Home Care Workers Protest Budget Cuts That Would Drop 380,000 Patients

by James Parks, Jun 8, 2009 More than 3,000 members of the United Domestic Workers Homecare Providers Union (UDW/AFSCME) joined with other service workers and their allies in Los Angeles to support critical public programs from the budget ax. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has proposed budget cuts that UDW says would all but destroy the In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, which provides home care for more than 420,000 low-income elderly and Californians with disabilities. Under the latest Schwarzenegger plan, some 380,000 individuals—nearly 90 percent of all IHSS participants—would be thrown out of the program. This comes on top of an earlier proposal from the governor that would cut the pay for the state’s home care providers back to minimum wage. UDW Executive Director Douglas Moore says: While the governor’s earlier proposals were foolish and shortsighted, his latest scheme is outrageous, vindictive and unconscionable. Despite the Golden State’s mounting state deficit, polls show a majority of California voters oppose cutting public services, but favor higher taxes on the wealthy and on specific industries like oil, tobacco and alcohol. Voters last month rejected several propositions to balance the budget, one of which would have put a cap on state spending. “The solutions are right there in front of us,” says UDW President Laura Reyes, a San Diego home care provider. The voters have spoken. The legislature and governor just need to listen to the will of the people. The next step is for lawmakers to develop a progressive state budget in 2010 that does not depend on ballot initiatives, UDW says. The real victims of the budget cuts would be the state’s seniors and people with disabilities. “We understand times are hard right now and we need to tighten up,” Evelyn Lopez of Bakersfield told the Los Angeles Times. “But what [the governor's] proposing are big cuts.” Lopez said that if state workers were going to be paid minimum wage, most would probably find other jobs that pay better. That would reduce the number of providers available to watch her developmentally disabled son while she is at work, Lopez said. Click here to learn more. AFL-CIO Blog