Monday, September 29, 2008

Maine's Minimum Wage to Increase

Maine's minimum wage will increase from $7.00 to $7.25 per hour on October 1st. Another increase will take place in October 2009 when the rate rises to $7.50 per hour. The increases are a result of a bill, "An Act to Ensure Fair Wages," passed by the 123rd Legislature. This is the third minimum wage hike signed into law by Governor John Baldacci. According to the Maine Department of Labor, approximately 26,000 Maine workers have earnings at or below the minimum wage. Certain employers are exempt from paying the minimum wage. Tipped employees may be paid one-half provided the employer makes up the difference if tips plus the hourly wage do not average at least the minimum wage. Many states have their own minimum wage laws and an employee subject to both a state and federal minimum wage is entitled to the higher of the two wages. The current federal minimum wage is $6.55 an hour. In July of 2009 the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 per hour. The federal minimum wage was established in 1938 and was set at 25 cents per hour. The other New England states' minimum wage rates are: Massachusetts - $8.00; Vermont - $7.68; Connecticut - $7.65; Rhode Island - $7.40; and New Hampshire - $7.25.

Vote in Honor of a Veteran

The Secretary of State's Office will again take orders for buttons to honor our veterans on Election Day. Maine's Vote in Honor of a Veteran program was created as a "Promote the Vote" initiative for the 2000 General Election. Because of the program's popularity, as well as the events of September 11, 2001 and their aftermath, the program continues. It now offers two unique ways for individuals to recognize the military service of a friend or relative.
The Button: The Vote in Honor of a Veteran program provides Maine citizens with the opportunity to honor those who have proudly served this country in the military by recognizing their important contributions in keeping our democracy strong and ensuring that we can cast a ballot each election day. On Election Day, November 4, 2008, VOTE IN HONOR OF A VETERAN and wear a button to the polls declaring your appreciation for the specific contributions of a particular veteran.
The Book: Maine Remembers Those Who Served is a collection of tributes to veterans. Covering over 250 years, the book chronicles the contributions of service men and women in all branches of the military, celebrates their selfless dedication and commitment to military service and honors the legacy of their defense of democracy. New tributes can now be added to the book's online version.
To honor a veteran and receive your Vote in Honor of a Veteran button, complete the online order form at http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/voter_info/veteran/index.html. You may also contact Representative H. David Cotta in Augusta or by email at cotta@fairpoint.net to request a button. Make sure you include your mailing address, the name of the veteran you wish to honor and the number of buttons you would like to receive.
A button will be mailed directly to you prior to the November 4th Election so ou can cast your ballot in honor of your veteran. To ensure receipt of your button in time for the Election, you are encouraged to place your order as soon as possible.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Solidarity at the Fryeburg Fair

The Solidarity Committee will be marching in the Grand Parade at the Fryeburg Fair October 4, 2008 in support of Quality Public Services. Please join us. The Parade starts at 10 AM but be there for the lineup at 9:30 AM wearing purple.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Home Care for Maine has been granted a "Stay of Execution" with the Homemaking RFP

I got word from our union headquarters last Friday that the Department of Health and Human Services granted Home Care for Maine the appeal HCM requested for the Homemaking Contract. I talked with Representative James Campbell of Newfield about the RFP and the fact that Home Care for Maine needed a "fair shake" in the appeal process. Rep. Campbell sits on the DHHS Legislative Committee, he's a strong advocate for Maine's elders. I knew he'd be able to help us and help our agency. Mollie Baldwin, HCM's ceo, sent letters out to workers informing us that the appeal has been granted and that we now have 60 days to continue working with our homemaking consumers. This is great news! Check the 771's blog as this moves forward. 771's leadership is developing a strategy to get the word out to workers and members of the legislature. With one strong, unionized voice, we can advocate for our consumers and ourselves.

Candidates attending KVO Forum

The candidates attending the KVO Candidates Forum on Sunday, Sept. 28th are as follows: Incumbents: Representative H. David Cotta from China, Representative Donna Finley from Skowhegan, Senator Peter Mills from Cornville Candidates: For the House of Representatives; Christopher M. Doyon from China, Priscilla Jenkins from Winthrop, Miles Ranger from Fairfield - For the Senate; Kimberly Davis from Augusta, Robert Sezak from Fairfield - From Maine's Congressional Delegation, speaking on behalf of Tom Allen either his aid Kyle Noonan or Janet Mills. As of posting, I don't have a confirmation on who from Tom Allen's office will be there, just a confirmation that Kyle or Janet will be.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Questions KVO is asking Candidates

Candidates Forum on Health Care Sunday, September 28, 2008 3-5 pm
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Hall 21 High Street, Fairfield
Questions for the Candidates
I. General Health Care Principles
Background
The Kennebec Valley Organization is made up of congregations, unions, professional associations and community groups committed to the dignity and freedom of all people. Although our member institutions represent people from different walks of life, we all share the basic value that everyone should have the opportunity to get quality, affordable health care.
KVO member institutions held “Our Health Care Story” meetings this Spring that included more than 100 of our people from Augusta to Skowhegan to discuss our values and share personal stories of health care. From these discussions, and out of the issues arising from sixty-five health care stories KVO collected, our leadership team developed twenty principles for health care reform.
On June 18th, 40 KVO delegates and allies gathered at First Congregational Church (UCC) of Waterville to report on the Our Health Care Story meetings, learn about our current health care system and proposals for reform from policy experts and advocates, and decide on guiding principles for the KVO health care campaign. The Assembly reached consensus that the following five principles should be made a top priority and serve as the foundation of our KVO Health Care Campaign:
1. Health care is a BASIC HUMAN RIGHT stemming from the sanctity of human life. A JUST SOCIETY must ensure that everyone receives compassionate, comprehensive and competent health care, independent of employment, age, health or family history.
2. Health care should emphasize PREVENTION, and preventive medical care should be covered by every patient’s health care policy.
3. AFFORDABILTY: Everyone pays based on financial ability. 4. Special efforts should be made to provide care for geographic areas and populations that have been UNDERSERVED, such as rural areas, inner cities and impoverished communities.
5. Insurance companies and other third party payers, the pharmaceutical industry and other commercial interests should not function as barriers to care, or impede the provider/patient relationship in making medical decisions.
Questions for Candidates on General Principles:
STATE CANDIDATES and FEDERAL CANDIDATES
Do you support our Declaration of Health Care Principles, particularly our top five priorities? Why or why not?
If elected, will you take action to advance these principles? Please explain.
II. Long-Term Care
Background
Maine’s system of long-term care relies on more than 22,000 direct care workers who provide critical front-line care to elderly, disabled and chronically ill consumers in their own homes and skilled care facilities. They are nursing aides, orderlies and attendants; home health aides; psychiatric aides and technicians; and personal and home care aides. They are the CNA who helps our Alzheimer’s-stricken mother to eat her supper; the home care aide who helps our wheelchair-bound son to get on and off the toilet; the homemaker who provides a comforting word and a quick housecleaning for our homebound neighbor.
As Maine ages, demand for these occupations is expected to grow faster than any other occupation in any sector. And yet, the wages and benefits for these positions, determined to the largest extent by reimbursement levels from Medicaid (MaineCare) and Medicare programs, are generally hovering around the poverty level. More than a quarter of direct care workers lack health insurance, a bitter irony for a set of workers who provide health care as a vocation. As a result, the supply of workers for these jobs does not meet the current demand, and that mismatch is only projected to get worse.
With the crisis of direct care work comes a crisis of direct care. We heard stories from our member groups of people who worry about getting quality nursing home or home health care for themselves or loved ones, now or in the future. People are worried that they will not be able to find enough help to stay in their homes as long as possible, or, if nursing home care is required, that there will not be enough beds or that overstretched staffs will not be able to adequately attend to their needs.
Responding to stories KVO heard from members confronting this crisis as workers, providers, family caregivers, consumers, and potential consumers, we initiated a campaign in the spring of 2006 to assure quality care by ensuring quality direct care jobs. As part of the Direct Care Worker Coalition, we supported L.D. 1687, “An Act to Increase Health Insurance Coverage for Front-line Direct Care Workers Providing Long-term Care.”
Unfortunately, due to the states’ shaky fiscal climate and the uncertainty around the Dirigo Choice health plan (which would have been one of the vehicles to provide coverage), the bill was defeated in the Insurance and Financial Services Committee. However, the committee did direct the state’s Superintendent of Insurance, Mila Kofman, to convene a broad, representative stakeholders group to discuss alternative options to provide health insurance to this vulnerable group of workers.
KVO was represented on this working group by several leaders who are themselves workers and consumers in long-term care. Other members of the work group included legislators and state agencies, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, health insurance companies, and several organizations representing direct care workers, employers, and consumers. Superintendent Kofman will submit a report to the IFS Committee by October 1st. We expect the report will detail the barriers to health care access for direct care workers, provide reasons the issue is so important, and include action recommendations to address these challenges.
We do not, however, expect there to be a “magic bullet” solution. From our participation in the discussions of the working group, it is apparent that there is no pure private insurance solution that will be both affordable to long-term care employers and employees and provide a reasonable level of benefits.
Ignoring the crisis carries even bigger costs, however, as a continued shortage of workers in this sector – particularly home health and personal care – could lead to deeper costs for consumers, workers and taxpayers in the near future.
Questions for Candidates on Long-term Care:
STATE CANDIDATES and FEDERAL CANDIDATES
Do you see the lack of health care for health care workers – particularly direct care workers in longterm care – as a crisis? And, do you believe that there is a link between this problem and the quality of care available to our communities’ elderly, disabled, and chronically ill members?
STATE CANDIDATES
The Maine Superintendent of Insurance is due to release a report on this situation, with recommendations for action, on October 1st. Will you agree to meet with us within 3 months of your election to discuss this report and work together to implement some of the action recommendations?
FEDERAL CANDIDATES
Will you work to make sure that any state-level effort is supported with federal funds?
III. Health Care for America Now! Coalition
Background
KVO recognizes that there are limits to what can be achieved at the local and even statewide level for health care reform. To create a true health care system that reflects the values and principles in our Declaration, health reform needs to be addressed at the national level.
For this reason, KVO has joined the Health Care for America Now! Coalition, which shares our vision of access to quality, affordable health care for all and endorses a set of principles for health reform that are similar to and compatible with those of KVO. The broad HCAN coalition includes community groups; unions; businesses; faith-based groups; health care providers; women; communities of color; seniors; people with disabilities; people with serious and chronic illness; advocacy and policy groups; students; political organizations; and all others who share the campaign’s statement of common purpose.
The goal of HCAN is to educate decision-makers and citizens about the choices we face in health care policy, and to ensure that the next President and Congress make access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans a top priority in 2009.
KVO and HCAN recognize that private insurance companies may well continue to play a role in this vision of health care for all. However, we also recognize that a private insurance company’s primary purpose, no matter how responsible a corporate citizen it may be within the health care system, is to maximize profits for its stockholders. Therefore, government has an important watchdog role to play with all health insurance plans, assuring that risk is fairly spread among all health care payers and that insurers do not turn people away, raise rates or drop coverage based on a person’s health history or wrongly delay or deny care. Currently, this regulatory power is focused at the state level.
A recent report from the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations, titled “Insuring Health or Ensuring Profit? A Snapshot of the Health Insurance Industry in the United States,” documents a pattern of rapidly rising profits without a corresponding increase in number of members covered. The pattern is shown to hold for Maine’s major health insurer, Anthem Health Plans of Maine, a subsidiary of WellPoint. From 2004 to 2007, Anthem’s profits increased by 89.2%, while its membership increased only 2.4%. However, when KVO joined the Maine People’s Alliance and other allies in the Maine HCAN coalition asking for some answers from Anthem regarding how they were able to make such high profits without adding many people to the ranks of the insured, our questions were ignored.
Questions for Candidates about the Health Care for America Now Coalition:
STATE CANDIDATES
Despite our efforts, we have not been able to get Anthem to provide us with basic information about their claims denial practices, the reasons their profits are skyrocketing even though enrollment has stayed flat, or the amount of policy-holders’ money that is shipped out of state to parent company and shareholders.
If elected, will you work to ensure transparency and accountability from private insurers? What will you do?
FEDERAL CANDIDATES
Do you agree with the HCAN Statement of Common Purpose? Are there any HCAN principles you don’t agree with? Why?
If elected, will you or your top health care staffer meet with representatives from the HCAN coalition to discuss common health care goals in the upcoming Congressional session?

Sunday, September 21, 2008

The Kennebec Valley Organization's Candidates Forum

The Kennebec Valley Organization is holding its Candidates Forum on Sunday, September 28th from 3-5 pm at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Hall on High Street in Fairfield. Kennebec Valley Organization Principles for Health Care Reform The Kennebec Valley Organization is made up of congregations, unions, professional associations and community groups committed to the dignity and freedom of all people. Although our member institutions represent people from different walks of life, we all share the basic value that Everyone should have the opportunity to get quality, affordable health care. KVO member institutions held meetings to discuss our values and share personal stories of health care. From the sixty-five health care stories KVO collected, we developed twenty principles from which five priorities were agreed upon by consensus at our June 2008 Delegates Assembly. These five priorities serve as the foundation of our KVO Health Care Campaign: 1. Health care is a BASIC HUMAN RIGHT stemming from the sanctity of human life. A JUST SOCIETY must ensure that everyone receives compassionate, comprehensive and competent health care, independent of employment, age, health or family history. 2. Health care should emphasize PREVENTION, and preventive medical care should be covered by every patient’s health care policy. 3. AFFORDABILTY: Everyone pays based on financial ability. 4. Special efforts should be made to provide care for geographic areas and populations that have been UNDERSERVED, such as rural areas, inner cities and impoverished communities. 5. Insurance companies and other third party payers, the pharmaceutical industry and other commercial interests should not function as barriers to care, or impede the provider/patient relationship in making medical decisions. These are the rest of KVO Health Care Principles. Every patient should access, and have access to, a primary care provider. Emergency departments should not function in lieu of affordable primary care. Health care should be COMPREHENSIVE – everyone is covered, with equal consideration of the physical, mental and spiritual. Everyone should contribute their FAIR SHARE to health care costs, with no more and no less expected of them than they are able to give. SHARE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Every individual, employer, payer and provider contributes. ACCOUNTABILITY – Insurance companies and other third party payers are accountable to those receiving coverage, and should make access to care efficient, transparent and free of undue burden. Provided the proper tools of education and support, people should take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for maintaining their own health to the greatest extent possible. CHOICE: Doctors and patients make the decisions together. Patients should have their CHOICE of medical provider. The paperwork required to receive health care services should be simplified, streamlined and fully understandable. INSURANCE REFORMS: More of every premium dollar for care – less to administration. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP: Working together to reform health care. GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG: Government makes and enforces the rules and regulations. Health care workers at all levels should be supported as they go about their business of caring for patients. Distracting and complicating administrative and financial considerations should be minimized. Efforts should be made to increase the training of primary care providers. Support for medical or nursing education for those entering these fields, particularly considering the prohibitive cost of professional education. On September 28th, KVO will ask incumbents and candidates if they support our five priority principles and what they will do to make health care reform happen. Lawmakers attending include Representative Donna Finley of Skowhegan, Representatvie David Cotta of China, and Senator Peter Mills of Cornville. Consider this in invite to all MSEA-SEIU members who read 771's blog to attend the KVO event. Be there to hear what candidates have to say about Health Care. I hope to see you there.

Compare the Candidates on Healthcare Reform

This is a link to Health Care United's website with a comparison between Barack Obama and John McCain in regards to their healthcare reform proposals. http://www.healthcareunited.org/candidates/ Check it out.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Maine People's Alliance and the Employee Free Choice Act

The Storytellers ProjectMaine workers tell it like it is!
Corporate interests are fighting the Employee Free Choice Act with everything they've got, but the power to win is in your voice! A growing, bipartisan coalition of lawmakers supports the Employee Free Choice Act, but to make sure Maine's entire congressional delegation is on board, Maine workers must tell their stories. Whether you're a member of a union or not, we want to hear from you!*
What are the workplace conditions and challenges you face in a non-union workplace?
What's happened when you or workers you know have tried to organize a union?
What kinds of benefits and conditions do you now enjoy as a union worker that you didn't have before? Help pass the Employee Free Choice Act in Congress! Learn how by emailing EFCA4ME@gwi.net or amy@mainepeoplesalliance.org
What is the Employee Free Choice Act? The Employee Free Choice Act would give workers the power to decide how they want to organize a union (by majority sign up or by ballot election) and to secure a contract with their employer in a reasonable period of time; it would also toughen penalties against employers who violate their workers' rights. Go to www.americanrightsatwork.org to learn more! Why is the Employee Free Choice Act so important to our economy? Protecting the right to form unions is about maintaining the American middle class. It's no coincidence that as union membership numbers fall there are growing numbers of jobs with low pay, poor benefits, and little to no security. A new nationwide poll that shows that a clear majority of members of America's middle class supports the Employee Free Choice Act. Overall, 68% of middle-class adults would have liked their representative in the U.S. House to vote for the bill. Specifically, 80% of Democrats, 60% of Republicans, and 59% of Independents polled were in favor of their representatives voting for the bill. Go to www.drummajorinstitute.org/library/report to learn more!
Why is it so important to workers? It's plain as day: workers are struggling in this country. Today's workplaces are tilted in favor of lavishly-paid CEOs, who get golden parachutes while middle-class families struggle to get by. The Employee Free Choice Act can restore the balance: We know that coming together to bargain with employers over wages, benefits, and working conditions is the best path to getting ahead. Workers who belong to unions earn 30 percent more than non-union workers, and are 63 percent more likely to have employer-provided health care.
Why is your story so important to success?? Corporate interests are fighting the Employee Free Choice Act with everything they've got. They're protecting the status quo – a rigged system which allows employers to intimidate, harass, and even fire workers who try to form a union – 30% of employers fire pro-union workers during union organizing drives. Don't let them win by using those same tactics of intimidation and harassment in the legislative process! A growing, bipartisan coalition of policymakers supports the Employee Free Choice Act – but we're not there yet...and we won't get there without you! Polls and statistics provide important information – but workers' stories are most persuasive and real life experiences can't be refuted. Please share your story – it's the most powerful tool we have! Stories can be emailed to amy@mainepeoplesalliance.org
*Your privacy will be protected – you need not reveal your name or where you work*

Common Ground Fair this Weekend

Once again MSEA/SEIU Local 1989 with have a booth at the Common Ground Fair in Unity. Please stop by and sign the Employee Free Choice Act cards this Friday, Sat., or Sunday (September 19, 20, & 21).

A Word from Mollie Baldwin, Home Care for Maine's CEO

Dear Worker,
Today, Friday September 12, 2008, Home Care for Maine has filed a formal appeal with the state in disagreement with the awarding of the OES Homemaker Contract to Catholic Charities. The State has ten days to tell us if we will have our appeal heard. Our attorney thinks our case is a good one!
Your help is needed!
Call the Governor and your legislator now!
Call the Governor at 207-287-3531 or 207-287 6548 (TTY)
Call your legislator at 1-800-423-2900
or visit the legislative website at
For a complete legislator list by town
visit the legislative website at
Please hang in there and keep working for HCM until we know the appeal outcome.
Please feel free to contact me with questions at any time. As we have answers we will gladly share them with each of you.
Sincerely,
Mollie Baldwin
CEO, Home Care for Maine

Monday, September 15, 2008

Home Care of Maine has filed its Appeal for the Homemaking Contract

I got word on Friday that Home Care for Maine filed the appeal for the Homemaking Contract. This grants HCM workers a little more time with their homemaking consumers. I don't know what the process is now or how long it takes, once the appeal is filed. Last Thursday, I gathered up a team of co-workers and we called members of Home Care for Maine's board of directors to let them know that the appeal should be filed. We mentioned the loss of work, but more importantly, what the changeover would mean to consumers. Many of my own consumers don't like the possible change. They are used to receiving quality services from the workers at Home Care for Maine. I urged those consumers that strongly oppose receiving services from Catholic Charities to call the Office of Elder Services at 1-800-262-2232 and the Ombudsman (the watchdog for elders) at 1-800-499-0229 to voice their concerns and what the changes mean for them. As you're talking with your consumers, please do the same. Get them to contact OES or the Ombudsman or even their representative. As I know more, I'll post it.

MSEA-SEIU Scholarships Still Available for Maine PASA Conference

There are still eight scholarships available for 771 members to attend Maine PASA's 6th Annual Conference on September 26th. Don't let this opportunity pass you by. This is a chance for you to meet fellow direct care workers and share stories, take a break from your caregiving and learn something new. Plus a chance to get a $15 gas card if you're one of the first 100 folks to register. Contact helen.hnsn@gmail.com to take advantage of this great opportunity that MSEA and Maine PASA is offering to you.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Maine PASA's 6th Annual Conference

Maine Personal Assistance Services Association is holding its 6th annual conference on September 26th from 8 am to 2 pm at the Saint Paul Center at 136 State Street in Augusta. The theme of this year's event is Working Well. The Keynote Speaker is John Booker. I met John at the Direct Care Alliance's Voices Institute. He is a direct care worker with thirty years experience as a CNA and most recently as a recruitment and retention consultant. John is also the Executive Director of the National Association of Direct Care Workers of Color. He is involved in the Indiana CareGiver Association. Apart from all this, John is a great speaker and a wonderful person. He gave me some great insight to writing and delivering speeches. I am so glad he's a part of this year's conference. Workshops are planned for mid-morning. They include Getting By on Less: Home Heating Tips; Staying Well at Work and Working Wise. The Working Wise session is a presentation by Maine PASA members that attended the Voices Institute. We plan on discussing what we learned and what we gained as a means of advocating for ourselves and improving our working conditions as Direct Care Workers. The Voices Institute was a great experience for me. I hope to bring some of that to the presentation. This is a great event for DCWs in all types of work to meet one another, swap stories, learn and have fun. Remember, we have someone's world in our hands each day, so Maine PASA wants us to have a professional day. To register, go to http://www.mainepasa.org/ and download the registration form. Fill it out, include payment and mail it to Maine PASA, P.O. Box 11612, Portland, Maine 04104. The first 100 folks to register receive a $15 gas card. If you are a 771 member in good standing, you could be eligible for a scholarship from MSEA-SEIU to attend the conference. Please email helen.hnsn@gmail.com for more information.

MSEA-SEIU donates to Maine PASA Conference

MSEA-SEIU is providing scholarships to 10 members from 771 to attend Maine PASA's Conference on Sept. 26th. MSEA-SEIU is also donating $100 to PASA for the conference. If you're a 771 member in good standing and want to attend the conference, please contact me helen.hnsn@gmail.com and I'll make the arrangements for you to attend on a scholarship. The first 100 DCWs that register for the conference receive a $15 gas card!

Home Care for Maine lost Its bid for the Homemaking Contract

I got word Thursday morning that we lost the contract to Catholic Charities of Maine. Home Care for Maine's board of directors and MSEA-SEIU is urging HCM's ceo to appeal the decision. What this means for HCM workers is that if you are a homemaker, you will no longer work for HCM. Catholic Charities will be the sole provider of homemaking services throughout the state. The contract with Catholic Charities starts up on October 1st. I don't know if it is an automatic shift from HCM to Catholic Charities for workers or if we need to apply for the job with Catholic Charities. If you've got questions, I urge you to bombard MSEA-SEIU headquarters and let our field reps know what you think. The number for headquarters is 1-800-452-8794. Our field reps are Rod Hiltz and Owen Sullivan. Owen's extension is 1129. He is our new field rep. I urge you to call him.