SEIU 503 homecare members and the seniors and people with disabilities they serve are continuing to press Governor Kitzhaber and the Legislature to avoid making shameful cuts to Oregon’s nationally recognized homecare program.
Members and clients confronted the Governor January 13 after his State of the State address in Portland (see photos here) and staged a sit-in at Kitzhaber’s Capitol office five days later until he came out to speak with them and accept 2,200 insurance cards that signify the 2,200 homecare workers who will lose their insurance if progress isn’t made at the bargaining table (see photos here).
On Groundhog Day, Thursday Feb. 2, members will join hundreds of allies in the Campaign for Oregon Seniors & People to lobby for long-term care on “Shadow Your Legislator Day” at the Capitol.
This follows one paid media campaign sponsored by SEIU 503 and another by AARP Oregon using radio, newspaper and billboard advertising to drive home the point that even with a budget gap to fill the state has better choices than further cuts to long-term care. For more information, go to saveoregonseniors.org.