Join the UFW in standing up for homecare workers

"We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community...Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own."—UFW Founder Cesar E. Chavez

Please join the UFW in standing up for California's homecare workers by emailing legislators and Gov. Schwarzenegger. Homecare workers provide critical services to the elderly and disabled in this state. The program brings federal funds to the state and these funds are spent in local counties where they are earned. Home care workers work long and hard taking care of our most fragile citizens.

How is Governor Schwarzenegger proposing rewarding them for this hard work? Home care workers across California now face pay cuts of up to 33%--from $12.10 an hour down to $8. Specifically wages would be cut from up to $12.10 an hour to $10.10 an hour effective July 1 and $8 an hour, effective Oct. 1, under budget cuts proposed by the Schwarzenegger administration.

The proposed cuts are disproportionately aimed at home care, while more costly solutions like nursing homes and institutions will be funded. Study after study shows that both the recipients and their families prefer home care to institutional care. These same studies show that homecare saves the state money.

Trying to solve the state's fiscal problems on the backs of those who take care of the most fragile among us is a disgrace.

Please take action today!

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

As your constituent I am writing on behalf of home care workers to not cut the funding for homecare through the In Home Supportive Services Program.  Homecare workers provide critical services to the elderly and disabled in this state.  The program brings federal funds to the state and these funds are spent in local counties where they are earned.  Home care workers work long and hard taking care of our most fragile citizens.

It is disgraceful that the Schwarzenegger administration is proposing rewarding these workers for this hard work, by cutting their pay up to 33%-- from $12.10 an hour down to $8--specifically cutting their wages from up to $12.10 an hour to $10.10 an hour effective July 1 and then $8 an hour, effective Oct. 1.

The proposed cuts are disproportionately aimed at home care, while more costly solutions like nursing homes and institutions will be funded.  Study after study shows that both the recipients and their families prefer home care to institutional care.  These same studies show that homecare saves the state money.

Trying to solve the state's fiscal problems on the backs of those who take care of the most fragile among us is a disgrace.

As UFW founder Cesar Chavez said, "We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community...Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own."

Do the right thing and do not cut the funding for homecare through the In Home Supportive Services Program.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

Take Action on this Issue

Send this message to:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Your Assemblyperson (if you live in California)
Your State Senator (if you live in California)

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