SEIU-ULTCW Santa Cruz Home Care Workers Demand No More Cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2011
Erik Larsen
ErikL [at] SEIU-ULTCW.org
831-206-4914 cell

SEIU-ULTCW Santa Cruz Home Care Workers Demand No More Cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Home Care Wages

Santa Cruz, CA - Santa Cruz County home care workers have had enough of the continued attacks by Congress and local leadership on working families. For almost a year now, home care workers who provide invaluable care to seniors and the disabled have been working without a contract and with reduced hours.

Now, as debt ceiling negotiations in Washington create bitter and divisive lines amongst our elected officials, Congress is proposing drastic cuts to Medicare and Medicaid which would critically impact services to the most needy in our communities. Locally, the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors has proposed a 10% cut in wages for home care works in addition to the 3.6% reduction in hours from earlier this year.

These actions threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of seniors and disabled people in the county as well as jeopardize the livelihood of countless home care workers who have already taken a reduction in pay.

Home care workers are saying ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

On Thursday, July 28th at 5:00 p.m., Santa Cruz County home care workers will gather at the corner of Main and Beach Streets in Watsonville to protest the proposed congressional cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors plan to cut home care wages by 10%. Join us in sending a clear message to Congress and Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors -- NO MORE CUTS!

WHO: SEIU-ULTCW Santa Cruz home care workers.
WHAT: Protest against Congressional cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors proposed 10% cuts to home care wages.
WHEN: Thursday July 28, 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Main and Beach Streets, Corner of “Watsonville Plaza.”

SEIU United Long Term Care Workers is the largest union of long-term care workers in California, and the second largest local in the nation, representing 180,000 homecare workers in California. Follow us on Twitter: @SEIUULTCW
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