Victory for Humboldt Home Care Workers
by Kate Childs Graham | March 21, 2013
Homecare workers and supporters rallied in front of Humboldt County Courthouse in February.
The lowest paid home care workers in California live in Humboldt County. The more than 1,400 members of California United Homecare Workers (CUHW) Local 4034, have never received a wage increase above the state minimum wage. So, two years ago, after winning a hard-fought recognition campaign, Humboldt home care workers looked forward to bargaining a contract that would give them a fair shake.
Since February 2011, these home care workers put every effort into bargaining their first contract. They held weekly testimonies at Board of Supervisor meetings. They rallied. They executed strategic media campaigns. They garnered support from elected officials, community partners and faith leaders. They attempted mediation again and again.
Last week, these workers finally saw victory when, behind closed doors, the county’s Board of Supervisors, acting as the Governing Board of the IHSS Public Authority, approved an agreement that included a historic wage increase for county home care workers.
Margaret Lewis, a home care worker from Garberville, Calif., and member of CUHW, said, “I’m glad we’re finally able to move forward. The real winners today are the people we care for. Better pay for county caregivers means better care for our seniors and disabled.”
CUHW statewide Pres. Gail Ennis called the agreement a “great victory for home care workers who have lived in poverty for over a decade.”
AFSCME Sec.-Treas. Laura Reyes – who volunteered for weeks on the local’s recognition campaign – added, “When I knocked on the doors of Humboldt home care workers back in 2011, I saw how many were struggling to make ends meet while caring deeply for the people they serve. I’m so proud that these workers will now be able to continue providing quality care while earning a fair wage.”
The agreement must be ratified by county home care workers and receive final approval from the state and county before the wage increase takes effect.
