Hearing for Direct Care Wages Bill

LD 1364, An Act To Stimulate the Economy by Expanding Opportunities for Personal Assistance Workers, has its hearing on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, in Room 209 of the Cross Office Building at the State Capitol. This bill will raise the pay of direct care workers across the state to $12.00 per hour. Click on the link (pdf) in order to view the complete bill. Okay workers, here's your chance to talk to the Health and Human Services Committee and tell them what you tell me and union headquarters...our pay is not enough for what we do for work. If you're not comfortable in speaking before the committee, please come to show your support for your work, your co-workers, and the people you care for. This bill is another one that is very important to the direct care workforce in Maine. You have a chance to tell the Health and Human Services Committee what it is like to work as a direct care worker, what it is like to make low wages, how much the people you care for depend upon you, and how they want to remain home because they can stay independent. Take the chance and go for it. Direct care workers are the best advocates for themselves and the people they help out. Policy experts can talk all they want about direct care work, but until they've actually done it, they don't know what it is like. Don't let this great opportunity to advocate for yourself and co-workers pass you by. If you want to testify, but cannot for some reason, you can have someone from MSEA-SEIU submit your testimony on your behalf. That way, your important story makes it in the record. Email me if this is something you'd like to do, helen.hnsn@gmail.com. If you need a ride, are interested in carpooling, or want more information, please send me an email, helen.hnsn@gmail.com, or call Jay Economy or Aymie Walsh at union headquarters at 1-800-452-8794. If you want to make a better wage, come to the hearing on LD 1364, show your support, or testify.