Spring 2016 Caregiver English

Winning Together More IHSS hours and overtime pay are making a huge difference for IHSS providers

4855 Seminole Drive San Diego, CA 92115 800-621-5016 udwa.org facebook.com/UDW twitter.com/UDWA

“As my uncle’s provider, I work 55 hours per week. Before overtime pay, my family lived paycheck to paycheck and often used payday loans to keep up on our bills. Now we have less stress and more financial security.”

“Ending the 7% cut means that I can afford my daughter Sha’Quonna’s medication, food for her special diet, and utility bill payments. The cut forced our family to choose which of these things were most important, when in reality, they all are.”

—Roy Pridemore, Orange County

— Latrese Lofton, Riverside County

“When my son’s hours were cut it hurt us. I struggled to buy gas for my car to take him to doctor appointments in San Francisco. That’s why I joined with UDW providers last year to lobby for the 7% restoration to IHSS hours.

We finally ended a cut that was hurting my family.”

— Kim Spoeneman, Stanislaus County

get to Don’t for ter e 7! Regis n u J n o vote view UDW d n a e t o to v s at andidate . c d e s r o 16 end lection20 e / g r .o a udw

FINALLY!

$15 an hour and paid sick leave for IHSS providers But we’re not done fighting yet!

“Overtime pay means I can finally afford home internet for my granddaughter Aminatta, who has developmental disabilities. Now she can complete her homework and further her education without disruptions.” ­ — Linda Brown, San Diego County

“I work day and night providing care for my son Marshall who lives with autism.

Now that I’m receiving overtime pay, I can afford to take Marshall to group sessions and therapy that will help him develop his social skills. Before it was way too expensive. I’m happy that now I can help my son even more.”

— Percie Slate, San Diego County

“I can’t think of another job where employees are told they need 100 hours per month to complete their work, but don’t get paid for 7% of them. With the hours restored I can breathe a little easier and do things others take for granted like buy fresh fruit and vegetables for my client.”

— Sharon Duchessi, Placer County

By Editha Adams, UDW President and IHSS Provider

For the past year UDW caregivers have rallied and marched alongside thousands of underpaid workers to make one thing clear: no one should have to survive on less than $15 per hour in California.

increase California’s current minimum wage by one dollar over the next two years, and then by a dollar for each year thereafter until reaching $15 per hour in 2022.

And we won! On April 4, 2016 we were there when Governor Jerry Brown signed a historic $15 minimum wage into law.

This victory will have a huge impact on the more than 400,000 IHSS providers statewide who currently earn, on average, just $10.72 an hour – and many will start to see an increase in wages as early as 2017, when the minimum wage goes up to $10.50.

The law also guarantees paid sick leave for IHSS workers for the first time ever: the first in 2018, the second in 2020, and the third and final day in 2022. It will also

3

Live Better

On March 28, 2016, UDW Executive Director Doug Moore stood alongside Governor Jerry Brown as he announced his plan to raise minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2022.

But we have more work to do, because home care providers deserve to earn more than minimum wage! That’s why we’re bargaining at the county and state-levels to win better wages and benefits for UDW home care providers now, and working together to protect the home care program for our clients and loved ones.

You can read the full President’s Report at www.udwa.org.

Union victories are transforming the lives of IHSS providers like Aurora Viramontes Rivera

ALSO INSIDE:

FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY & FOR PARENT AND SPOUSE PROVIDERS

NEW TIMESHEET RULES START MAY 1

LIVE BETTER

Union victories are transforming the lives of IHSS providers A

urora Viramontes Rivera has two tough and very important jobs: she’s the mother of two

amazing children with disabilities, and she’s also their home care provider.

Four years ago, Aurora’s son Atzel was born 23 weeks premature. “We were so worried,” she said. “Atzel was in an incubator for five months after he was born. I couldn’t take him home until he was seven months old.”

Today, Atzel is a happy four-year-old boy who lives with autism and receives care through IHSS. But sometimes Atzel wanders, and has a hard time distinguishing between safe and dangerous objects. “I have to monitor him 24 hours a day,” Aurora explained. “I can’t work another job, because someone needs to be with Atzel full-time.”

Like all parents and caregivers, Aurora’s priority is her children’s care, but until recently Aurora also spent sleepless nights worrying about how she would provide basic needs

for her family of six.

“We were living in a cramped two bedroom apartment,” she said. “Atzel would stare all day at the window hoping to go outside, but it was too dangerous.”

And this year, thanks to years of hard work, overtime pay for IHSS providers began on February 1. Approximately 20 percent of IHSS providers are now earning time-and-a-half pay for hours worked over 40 each week.

It was her initial struggles with the IHSS program that left Aurora feeling financially insecure. When she first applied, Atzel was granted just 80 IHSS hours of care per month. Her daughter Alix only receives 4. “Atzel needs so much more care than that, and he can’t be without me,” she said. “I felt helpless, because I didn’t know what to do for Atzel or my family.”

Last year, Aurora learned about UDW. “I didn’t know anything about unions,” she said. “But when I learned UDW helps members fight for our rights and for more IHSS hours for our clients, I joined on the spot.”

Joining UDW has been life-changing for Aurora and her family.

CHANGING LIVES

Aurora’s paycheck before and after UDW victories

BEFORE AFTER

IHSS hours restoration (end of 7% cut)

$691.92

Advocacy win* Orange County wage increase Overtime pay

$744 $2,562.15 $2,810.10

Monthly take home pay

$691.92 to $3,399.15

Last October, the UDW Advocacy Council in Orange County helped Aurora appeal the assessment of Atzel’s hours, and win nearly 200 additional IHSS hours. And Aurora received over $7,000 in retroactive pay for the hours she worked unpaid.

“It’s because UDW caregivers worked together to protect the home care program that my family was able to rent a new three bedroom house,” explained Aurora. “It has a big yard where my children can safely play. We also bought a more reliable car, so that I can take Atzel to his doctors’ appointments. It’s been a dream come true.”

Aurora’s family is also saving money to purchase a home, and planning a trip to Mexico to visit her children’s grandmother, who is ill.

Three additional union victories have put money in Aurora’s pocket, transforming her family’s quality of life and their future.

For Aurora, becoming a UDW member has meant less stress and more financial stability. “I’m much happier,” she said. “Becoming a UDW member has made a world of a difference for our family.”

First, UDW negotiated a contract with Orange County to increase providers’ wages to $10.20 an hour. This victory came after 5 years of refusal by the county to give providers a raise.

UDW protects the IHSS program for our clients, and we provide resources and assistance to caregivers locally.

To get involved, contact your local office at www.udwa.org/contact.

to $744 to $2,562.15 to $2,810.10 to $3,339.15

*Aurora also received an additional $7,000 in back pay thanks to her UDW advocacy win.

2

The second victory came after UDW members rallied, marched, and lobbied lawmakers to end a harmful 7% cut to our clients’ hours last year.

REMINDER! New timesheet rules are in effect starting May 1.

As of May 1, 2016, incorrectly recording hours on your IHSS timesheet will result in program violations, up to and including termination from IHSS. It is important that providers do not submit timesheets that exceed your maximum weekly hours. More information: udwa.org/timesheets or call us at 1-800-621-5016.

Our next big fight Social security and more benefits for parent and spouse providers There are four things that all working Americans should be able to rely on: Social Security so that we can meet our basic needs when we retire, Medicare, paid family leave, and unemployment benefits.

But many IHSS providers are not eligible for these vital social safety nets now, or later when we need them most.

That’s because, thanks to a loophole in the Internal Revenue Code, parents and spouse caregivers are not currently allowed to have Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) contributions deducted from our paychecks. FICA is what funds Social Security and Medicare. The same family employment exemption prevents parents and spouse providers from getting unemployment benefits and paid family leave.

“I’ve been my son’s IHSS provider for 20 years,” said El Dorado County UDW member Roxanne Bender.

“I’ve worked like everyone else, yet my husband and I may never be able to retire because I don’t qualify for Social Security and Medicare.”

So UDW is fighting for the rights of all providers to have access to these benefits— just like how we fought to be included in the Fair Labor Standards Act so that we could earn overtime pay.

But like our overtime fight, winning these benefits for parent and spouse providers will not be easy or quick, and would involve changes to

federal and state laws. To start, our union is sponsoring Assembly Bill 1930, a first step towards educating California lawmakers and the public about this issue and the economic insecurity it creates for thousands of IHSS providers.

“Worrying about my family’s future keeps me up at night,” explained Roxanne, who testified in front of lawmakers in March. “Being excluded from benefits as basic as Social Security and Medicare makes me feel undervalued and underappreciated.”

Share your story! It may help us secure more benefits for spouse and parent providers. If you have been impacted by this issue, email Paulina at pchau@udwa.org to tell us your story. You can also stay updated at udwa.org.

El Dorado County IHSS provider Roxanne Bender together with her husband and son.

LIVE BETTER

Union victories are transforming the lives of IHSS providers A

urora Viramontes Rivera has two tough and very important jobs: she’s the mother of two

amazing children with disabilities, and she’s also their home care provider.

Four years ago, Aurora’s son Atzel was born 23 weeks premature. “We were so worried,” she said. “Atzel was in an incubator for five months after he was born. I couldn’t take him home until he was seven months old.”

Today, Atzel is a happy four-year-old boy who lives with autism and receives care through IHSS. But sometimes Atzel wanders, and has a hard time distinguishing between safe and dangerous objects. “I have to monitor him 24 hours a day,” Aurora explained. “I can’t work another job, because someone needs to be with Atzel full-time.”

Like all parents and caregivers, Aurora’s priority is her children’s care, but until recently Aurora also spent sleepless nights worrying about how she would provide basic needs

for her family of six.

“We were living in a cramped two bedroom apartment,” she said. “Atzel would stare all day at the window hoping to go outside, but it was too dangerous.”

And this year, thanks to years of hard work, overtime pay for IHSS providers began on February 1. Approximately 20 percent of IHSS providers are now earning time-and-a-half pay for hours worked over 40 each week.

It was her initial struggles with the IHSS program that left Aurora feeling financially insecure. When she first applied, Atzel was granted just 80 IHSS hours of care per month. Her daughter Alix only receives 4. “Atzel needs so much more care than that, and he can’t be without me,” she said. “I felt helpless, because I didn’t know what to do for Atzel or my family.”

Last year, Aurora learned about UDW. “I didn’t know anything about unions,” she said. “But when I learned UDW helps members fight for our rights and for more IHSS hours for our clients, I joined on the spot.”

Joining UDW has been life-changing for Aurora and her family.

CHANGING LIVES

Aurora’s paycheck before and after UDW victories

BEFORE AFTER

IHSS hours restoration (end of 7% cut)

$691.92

Advocacy win* Orange County wage increase Overtime pay

$744 $2,562.15 $2,810.10

Monthly take home pay

$691.92 to $3,399.15

Last October, the UDW Advocacy Council in Orange County helped Aurora appeal the assessment of Atzel’s hours, and win nearly 200 additional IHSS hours. And Aurora received over $7,000 in retroactive pay for the hours she worked unpaid.

“It’s because UDW caregivers worked together to protect the home care program that my family was able to rent a new three bedroom house,” explained Aurora. “It has a big yard where my children can safely play. We also bought a more reliable car, so that I can take Atzel to his doctors’ appointments. It’s been a dream come true.”

Aurora’s family is also saving money to purchase a home, and planning a trip to Mexico to visit her children’s grandmother, who is ill.

Three additional union victories have put money in Aurora’s pocket, transforming her family’s quality of life and their future.

For Aurora, becoming a UDW member has meant less stress and more financial stability. “I’m much happier,” she said. “Becoming a UDW member has made a world of a difference for our family.”

First, UDW negotiated a contract with Orange County to increase providers’ wages to $10.20 an hour. This victory came after 5 years of refusal by the county to give providers a raise.

UDW protects the IHSS program for our clients, and we provide resources and assistance to caregivers locally.

To get involved, contact your local office at www.udwa.org/contact.

to $744 to $2,562.15 to $2,810.10 to $3,339.15

*Aurora also received an additional $7,000 in back pay thanks to her UDW advocacy win.

2

The second victory came after UDW members rallied, marched, and lobbied lawmakers to end a harmful 7% cut to our clients’ hours last year.

REMINDER! New timesheet rules are in effect starting May 1.

As of May 1, 2016, incorrectly recording hours on your IHSS timesheet will result in program violations, up to and including termination from IHSS. It is important that providers do not submit timesheets that exceed your maximum weekly hours. More information: udwa.org/timesheets or call us at 1-800-621-5016.

Our next big fight Social security and more benefits for parent and spouse providers There are four things that all working Americans should be able to rely on: Social Security so that we can meet our basic needs when we retire, Medicare, paid family leave, and unemployment benefits.

But many IHSS providers are not eligible for these vital social safety nets now, or later when we need them most.

That’s because, thanks to a loophole in the Internal Revenue Code, parents and spouse caregivers are not currently allowed to have Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) contributions deducted from our paychecks. FICA is what funds Social Security and Medicare. The same family employment exemption prevents parents and spouse providers from getting unemployment benefits and paid family leave.

“I’ve been my son’s IHSS provider for 20 years,” said El Dorado County UDW member Roxanne Bender.

“I’ve worked like everyone else, yet my husband and I may never be able to retire because I don’t qualify for Social Security and Medicare.”

So UDW is fighting for the rights of all providers to have access to these benefits— just like how we fought to be included in the Fair Labor Standards Act so that we could earn overtime pay.

But like our overtime fight, winning these benefits for parent and spouse providers will not be easy or quick, and would involve changes to

federal and state laws. To start, our union is sponsoring Assembly Bill 1930, a first step towards educating California lawmakers and the public about this issue and the economic insecurity it creates for thousands of IHSS providers.

“Worrying about my family’s future keeps me up at night,” explained Roxanne, who testified in front of lawmakers in March. “Being excluded from benefits as basic as Social Security and Medicare makes me feel undervalued and underappreciated.”

Share your story! It may help us secure more benefits for spouse and parent providers. If you have been impacted by this issue, email Paulina at pchau@udwa.org to tell us your story. You can also stay updated at udwa.org.

El Dorado County IHSS provider Roxanne Bender together with her husband and son.

Winning Together More IHSS hours and overtime pay are making a huge difference for IHSS providers

4855 Seminole Drive San Diego, CA 92115 800-621-5016 udwa.org facebook.com/UDW twitter.com/UDWA

“As my uncle’s provider, I work 55 hours per week. Before overtime pay, my family lived paycheck to paycheck and often used payday loans to keep up on our bills. Now we have less stress and more financial security.”

“Ending the 7% cut means that I can afford my daughter Sha’Quonna’s medication, food for her special diet, and utility bill payments. The cut forced our family to choose which of these things were most important, when in reality, they all are.”

—Roy Pridemore, Orange County

— Latrese Lofton, Riverside County

“When my son’s hours were cut it hurt us. I struggled to buy gas for my car to take him to doctor appointments in San Francisco. That’s why I joined with UDW providers last year to lobby for the 7% restoration to IHSS hours.

We finally ended a cut that was hurting my family.”

— Kim Spoeneman, Stanislaus County

get to Don’t for ter e 7! Regis n u J n o vote view UDW d n a e t o to v s at andidate . c d e s r o 16 end lection20 e / g r .o a udw

FINALLY!

$15 an hour and paid sick leave for IHSS providers But we’re not done fighting yet!

“Overtime pay means I can finally afford home internet for my granddaughter Aminatta, who has developmental disabilities. Now she can complete her homework and further her education without disruptions.” ­ — Linda Brown, San Diego County

“I work day and night providing care for my son Marshall who lives with autism.

Now that I’m receiving overtime pay, I can afford to take Marshall to group sessions and therapy that will help him develop his social skills. Before it was way too expensive. I’m happy that now I can help my son even more.”

— Percie Slate, San Diego County

“I can’t think of another job where employees are told they need 100 hours per month to complete their work, but don’t get paid for 7% of them. With the hours restored I can breathe a little easier and do things others take for granted like buy fresh fruit and vegetables for my client.”

— Sharon Duchessi, Placer County

By Editha Adams, UDW President and IHSS Provider

For the past year UDW caregivers have rallied and marched alongside thousands of underpaid workers to make one thing clear: no one should have to survive on less than $15 per hour in California.

increase California’s current minimum wage by one dollar over the next two years, and then by a dollar for each year thereafter until reaching $15 per hour in 2022.

And we won! On April 4, 2016 we were there when Governor Jerry Brown signed a historic $15 minimum wage into law.

This victory will have a huge impact on the more than 400,000 IHSS providers statewide who currently earn, on average, just $10.72 an hour – and many will start to see an increase in wages as early as 2017, when the minimum wage goes up to $10.50.

The law also guarantees paid sick leave for IHSS workers for the first time ever: the first in 2018, the second in 2020, and the third and final day in 2022. It will also

3

Live Better

On March 28, 2016, UDW Executive Director Doug Moore stood alongside Governor Jerry Brown as he announced his plan to raise minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2022.

But we have more work to do, because home care providers deserve to earn more than minimum wage! That’s why we’re bargaining at the county and state-levels to win better wages and benefits for UDW home care providers now, and working together to protect the home care program for our clients and loved ones.

You can read the full President’s Report at www.udwa.org.

Union victories are transforming the lives of IHSS providers like Aurora Viramontes Rivera

ALSO INSIDE:

FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY & FOR PARENT AND SPOUSE PROVIDERS

NEW TIMESHEET RULES START MAY 1

LIVE BETTER

Union victories are transforming the lives of IHSS providers A

urora Viramontes Rivera has two tough and very important jobs: she’s the mother of two

amazing children with disabilities, and she’s also their home care provider.

Four years ago, Aurora’s son Atzel was born 23 weeks premature. “We were so worried,” she said. “Atzel was in an incubator for five months after he was born. I couldn’t take him home until he was seven months old.”

Today, Atzel is a happy four-year-old boy who lives with autism and receives care through IHSS. But sometimes Atzel wanders, and has a hard time distinguishing between safe and dangerous objects. “I have to monitor him 24 hours a day,” Aurora explained. “I can’t work another job, because someone needs to be with Atzel full-time.”

Like all parents and caregivers, Aurora’s priority is her children’s care, but until recently Aurora also spent sleepless nights worrying about how she would provide basic needs

for her family of six.

“We were living in a cramped two bedroom apartment,” she said. “Atzel would stare all day at the window hoping to go outside, but it was too dangerous.”

And this year, thanks to years of hard work, overtime pay for IHSS providers began on February 1. Approximately 20 percent of IHSS providers are now earning time-and-a-half pay for hours worked over 40 each week.

It was her initial struggles with the IHSS program that left Aurora feeling financially insecure. When she first applied, Atzel was granted just 80 IHSS hours of care per month. Her daughter Alix only receives 4. “Atzel needs so much more care than that, and he can’t be without me,” she said. “I felt helpless, because I didn’t know what to do for Atzel or my family.”

Last year, Aurora learned about UDW. “I didn’t know anything about unions,” she said. “But when I learned UDW helps members fight for our rights and for more IHSS hours for our clients, I joined on the spot.”

Joining UDW has been life-changing for Aurora and her family.

CHANGING LIVES

Aurora’s paycheck before and after UDW victories

BEFORE AFTER

IHSS hours restoration (end of 7% cut)

$691.92

Advocacy win* Orange County wage increase Overtime pay

$744 $2,562.15 $2,810.10

Monthly take home pay

$691.92 to $3,399.15

Last October, the UDW Advocacy Council in Orange County helped Aurora appeal the assessment of Atzel’s hours, and win nearly 200 additional IHSS hours. And Aurora received over $7,000 in retroactive pay for the hours she worked unpaid.

“It’s because UDW caregivers worked together to protect the home care program that my family was able to rent a new three bedroom house,” explained Aurora. “It has a big yard where my children can safely play. We also bought a more reliable car, so that I can take Atzel to his doctors’ appointments. It’s been a dream come true.”

Aurora’s family is also saving money to purchase a home, and planning a trip to Mexico to visit her children’s grandmother, who is ill.

Three additional union victories have put money in Aurora’s pocket, transforming her family’s quality of life and their future.

For Aurora, becoming a UDW member has meant less stress and more financial stability. “I’m much happier,” she said. “Becoming a UDW member has made a world of a difference for our family.”

First, UDW negotiated a contract with Orange County to increase providers’ wages to $10.20 an hour. This victory came after 5 years of refusal by the county to give providers a raise.

UDW protects the IHSS program for our clients, and we provide resources and assistance to caregivers locally.

To get involved, contact your local office at www.udwa.org/contact.

to $744 to $2,562.15 to $2,810.10 to $3,339.15

*Aurora also received an additional $7,000 in back pay thanks to her UDW advocacy win.

2

The second victory came after UDW members rallied, marched, and lobbied lawmakers to end a harmful 7% cut to our clients’ hours last year.

REMINDER! New timesheet rules are in effect starting May 1.

As of May 1, 2016, incorrectly recording hours on your IHSS timesheet will result in program violations, up to and including termination from IHSS. It is important that providers do not submit timesheets that exceed your maximum weekly hours. More information: udwa.org/timesheets or call us at 1-800-621-5016.

Our next big fight Social security and more benefits for parent and spouse providers There are four things that all working Americans should be able to rely on: Social Security so that we can meet our basic needs when we retire, Medicare, paid family leave, and unemployment benefits.

But many IHSS providers are not eligible for these vital social safety nets now, or later when we need them most.

That’s because, thanks to a loophole in the Internal Revenue Code, parents and spouse caregivers are not currently allowed to have Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) contributions deducted from our paychecks. FICA is what funds Social Security and Medicare. The same family employment exemption prevents parents and spouse providers from getting unemployment benefits and paid family leave.

“I’ve been my son’s IHSS provider for 20 years,” said El Dorado County UDW member Roxanne Bender.

“I’ve worked like everyone else, yet my husband and I may never be able to retire because I don’t qualify for Social Security and Medicare.”

So UDW is fighting for the rights of all providers to have access to these benefits— just like how we fought to be included in the Fair Labor Standards Act so that we could earn overtime pay.

But like our overtime fight, winning these benefits for parent and spouse providers will not be easy or quick, and would involve changes to

federal and state laws. To start, our union is sponsoring Assembly Bill 1930, a first step towards educating California lawmakers and the public about this issue and the economic insecurity it creates for thousands of IHSS providers.

“Worrying about my family’s future keeps me up at night,” explained Roxanne, who testified in front of lawmakers in March. “Being excluded from benefits as basic as Social Security and Medicare makes me feel undervalued and underappreciated.”

Share your story! It may help us secure more benefits for spouse and parent providers. If you have been impacted by this issue, email Paulina at pchau@udwa.org to tell us your story. You can also stay updated at udwa.org.

El Dorado County IHSS provider Roxanne Bender together with her husband and son.

Winning Together More IHSS hours and overtime pay are making a huge difference for IHSS providers

4855 Seminole Drive San Diego, CA 92115 800-621-5016 udwa.org facebook.com/UDW twitter.com/UDWA

“As my uncle’s provider, I work 55 hours per week. Before overtime pay, my family lived paycheck to paycheck and often used payday loans to keep up on our bills. Now we have less stress and more financial security.”

“Ending the 7% cut means that I can afford my daughter Sha’Quonna’s medication, food for her special diet, and utility bill payments. The cut forced our family to choose which of these things were most important, when in reality, they all are.”

—Roy Pridemore, Orange County

— Latrese Lofton, Riverside County

“When my son’s hours were cut it hurt us. I struggled to buy gas for my car to take him to doctor appointments in San Francisco. That’s why I joined with UDW providers last year to lobby for the 7% restoration to IHSS hours.

We finally ended a cut that was hurting my family.”

— Kim Spoeneman, Stanislaus County

get to Don’t for ter e 7! Regis n u J n o vote view UDW d n a e t o to v s at andidate . c d e s r o 16 end lection20 e / g r .o a udw

FINALLY!

$15 an hour and paid sick leave for IHSS providers But we’re not done fighting yet!

“Overtime pay means I can finally afford home internet for my granddaughter Aminatta, who has developmental disabilities. Now she can complete her homework and further her education without disruptions.” ­ — Linda Brown, San Diego County

“I work day and night providing care for my son Marshall who lives with autism.

Now that I’m receiving overtime pay, I can afford to take Marshall to group sessions and therapy that will help him develop his social skills. Before it was way too expensive. I’m happy that now I can help my son even more.”

— Percie Slate, San Diego County

“I can’t think of another job where employees are told they need 100 hours per month to complete their work, but don’t get paid for 7% of them. With the hours restored I can breathe a little easier and do things others take for granted like buy fresh fruit and vegetables for my client.”

— Sharon Duchessi, Placer County

By Editha Adams, UDW President and IHSS Provider

For the past year UDW caregivers have rallied and marched alongside thousands of underpaid workers to make one thing clear: no one should have to survive on less than $15 per hour in California.

increase California’s current minimum wage by one dollar over the next two years, and then by a dollar for each year thereafter until reaching $15 per hour in 2022.

And we won! On April 4, 2016 we were there when Governor Jerry Brown signed a historic $15 minimum wage into law.

This victory will have a huge impact on the more than 400,000 IHSS providers statewide who currently earn, on average, just $10.72 an hour – and many will start to see an increase in wages as early as 2017, when the minimum wage goes up to $10.50.

The law also guarantees paid sick leave for IHSS workers for the first time ever: the first in 2018, the second in 2020, and the third and final day in 2022. It will also

3

Live Better

On March 28, 2016, UDW Executive Director Doug Moore stood alongside Governor Jerry Brown as he announced his plan to raise minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2022.

But we have more work to do, because home care providers deserve to earn more than minimum wage! That’s why we’re bargaining at the county and state-levels to win better wages and benefits for UDW home care providers now, and working together to protect the home care program for our clients and loved ones.

You can read the full President’s Report at www.udwa.org.

Union victories are transforming the lives of IHSS providers like Aurora Viramontes Rivera

ALSO INSIDE:

FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY & FOR PARENT AND SPOUSE PROVIDERS

NEW TIMESHEET RULES START MAY 1