The wages of more than 3 million home care workers would be protected from unfair attacks under legislation introduced last week in Congress and endorsed by AFSCME.
The Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act, if passed, would guarantee home care workers receive at least the minimum wage and access to overtime pay.
The legislation, introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), is a needed response to a pending Department of Labor proposal that threatens vital wage protections for home care workers.
“Home care workers represent a lifeline for millions of families — yet too many are denied even a minimum wage and often go unpaid for hours spent off the clock keeping their clients safe. Poverty wages are driving caregivers out of this lifesaving field, leaving families without support, hospitals and nursing homes overwhelmed, and seniors and people with disabilities at risk of losing the freedom to live with dignity in their own homes,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “Congress must act now to protect these essential workers and the families who depend on them.”
AFSCME members around the country have voiced their objections to the Department of Labor rule, and this new legislation gives essential home care workers another opportunity to join the fight to protect their wages and their families.
Home care workers make life possible for families that need assistance with an elderly or disabled family member, allowing them to live safely and comfortably at home, with dignity. They deserve fair pay and protection from billionaires and corporations that are threatening their wages and livelihoods.