“We put a lot of heart and soul into getting this contract. We came together when it mattered most and stood up for the people we care for,” said Eureka homecare worker Vivian Deniston.

Tuesday, the County Board of Supervisors, acting as the Governing Board of the IHSS Public Authority, approved the ratified contract. The County Board of Supervisors originally rejected a settlement proposal last July that would have increased county homecare workers’ income to $8.75 an hour, in addition to adding some benefits. Second District Supervisor Estelle Fennell said the concern that IHSS recipients have for their Caregivers was made clear over the last two years, as she described the process as “tough.” The contract must also receive final approval from the state before the negotiated wage increase takes effect.

The ratified contract represents extensive efforts to bargain a first-time contract that included weekly testimony at Board of Supervisor meetings, public rallies, a Fact Finding hearing, multiple mediation attempts, and an intense media campaign. County homecare workers were joined in their efforts by the county’s seniors and disabled, fellow labor organizations, faith leaders, elected officials and various county residents and organizations supportive of homecare. Prior to the agreement, county homecare workers had never received a wage increase above the state minimum wage.

“This is a very important day for Humboldt County,” said CUHW Statewide President Gail Ennis. “Humboldt homecare workers now have a foundation to improve not only their lives, but the lives of those that they care for and the entire community as well.”

Check out KIEM Eureka’s coverage of the homecare victory in Humboldt by clicking on the following link: http://kiem-tv.com/node/5492

We had a great discussion with the members about our insurance and just how little it covers but a little is better then none. 

Some of the members have taken the tour at the new time card center Chico and found it very interesting and informative. 

Our next meeting in Oroville will be held at the library on July 18th. 5:30 pm. We will be having a chapter meeting in Chico on May 14th 5:30 pm at the Chico office 2555 Zanella Way Suite B.

 In August we will be having a booth at the Butte County Fair from August 24th through August 28th. We will need volunteers to help with the booth please call 530-520-6896 and ask for Connie if you can participate.

 Our community partners are growing and their are a lot of discounts available to our members check them out.

 Connie Graham
Chair Butte County CUHW

This notice is about the proposed settlements of two class action lawsuits.  It is about In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS).

ABOUT THE LAWSUITS

In 2009, the State of California passed a law to stop all IHSS services to about 30,000 people.  The law would have cut hours for help with meals, house cleaning and other home care to another 100,000 people.  In 2011, the state passed another law to cut IHSS hours by 20% for many more people.  (Some recipients might have been able to get their hours back if they could prove they were at serious risk of out of home placement.)

David Oster and other IHSS recipients, as well as labor unions for IHSS workers, filed a lawsuit about these cuts in IHSS hours.  The defendants are state officials.  The lawsuit is called Oster.

In 2009, the State also passed a law to cut funding when an IHSS worker makes more than $9.50 per hour.

IHSS recipients and labor unions for IHSS workers filed a lawsuit about the wage cuts.  The defendants are state officials.  The lawsuit is called Dominguez.

A court in Oakland temporarily stopped the cuts in both cases in 2009 and 2011.  The State asked higher courts to let it go ahead with the IHSS cuts.  No one can tell how the higher courts might rule.  No one can tell if the court in Oakland would stop the cuts forever.

ABOUT THE SETTLEMENTS

The state has agreed to get rid of the IHSS cuts from 2009 and 2011.  These cuts will never go into effect.

• There will be no 20% cut in IHSS hours. There will be a one-year cut of 8% starting around July 1, 2013.  This is a cut of 4.4% below current hours because there is already a cut of 3.6% that is not part of these lawsuits.  (3.6% + 4.4% = 8%).
• Around July 2014 the cut in IHSS hours will go down to 7%.  This is a cut of 3.4% on top of the 3.6% current cut.
• You can ask the county for extra hours if your circumstances change.
• There will be no cuts in State funding for IHSS wages.

The State agreed to ask the federal government for extra money for the IHSS program from a new assessment.  The State could end the 7% cut as early as 2015 if this is allowed.

These are class action lawsuits.  You are a class member in the Oster case if you would have gotten a notice of action about IHSS cuts in 2009 or 2011.  You are a class member in the Dominguez case if you get IHSS and live in any of these counties:

As part of the settlements, class members in the two cases cannot file a lawsuit about the 8% or 7% cuts.

IF YOU WANT MORE DETAILS:

There are different sets of lawyers representing IHSS class members in the Oster case and in the Dominguez case.  Together they are called the IHSS Settlement Lawyers.  You can get a list of these lawyers, a copy of the settlement agreement and more details about the settlements from your county welfare office.  You can also get details from your county public authority.  You can also get details from these websites: www.disabilityrightsca.org, www.altshulerberzon.com, www.DHCS.gov, and www.CDSS.gov.

To ask questions about the settlements or this notice, you can: 

(1) Leave a message for the IHSS Settlement Lawyers at 1-866-752-6679.

(2) Send a letter to: IHSS Settlement Lawyers, c/o Disability Rights California, Suite 500, 1330 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612.

(3) Send an email to: IHSSsettlement@gmail.com.

IF YOU DO NOT OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENTS:

You do not have to do anything.

IF YOU OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENTS:

You must mail a statement about why you object to the settlements.  The deadline is May 3, 2013.  Mail your objection to:

IHSS Settlement Lawyers, c/o Disability Rights California, Suite 500, 1330 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612.

You must mail your objection by the deadline. You cannot object to these settlements later.

The court in Oakland will also hold a hearing about the settlements at 2:00 pm on May 23, 2013.  The hearing date could change.  Please call 1-866-752-6679 or check www.disabilityrightsca.org close to the hearing date.

The address for the court is U.S. Federal District Court, Courtroom 2, 1301 Clay Street, 4^th Floor, Oakland California 94612

You can get more details about the hearing from the places listed above.

Disability Rights California will post the above information in an accessible format for those with vision disabilities as well as translated versions of the Class Notice. To view these materials, please visit Disability Rights California online by clicking on the following link: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org.

Download (PDF, 50KB)

Download (PDF, 18KB)

Job Location: California

Posted Date: 4/4/2013

Application Deadline: Until filled

Overview:

CUHW is a statewide labor organization representing over 20,000 homecare workers within California’s IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) program in 25 counties. We have fought to secure and improve the social, economic and political conditions of those who provide care for California’s most vulnerable populations, the elderly and persons living with disabilities. Our local has won wage increases and medical benefits for IHSS providers throughout California.

Responsibilities:

At CUHW (www.cuhw.org), we are looking for energetic and passionate individuals who are ready to organize IHSS providers and make a difference. This is an important opportunity to organize and advocate on behalf of those who provide essential care to California’s most vulnerable populations. You will be expected to help facilitate contract campaigns, local and statewide political campaigns, monthly/quarterly membership meetings, internal elections and help coordinate events with assistance from fellow staff members.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate possesses the following:

• Knowledge of the IHSS program or previous experience as an IHSS provider
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and grassroots organizing
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent listening skills and the ability to comprehend the concerns of others
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as manage your time independently/carry out work plans with minimal supervision
• Willingness to travel for extended periods of time
• Ability to work long and irregular hours, including some nights, weekends, and holidays
• Ability to motivate and activate others
• Problem-solving skills
• Bilingual skills a plus (especially Spanish)
• A valid driver’s license and clean driving record

SALARY: TBD based on qualifications

• Comprehensive health benefits package for employee and eligible dependents
• Company cell phone and lap top provided
• Airfare, hotels, rental cars paid for when traveling
• Daily per diem when traveling

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume to employment@cuhw.org for consideration. Cover letters should describe your qualifications, experience and career goals, as well as a brief description of why you want to work on behalf of IHSS providers in rural California.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews.

CUHW is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SACRAMENTO – Seniors and people with disabilities are breathing a sigh of relief this week over an agreement between the state of California and home care stakeholders that will prevent devastating cuts to home care services from being enacted.

The In-Home Supportive Services program, also known as home care, allows over 400,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities to remain in their homes and communities, rather than be forced into far more costly and restrictive institutional facilities.

The agreement resolves lawsuits brought by groups representing home care clients and caregivers that for the past 4 years have prevented the state from implementing cuts to the IHSS program. Through the agreement, the potential elimination of services for many recipients based on a “functional index score” along with the possible reduction in wages for caregivers making more than $9.50 an hour will no longer exist. In addition, the agreement eliminates the threat of an imminent 20 percent cut to IHSS hours and creates one pathway to restore all cuts in IHSS hours over the next two years.

“I think sometimes it’s easy to forget that there are real people like me who are on pins and needles wondering if we’ll be able to stay in our homes with the care we need,” said Tina James, a home care recipient from Los Angeles. “We’ll face some cuts now, and that will be tough for a while, but in the long run we know we are safe and that’s a real relief.”

Under the agreement, a threatened permanent cut of 20 percent cut to home care service hours will be taken off the table. Instead, it will be replaced in 2013 by a 4.4 percent cut on top of the 3.6 percent cut put in place in 2011. In the spring of 2014, 1 percent will be restored with all cuts possibly being rescinded as soon as the winter of 2015 pending federal approval of new funding that is estimated to bring significant federal revenue to California.

“This agreement does not stop all of the cuts, but it is a step in the right direction,” said Rosalina Flores, a provider from Riverside who cares for four senior citizens. “Our clients deserve dignity and we have more work to do to restore life-saving care.”

The agreement comes as home care is entering a new phase in California as a result of the Coordinated Care Initiative enacted last year after weeks of rallies and lobbying by home care clients and workers at the State Capitol building in Sacramento.

Under the initiative, state financing will be stabilized and improved and home care services will be integrated more completely into overall healthcare services.

“I’m glad we’re finally able to move forward. The real winners today are the people we care for. Better pay for county Caregivers means better care for our seniors and disabled,” said Lewis following a closed session where the county’s Board of Supervisors, acting as the Governing Board of the IHSS Public Authority, approved an agreement that included a historic first-time wage increase for county homecare workers.

The agreement comes after nearly two years of efforts to bargain a first-time contract for county homecare workers that included weekly testimony at Board of Supervisor meetings, public rallies, a Fact Finding hearing, multiple mediation attempts, and an extensive media campaign. County homecare workers were joined in their efforts by the county’s seniors and disabled, fellow labor organizations, faith leaders, elected officials and various county residents and organizations supportive of homecare. Prior to the agreement, county homecare workers had never received a wage increase above the state minimum wage.

“Today is a great victory for homecare workers that have lived in poverty for over a decade in Humboldt County. I’m happy that our members now have a chance to ratify their first ever contract,” said CUHW Statewide President Gail Ennis.

The agreement has yet to be ratified by county homecare workers and must also receive final approval from the state and county before the negotiated wage increase takes effect. A mail ballot election will be conducted by a state mediation service to ratify the agreement.

Read today’s coverage of the agreement in the Times-Standard by clicking on the following link: It’s a raise for county homecare workers, pending approvals