1,000 New Jersey Adult Day Care Providers Join CWA

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/03/14/1000-new-jersey-adult-day-care-providers-join-cwa/

by James Parks, Mar 14, 2008

More than 1,000 New Jersey providers who open their homes to care for developmentally disabled adults have gained a voice on the job by joining the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) signed an executive order recognizing the union last week, two days after the state Board of Mediation verified that a majority of the workers, called sponsors, signed cards seeking representation by CWA Locals 1037 and 1040.


Care providers for developmentally disabled adults, along with members of CWA Locals 1037 and 1040, join New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine as he signs an order recognizing the workers’ union.


CWA Vice President Chris Shelton says:

This is what “standing together” really means. These two locals accomplished great things by working collectively.

With the help of CWA organizers, workers set up committees in the state’s 21 counties and began visiting homes. Anne Luck, organizing director for Local 1037, says organizers collected union authorization cards from about 60 percent of the sponsors. The sponsors take in up to four developmentally disabled adults and receive a monthly check from the state that covers room and board and pays wages based on how much care each patient needs.

FULL story at link.