Shirley Taylor, a homecare worker of over thirty years who currently sits on the bargaining committee. “Paying homecare workers anything less than $11.50 an hour is leaving money on the table--money that could be spent in local shops and helping our local economy.
Federal, State and County governments fund the IHSS program, otherwise known as ‘homecare’. Through realignment funds offered by the State of California, counties are refunded approximately 95 percent of its share up to $11.50 an hour and $0.60 per hour per worker toward healthcare. California’s IHSS program is a national model for providing quality care to seniors and people with disabilities while saving taxpayers money since homecare costs up to seven times less than alternative institutional care.
“Providing IHSS workers with livable wages is a win-win-win-win situation. Care recipients win since higher wages stabilize the workforce, care providers win because they don’t have to choose between paying their rent and putting food on the table, the County wins because nearly all of their expenses are refunded by the State, and local residents win as it puts more money into our economy.”
SEIU Local 6434-The United Long-term Care workers Union represents over 160,000 homecare and nursing home workers in ten counties throughout California.