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Indybay Feature
New Member-Led Healthcare Union Leads Fight Against Governor's Cuts
As Congress moves funds to save vital services, National Union of Healthcare Workers protests Schwarzenegger's needless cuts that put the most vulnerable at risk
FRESNO—Dozens of homecare workers, Kaiser workers and other caregivers protested at the governor's offices in Fresno and Sacramento today to protect services for seniors and people with disabilities. They're part of the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), an independent union formed less than two weeks ago by the elected leaders of United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) after they were undemocratically ousted by SEIU.
"In a crisis like this, our top priority should be making sure the most vulnerable people don't fall through the cracks," said Mary Padilla, a homecare worker in Fresno County for eight years who is organizing other caregivers to join NUHW. "The governor's cuts to IHSS won't save money and they won't protect the safety and dignity of the people we care for."
As Congress and the Obama Administration prepare an economic stimulus package with funds specifically to protect healthcare services for the most vulnerable, Gov. Schwarzenegger is still pushing for dangerous cuts in vital services like In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). More than 400,000 seniors and people with disabilities depend on the healthcare service, which actually saves the state money by allowing those with long-term care needs to live at home rather than in nursing homes or more expensive settings.
The cuts proposed by the governor would halt food shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, and laundry services for 80,000 IHSS participants, taking away the help they need to live independently. The governor would also require 7,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities to pay more than $5,000 out of pocket each year on average to keep their services. His proposal would also slash the state's share of IHSS funding back to the minimum wage of $8 per hour, pushing more than 300,000 caregivers and their families closer to poverty and driving many out of the workforce.
NUHW was founded on Jan. 28, after the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) seized control of California's healthcare union in order to divide 65,000 homecare and nursing home from hospital workers against their will. Homecare workers, nursing home workers, and hospital workers in Fresno county—who have led the fight to defeat Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to homecare services in previous years—are organizing to stay united in NUHW and maintain the strongest possible voice for their consumers and in their union.
"People have the same need for quality healthcare whether they're in a hospital, a nursing home, or a homecare setting," said Teresa Baker, an Admitting Representative at Kaiser Fresno. "When healthcare workers stick together, we've proven that we can stop these cuts and protect our patients." Baker has worked at Kaiser for 8 years.
Call NUHW at 213-400-8845 to speak with Fresno healthcare workers
Call the Governor's Fresno office for comment at 559-445-5295 or fax 559-445-5328
# # #
"In a crisis like this, our top priority should be making sure the most vulnerable people don't fall through the cracks," said Mary Padilla, a homecare worker in Fresno County for eight years who is organizing other caregivers to join NUHW. "The governor's cuts to IHSS won't save money and they won't protect the safety and dignity of the people we care for."
As Congress and the Obama Administration prepare an economic stimulus package with funds specifically to protect healthcare services for the most vulnerable, Gov. Schwarzenegger is still pushing for dangerous cuts in vital services like In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). More than 400,000 seniors and people with disabilities depend on the healthcare service, which actually saves the state money by allowing those with long-term care needs to live at home rather than in nursing homes or more expensive settings.
The cuts proposed by the governor would halt food shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, and laundry services for 80,000 IHSS participants, taking away the help they need to live independently. The governor would also require 7,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities to pay more than $5,000 out of pocket each year on average to keep their services. His proposal would also slash the state's share of IHSS funding back to the minimum wage of $8 per hour, pushing more than 300,000 caregivers and their families closer to poverty and driving many out of the workforce.
NUHW was founded on Jan. 28, after the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) seized control of California's healthcare union in order to divide 65,000 homecare and nursing home from hospital workers against their will. Homecare workers, nursing home workers, and hospital workers in Fresno county—who have led the fight to defeat Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to homecare services in previous years—are organizing to stay united in NUHW and maintain the strongest possible voice for their consumers and in their union.
"People have the same need for quality healthcare whether they're in a hospital, a nursing home, or a homecare setting," said Teresa Baker, an Admitting Representative at Kaiser Fresno. "When healthcare workers stick together, we've proven that we can stop these cuts and protect our patients." Baker has worked at Kaiser for 8 years.
Call NUHW at 213-400-8845 to speak with Fresno healthcare workers
Call the Governor's Fresno office for comment at 559-445-5295 or fax 559-445-5328
# # #
For more information:
http://www.nuhw.org
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When this same story appeared in the Sacramento Business Journal, it said that the crowd of protesters was "about two dozen", and that "the rally was organized by members and an all volunteer staff." It seems likely that the members and volunteer staff of NUHW were included in the count.
This Indybay article says that "Dozens of homecare workers, Kaiser workers and other caregivers protested", which sounds like a much bigger turnout. But the enlarged picture on Indybay shows 26 people at the rally, which actually is more like "about two dozen".
The issue is an important one, and the degree of NUHW's ability to get people mobilized seems kind of pathetic, considering that supposedly thousands of people have signed petitions to be represented by NUHW.
Just sayin'...
This Indybay article says that "Dozens of homecare workers, Kaiser workers and other caregivers protested", which sounds like a much bigger turnout. But the enlarged picture on Indybay shows 26 people at the rally, which actually is more like "about two dozen".
The issue is an important one, and the degree of NUHW's ability to get people mobilized seems kind of pathetic, considering that supposedly thousands of people have signed petitions to be represented by NUHW.
Just sayin'...
Was it really the same story in the Business Journal you mention? Somehow I doubt it made it there before Mike wrote and posted his story to this site. In other words, did Mike also publish to the Sacto Business Journal?
We can always say that the event was small because it wasn't in Indybay's calendar.
This site serves many purposes- advance publicity, reports back, etc. And this was clearly a reportback, not a post to get people to come out. There's room for both on this site.
Though I always think Indybay editors and reporters should post here before attending an event- it could mean that that will make it so more people find out about the event and attend it.
We can always say that the event was small because it wasn't in Indybay's calendar.
This site serves many purposes- advance publicity, reports back, etc. And this was clearly a reportback, not a post to get people to come out. There's room for both on this site.
Though I always think Indybay editors and reporters should post here before attending an event- it could mean that that will make it so more people find out about the event and attend it.
To clarify: I meant that the story on the Sacramento Business Journal website was about the same event, not that it was written by the same writer, although I have no idea what difference that makes. The main points in my post were (1) that the Indybay version seemed to exaggerate the turnout while including a photograph that contradicted what the author was saying, and (2) that the turnout was in fact pathetically small.
If the event wasn't in the Indybay calendar and might have been bigger if notice of it had been in the Indybay calendar--and I'm guessing it would have been--then the question is: Why didn't NUHW get it included in the Indybay calendar? Isn't that, like, Basic Organizing 101?
Also, why couldn't NUHW get any more of the thousands of people who signed its petitions to turn out for an event of this importance?
Just askin'...
If the event wasn't in the Indybay calendar and might have been bigger if notice of it had been in the Indybay calendar--and I'm guessing it would have been--then the question is: Why didn't NUHW get it included in the Indybay calendar? Isn't that, like, Basic Organizing 101?
Also, why couldn't NUHW get any more of the thousands of people who signed its petitions to turn out for an event of this importance?
Just askin'...
The silly boy who questioned NUHW's ability to turn out members for any type of protest or demonstration is absurd. Just wait until NUHW beats your ass in turning out the vote for a new and democratic union. Unlike SEIU, NUHW is not plagued by Stern appointed crooks.
First off the picture was taken after the press conference and some folks had left. The press conference was put together on short notice and a lot of our folks have to work. It was not posted to Indybay because it was a press conference for members of NUHW, and it is better to talk directly to healthcare workers directly than to expect them to look at Indybay for information...
I don't know what else to say other than that your criticism seems to be coming from a lack of information and some sort of SEIU bias. With maybe even a little bit of self righteousness thrown into the mix.
Workers have been largely organizing themselves to get rid of SEIU and to join NUHW. Former staff and community supporters have volunteered a lot of time helping homecare workers gather signatures in the last 3 weeks, but none of the organizing would have been possible if it wasn't for the determination of a large number of homecare workers who led the organizing and inspired us volunteers to keep going.
more later...
I don't know what else to say other than that your criticism seems to be coming from a lack of information and some sort of SEIU bias. With maybe even a little bit of self righteousness thrown into the mix.
Workers have been largely organizing themselves to get rid of SEIU and to join NUHW. Former staff and community supporters have volunteered a lot of time helping homecare workers gather signatures in the last 3 weeks, but none of the organizing would have been possible if it wasn't for the determination of a large number of homecare workers who led the organizing and inspired us volunteers to keep going.
more later...
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