The
CAREGIVER
facebook.com/UDW twitter.com/UDWA
CAREGIVER
STRONG! UDW’s 16th Biennial Convention is in June and the theme is CAREGIVER STRONG! Look for your ballot in the mail and be sure to vote for your convention delegates, who will attend the convention and vote on our union’s priorities and vision for 2018 and beyond.
News from our union
Winter 2018
Introducing the UDW U.S. Bank Focus Card Dear UDW members, I am so excited to share our newest option for receiving pay to our members: the U.S. Bank Focus CardTM. This prepaid card account offers UDW members a new way to get paid and a new way to pay—now you can avoid lost or delayed paychecks and get your IHSS pay directly deposited onto your very own Mastercard® branded prepaid debit card! Almost 70% of IHSS providers do not take advantage of direct deposit— but now UDW members can enjoy the perks of direct deposit by using the Focus Card. You can use your card everywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted, and it’s great for budgeting as you can only spend what you have available. Our union worked hard to find a prepaid card that works for you. There are low or no fees for common transactions, and you’ll have easy online access to your account and 24/7 customer service. Learn more and get your card today! Be sure to check out the FAQs, fee schedule, and cardholder agreement at www.usbankfocus.com. In solidarity,
Editha Adams, UDW President
To get started, follow these three simple steps:
1
SIGN UP FOR YOUR FOCUS CARD
Visit www.udwa.org/prepaidcard to request your Focus Card. Once you’ve completed the enrollment and your request is accepted, you should receive your card in a plain, white envelope with an Indianapolis, IN return address in 7-10 business days.
2
ENROLL IN DIRECT DEPOSIT
You will receive your Focus Card account and routing numbers upon enrollment. Once you have this information, fill out the state’s IHSS direct deposit form available at www.udwa.org/directdeposit, and submit the form to the state.
3
USE YOUR CARD
Proudly use your Focus Card everywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted, including in stores, online, and over the phone. You also have several ways to get cash, pay bills, and track your spending.
Changes in the coming year will impact IHSS providers and clients
What’s in store for IHSS in
Changes in the coming year will impact IHSS providers and clients IHSS FUNDING REMAINS UNDER THREAT
Thanks to the advocacy of UDW and others working to convince elected leaders to help lift California families out of poverty, California’s minimum wage rose to $11 an hour on January 1. The minimum wage will continue to rise incrementally until it reaches $15 in 2022.
In 2017, we stood up to repeated threats from Congress to repeal health coverage for millions of working Americans and cut IHSS by over $400 million. But the new tax plan that President Trump signed into law in December means the programs we rely on like Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and IHSS are still at risk—the Republicans’ tax plan was just step one of a two-step process, and step two will be to cut these vital programs in order to pay for the tax cuts.
But fighting to raise the minimum wage is only one way UDW members are working to raise our pay. We are at the bargaining table in many counties this year, working to win better wages and benefits for IHSS providers.
This year we will continue to fight any attempts to take away the right to care for our clients and our families, and fight to protect health care for all who need it. 14 California lawmakers voted to cut IHSS and repeal our care in 2017, so we’re turning our sights to the 2018 elections—because attempts to cut our health care and important programs like IHSS will continue unless we change the conversations in Congress and elect new leaders who will stand with caregivers and our clients and loved ones.
We know how difficult it can be to convince our elected leaders that home care is important work worthy of a livable wage—that’s why we launched the Home Care Saves Lives campaign to bring attention to the essential work we do and the financial hardships we live with in order to do it. Our new website, www.homecaresaveslives.com, tells our stories and urges community members and caregivers alike to call our county boards of supervisors and demand that they #SupportCaregivers. Denise Roe, a caregiver from Oroville, explained how one of her clients, an older community member, runs out of food every month. So she does what most of us caregivers would do, and uses her IHSS pay to help him buy groceries—even though she and her client aren’t related.
San Diego Provider Kim Vann and her client showing support for caregivers everywhere
Home Care Saves Lives is also about reminding people how important our work is to our communities—and how important our dollars are to the local economies where we live and work. In some counties, even a small fifty cent raise would equal millions in local economic activity, so it’s a winwin situation for all. Visit www.homecaresaveslives.com or call your local office to get involved today.
— Denise Roe, IHSS provider, Butte County
“Caregivers like us need a raise because we help people in the community.”
PREPARING FOR ELECTRONIC VISIT VERIFICATION (EVV) Federal law requires the state of California to adopt Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) for home care visits by 2019 or face funding cuts. EVV is a method to electronically monitor home care workers and ensure we are giving our clients all the hours of care that we say we are. Naturally, many home care providers are concerned about EVV. Will we have to log in for every shift and care service? How will it work for family caregivers? What if a caregiver or their client doesn’t have internet access?
PAID SICK LEAVE FOR IHSS PROVIDERS The same law that raised the minimum wage also gave IHSS providers paid sick days for the first time ever. Starting on July 1 of this year, we will receive one day (8 hours) of paid sick leave each year. On January 1, 2020, we will begin to accrue two paid sick days (16 hours) each year. This increases to 24 hours, or three days, of paid sick leave for each year on January 1, 2023.
Learn more about the lawmakers who voted to cut IHSS at www.cutshurtCA.com, and call your local UDW office to find out how you can get involved in the 2018 elections.
UDW Executive Director Doug Moore and President Editha Adams speak out against cuts to health care and IHSS at a 2017 rally in Bakersfield, CA
So far, those questions don’t have answers. California hasn’t decided what EVV will look like for us or how it will be implemented. UDW submitted a memo to the CA Department of Social Services opposing EVV last November. We will do everything in our power to challenge and limit this new requirement so IHSS providers can spend their time on what’s important: caregiving. Stay updated on the latest EVV news at www.udwa.org.
“Thanks to our union we’re saving $970/month on health insurance!” Barbara is an IHSS provider and UDW member in San Diego County. She cares for her 36-year-old daughter who has Down Syndrome. Until recently, Barbara and her husband paid a huge amount for health coverage: $1,000/month for just Barbara alone. Barbara became an IHSS provider in 2007, and there was a waitlist for several years prior to the new contract being negotiated. Many caregivers struggle to pay for our own health care, and that’s why UDW’s San Diego members pushed to expand our health plan and raise wages in our new contract, which went into effect on January 1. The contract gave IHSS providers who work in San Diego County a $1/hour raise and, even more beneficial to providers like Barbara, the contract effectively eliminated the county waiting list for health insurance and lowered all Kaiser premiums to just $30/month. That means $970 back in Barbara’s pocket every month. “I’m thrilled,” she said. “It was something I didn’t expect. That’s a car payment or a vacation!” UNITED DOMESTIC WORKERS OF AMERICA AFSCME LOCAL 3930 Balance Sheet Summary As of September 30, 2017
Submitted by Lientuong Rose Nguyen, UDW Secretary-Treasurer
ASSETS
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Current Assets Checking/Savings...................................... 2,879,099 Accounts Receivable................................ 2,660,873 Other Current Assets/ Prepaid Expenses/Deposits.......................280,690 Total Current Assets.................................5,820,662
Current Liabilities Accounts Payable....................................... 1,042,650 Other Current Liabilities..............................790,183 Total Current Liabilities...........................1,832,833 Total Liabilities..........................................1,832,833
Fixed Assets Fixed Assets................................................. 7,298,300 Total Fixed Assets.....................................7,298,300 Other Assets Notes Receivable............................................. 70,276 Total Other Assets......................................... 70,276 Total Assets............................................. 13,189,238
Equity Retained Earnings...................................10,870,976 Net Income......................................................485,429 Total Equity............................................. 11,356,405 Total Liabilities & Equity....................... 13,189,238
REVENUE & EXPENSES FOR PERIOD ENDING September 30, 2017 Revenue Dues..............................................................12,963,116. Other Revenue.....................................................157,493 Total Revenue......................................... 13,120,609 Expenses Payments to Affiliates............................... 1,389,921. Grants/Allocations..............................................374,054. Personnel Expenses........................................ 6,964,069.
Professional Fees.................................................473,839. Office Expenses................................................ 1,516,017 Travel/Conf/Conv/Meetings........................ 1,188,991. Depreciation/Depletion....................................495,284. Other Expenses....................................................233,005 Total Expenses........................................ 12,635,180 Net Income...................................................485,429
What’s in store for IHSS in
Changes in the coming year will impact IHSS providers and clients IHSS FUNDING REMAINS UNDER THREAT
Thanks to the advocacy of UDW and others working to convince elected leaders to help lift California families out of poverty, California’s minimum wage rose to $11 an hour on January 1. The minimum wage will continue to rise incrementally until it reaches $15 in 2022.
In 2017, we stood up to repeated threats from Congress to repeal health coverage for millions of working Americans and cut IHSS by over $400 million. But the new tax plan that President Trump signed into law in December means the programs we rely on like Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and IHSS are still at risk—the Republicans’ tax plan was just step one of a two-step process, and step two will be to cut these vital programs in order to pay for the tax cuts.
But fighting to raise the minimum wage is only one way UDW members are working to raise our pay. We are at the bargaining table in many counties this year, working to win better wages and benefits for IHSS providers.
This year we will continue to fight any attempts to take away the right to care for our clients and our families, and fight to protect health care for all who need it. 14 California lawmakers voted to cut IHSS and repeal our care in 2017, so we’re turning our sights to the 2018 elections—because attempts to cut our health care and important programs like IHSS will continue unless we change the conversations in Congress and elect new leaders who will stand with caregivers and our clients and loved ones.
We know how difficult it can be to convince our elected leaders that home care is important work worthy of a livable wage—that’s why we launched the Home Care Saves Lives campaign to bring attention to the essential work we do and the financial hardships we live with in order to do it. Our new website, www.homecaresaveslives.com, tells our stories and urges community members and caregivers alike to call our county boards of supervisors and demand that they #SupportCaregivers. Denise Roe, a caregiver from Oroville, explained how one of her clients, an older community member, runs out of food every month. So she does what most of us caregivers would do, and uses her IHSS pay to help him buy groceries—even though she and her client aren’t related.
San Diego Provider Kim Vann and her client showing support for caregivers everywhere
Home Care Saves Lives is also about reminding people how important our work is to our communities—and how important our dollars are to the local economies where we live and work. In some counties, even a small fifty cent raise would equal millions in local economic activity, so it’s a winwin situation for all. Visit www.homecaresaveslives.com or call your local office to get involved today.
— Denise Roe, IHSS provider, Butte County
“Caregivers like us need a raise because we help people in the community.”
PREPARING FOR ELECTRONIC VISIT VERIFICATION (EVV) Federal law requires the state of California to adopt Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) for home care visits by 2019 or face funding cuts. EVV is a method to electronically monitor home care workers and ensure we are giving our clients all the hours of care that we say we are. Naturally, many home care providers are concerned about EVV. Will we have to log in for every shift and care service? How will it work for family caregivers? What if a caregiver or their client doesn’t have internet access?
PAID SICK LEAVE FOR IHSS PROVIDERS The same law that raised the minimum wage also gave IHSS providers paid sick days for the first time ever. Starting on July 1 of this year, we will receive one day (8 hours) of paid sick leave each year. On January 1, 2020, we will begin to accrue two paid sick days (16 hours) each year. This increases to 24 hours, or three days, of paid sick leave for each year on January 1, 2023.
Learn more about the lawmakers who voted to cut IHSS at www.cutshurtCA.com, and call your local UDW office to find out how you can get involved in the 2018 elections.
UDW Executive Director Doug Moore and President Editha Adams speak out against cuts to health care and IHSS at a 2017 rally in Bakersfield, CA
So far, those questions don’t have answers. California hasn’t decided what EVV will look like for us or how it will be implemented. UDW submitted a memo to the CA Department of Social Services opposing EVV last November. We will do everything in our power to challenge and limit this new requirement so IHSS providers can spend their time on what’s important: caregiving. Stay updated on the latest EVV news at www.udwa.org.
“Thanks to our union we’re saving $970/month on health insurance!” Barbara is an IHSS provider and UDW member in San Diego County. She cares for her 36-year-old daughter who has Down Syndrome. Until recently, Barbara and her husband paid a huge amount for health coverage: $1,000/month for just Barbara alone. Barbara became an IHSS provider in 2007, and there was a waitlist for several years prior to the new contract being negotiated. Many caregivers struggle to pay for our own health care, and that’s why UDW’s San Diego members pushed to expand our health plan and raise wages in our new contract, which went into effect on January 1. The contract gave IHSS providers who work in San Diego County a $1/hour raise and, even more beneficial to providers like Barbara, the contract effectively eliminated the county waiting list for health insurance and lowered all Kaiser premiums to just $30/month. That means $970 back in Barbara’s pocket every month. “I’m thrilled,” she said. “It was something I didn’t expect. That’s a car payment or a vacation!” UNITED DOMESTIC WORKERS OF AMERICA AFSCME LOCAL 3930 Balance Sheet Summary As of September 30, 2017
Submitted by Lientuong Rose Nguyen, UDW Secretary-Treasurer
ASSETS
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Current Assets Checking/Savings...................................... 2,879,099 Accounts Receivable................................ 2,660,873 Other Current Assets/ Prepaid Expenses/Deposits.......................280,690 Total Current Assets.................................5,820,662
Current Liabilities Accounts Payable....................................... 1,042,650 Other Current Liabilities..............................790,183 Total Current Liabilities...........................1,832,833 Total Liabilities..........................................1,832,833
Fixed Assets Fixed Assets................................................. 7,298,300 Total Fixed Assets.....................................7,298,300 Other Assets Notes Receivable............................................. 70,276 Total Other Assets......................................... 70,276 Total Assets............................................. 13,189,238
Equity Retained Earnings...................................10,870,976 Net Income......................................................485,429 Total Equity............................................. 11,356,405 Total Liabilities & Equity....................... 13,189,238
REVENUE & EXPENSES FOR PERIOD ENDING September 30, 2017 Revenue Dues..............................................................12,963,116. Other Revenue.....................................................157,493 Total Revenue......................................... 13,120,609 Expenses Payments to Affiliates............................... 1,389,921. Grants/Allocations..............................................374,054. Personnel Expenses........................................ 6,964,069.
Professional Fees.................................................473,839. Office Expenses................................................ 1,516,017 Travel/Conf/Conv/Meetings........................ 1,188,991. Depreciation/Depletion....................................495,284. Other Expenses....................................................233,005 Total Expenses........................................ 12,635,180 Net Income...................................................485,429
The
CAREGIVER
facebook.com/UDW twitter.com/UDWA
CAREGIVER
STRONG! UDW’s 16th Biennial Convention is in June and the theme is CAREGIVER STRONG! Look for your ballot in the mail and be sure to vote for your convention delegates, who will attend the convention and vote on our union’s priorities and vision for 2018 and beyond.
News from our union
Winter 2018
Introducing the UDW U.S. Bank Focus Card Dear UDW members, I am so excited to share our newest option for receiving pay to our members: the U.S. Bank Focus CardTM. This prepaid card account offers UDW members a new way to get paid and a new way to pay—now you can avoid lost or delayed paychecks and get your IHSS pay directly deposited onto your very own Mastercard® branded prepaid debit card! Almost 70% of IHSS providers do not take advantage of direct deposit— but now UDW members can enjoy the perks of direct deposit by using the Focus Card. You can use your card everywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted, and it’s great for budgeting as you can only spend what you have available. Our union worked hard to find a prepaid card that works for you. There are low or no fees for common transactions, and you’ll have easy online access to your account and 24/7 customer service. Learn more and get your card today! Be sure to check out the FAQs, fee schedule, and cardholder agreement at www.usbankfocus.com. In solidarity,
Editha Adams, UDW President
To get started, follow these three simple steps:
1
SIGN UP FOR YOUR FOCUS CARD
Visit www.udwa.org/prepaidcard to request your Focus Card. Once you’ve completed the enrollment and your request is accepted, you should receive your card in a plain, white envelope with an Indianapolis, IN return address in 7-10 business days.
2
ENROLL IN DIRECT DEPOSIT
You will receive your Focus Card account and routing numbers upon enrollment. Once you have this information, fill out the state’s IHSS direct deposit form available at www.udwa.org/directdeposit, and submit the form to the state.
3
USE YOUR CARD
Proudly use your Focus Card everywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted, including in stores, online, and over the phone. You also have several ways to get cash, pay bills, and track your spending.
Changes in the coming year will impact IHSS providers and clients