Marin Interfaith Worker Justice

Updated 5.8.2009

Last November, in response to our two-year campaign, the Board of Supervisors restored the "health benefit" to homecare workers and raised their "living wage" amount to $11.55/hour, giving them parity with other workers covered by the ordinance.  This was a huge accomplishment for all those who sent letters, faxes and emails, made phone calls, prayed, sung, and attended Board of Supervisors' meetings.

Now caregiver wages may be cut by as much as $2.05/hour.

Here's how you can help:

1.  Contact the Supervisors by email, fax, phone or snail-mail.  Please include the following in your message:

• Thank the supervisors for their long-standing support of the Living Wage Ordinance, and for their giving homecare workers compensation parity with other workers covered under the Living Wage Ordinance.
  

• Ask that the supervisors find a way to make up what the state will no longer pay, because:

• Cutting homecare wages would be unsafe for vulnerable elders and people with disabilities.  Homecare clients need caregivers who are familiar with their needs, such as medical conditions and dietary restrictions.  If homecare wages are cut, it will become more difficult for clients to receive consistent, quality care, because caregiver turnover will increase and some caregivers will need to find higher-paying jobs. [1]

• Cutting homecare wages would be expensive for Marin residents.  Those who are entitled to subsidized homecare are entitled to subsidized nursing home care if they are not able to remain in their homes. [2] Nursing home care costs about eight times as much as providing in-home care.[3]

• Cutting homecare wages would be unjust. Hardworking people whose wages already are not enough to provide for life's necessities should not be required to get by on even less.[4]

 

Click on your supervisor's link below for contact information:

District 1 - Susan Adams

District 2 - Hal Brown

District 3 - Charles McGlashan

District 4 - Steve Kinsey

District 5 - Judy Arnold

2.  Put the morning of June 23rd on your calendar.  On June 23rd, the Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing on homecare wages. The supervisors know homecare wages should not be cut. By our presence on the 23rd, we can give them the support they need to do what they know is right.

Our sacred writings teach us to protect the dignity of workers, establish justice in the workplace, and challenge economic institutions that create suffering, perpetuate poverty, or deny equal opportunity for all. The Employee Free Choice Act is federal legislation to protect workers organizing for sustainable wages, humane working conditions, and fair treatment.  The Employee Free Choice Act will:

• Impose stiffer penalties for companies that break existing laws against harassing, threatening, and firing workers.

•  Guarantee a timely and fair process for negotiations.

•  Shift the decision about how to form a union from companies to workers.

The House has already passed the Employee Free Choice Act. President Obama is a strong supporter, as are all our state and US legislators -- with the exception of Senator Diane Feinstein. Senator Feinstein's support is crucial to passing the Employee Free Choice Act in the Senate.