Peninsula: Health care workers, union members arrested in protest over wage increase

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Mercury News

By Erin Ivie

REDWOOD CITY -- Scores of home care workers and health care union members staged a protest that resulted in five arrests Tuesday, in response to what they say is a paltry wage increase offer from San Mateo County.

About 150 In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) aides, SEIU representatives and people with disabilities under their care conducted a civil disobedience protest at Tuesday's board of supervisors meeting, county spokeswoman Christa Bigue said.

IHSS workers urged the supervisors to increase their wages from $11.50 an hour to $15 an hour over the next four years, a 30 percent increase. The county last week offered a gradual increase to $12.65 an hour. The 10 percent wage hike would be the first increase for IHSS workers since 2007.

"We are here today because you have failed us, and you have failed the community," said SEIU Local 521 Chief Elected Officer Luisa Blue, addressing the board. "By denying home care providers a just and fair living wage, you are treating them as second-tier citizens."

FULL story at link.



Caption: Peninsula home care workers and members of SEIU Local 521 sit in at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday in protest of San Mateo County's proposed wage increase for IHSS workers. (Photo courtesy SEIU Local 521)


Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_26963551/peninsula-health-care-workers-union-members-arrested-protest

[cstanleytech]

1. Sorry but asking for $15 is absurd.

They should be demanding atleast $20 or $15 plus a $1.50 dollar per mile that they have to travel.

[redruddyred]

3. no, it's just that poverty wages have become such a norm.

[silvershadow]

2. Bump. nt

[belzabubba333]

4. good it's nice to see unions that arent afraid to strike

hey cwa are you watching

[WarOnError]

5. The owners of these services do very well

Heaven forbid they be forced to pay their workers a living wage because...free market freedom.

These workers put miles on their own cars and spend hours a week writing up reports on the mostly Medicaid/Medicare patients.

My friend is lucky to get over 20 hours a week. I'm amazed at how much she really cares about her hospice patients. She's an angel imo.

The owner of her company only does payroll, otherwise they are mia enjoying the fruits of their cash cow.

Why can't Medicaid/Medicare cap profit margins for the mostly greedy company owners like they do the insurance companies or demand a fair wage be paid to the people that DO THE WORK.