Homecare Bargaining Update 7/2/09

Homecare Bargaining Update

July 2nd marked our first day of bargaining with the state since the legislature adjourned.  After months of making slow movement at the bargaining table, our team was excited to see the pace pick up on Thursday. 

The state’s latest package proposal included many improvements regarding hour eligibility to receive paid time off and health care.  The improvements at the bargaining table are directly linked to our members’ lobbying to leverage funds to keep the homecare program healthy and strong for our clients who depend on it.  The Legislature decided to restore funding for health care and paid time off eligibility to 80 hours/month, instead of the 120 hours/month they previously proposed.

Given our gains at the legislature, we are upset that the state proposed a 100 hours/month requirement for paid time off eligibility at the bargaining table.  We are also concerned that the state proposed to not cover the increased cost for health care the second year of the contract.  The state told us at the bargaining table that we are looking at a “status quo” contract, but proposed to make it harder to receive well-earned paid time off and force workers to pay out of pocket for rising health care costs.  This is not the status quo—this is a take-back!  We are willing to compromise and we even offered to freeze our wages for the next two years, but we expect fairness in return.

We did reach a tentative agreement on two articles.  Live-in providers who work seven days/week will be able to cash out 100% of their unused paid time off if their client passes away or is no longer eligible for homecare services.  Also, our Union and the Oregon Home Care Commission will work jointly to develop a list of free and low-cost flu shots so we can stay safe and health for our clients.  These are small victories worth celebrating.

Our bargaining chair, Bev Mackey, delivered a huge stack of petitions with more than 3,322 signatures signed by homecare workers, clients, and members of the community-at-large to the state’s bargaining team to demonstrate the wide-reaching support for a fair contract.  We will continue to keep the pressure on until we reach a fair settlement.

Take Action

1)    If you live near a Union field office, sign up for a phone bank shift next week. This will to be a great opportunity to inform other care providers about what’s new in bargaining and inform them about how we can support national health care reform.
                                                                                                                                                                                    
2)  Speak out for health care reform!  Supporting national health care reform will help us bargain contracts with good health care benefits for years to come.  Call your members of Congress at 1-800-603-SEIU (7348) to let them know “We need affordable health care now!”  Click here for more information about the calls.  Click here to download a flyer to share with other homecare workers.

3)  Continue to share bargaining updates with other homecare workers at regional meetings, orientations, trainings, through your phone tree captain work and elsewhere!