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Team Presents Economic Proposals

On March 23, 2007 the Homecare Bargaining Team presented economic proposals that include:
  • Increase in wages of $0.45 per hour in each year of the contract
  • Increase the minimum for 24-hour availability from 60 to 100 hours per month
  • Elimination of the restriction from health insurance eligibility if the homecare worker has other coverage
  • Provide back pay and restore health insurance for unwarranted termination of provider number.

The highlight was testimony by Clay Freeman ("Teckie") on a proposal to provide a pay differential for services provided to Ventilator Dependent Quadriplegics (VDQ).

Teckie researched and drafted the proposal,l which recognizes the complex medical skills and training necessary to provide care to a VDQ, as well as the difficulty in recruiting and keeping qualified caregivers.

Currently there are only seven VDQ consumer/employers in the State.		Clay Freeman aka TeckieTeckie (center) with caregivers (l - r) Larry Hawkins, Megan Richardson, Selisha Larsen, Austin Schultz, Phyliss Calixto.
There are no nursing facilities in Oregon that would accept a long term VDQ client, so they would be forced to move out of state, away from family and community supports. Teckie would have to discontinue his college education and lose his independence.

He also shared that the monthly cost of VDQ care in a nursing facility is about $23,000 as compared to the $7,600 the state is currently paying.

We say the State can do better. VDQ's and their homecare workers deserve better!