SEIU homecare worker Pauline Beck proudly stood with President Obama today as he shared the good news that the DOL would work to correct the regulations of the Fair Labor Standards Act
I work hard. I bathe John, clothe him and feed him because he can't do those things for himself. Even though I only get paid for 20 hours of work, I'm always there when he calls. I love Johnny and could not imagine doing anything else.
But no matter how hard we work, right now, federal law puts homecare workers in the same category as babysitters and denies us the basic protections other Americans have. We do not have federal minimum wage or overtime protections because the Fair Labor Standards Act has become outdated and fallen behind the reality of our work. I think most Americans would be shocked if they found out that nearly 2 million workers didn't have these basic labor protections.
In addition, many homecare workers have no healthcare coverage, no sick time, and no vacation days. This only makes it harder for people like Johnny to find and keep the qualified and caring homecare worker they need.
That's why I was so excited to be at the White House today. President Barack Obama and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced they would end this injustice and fix the law so it treats us like all other workers. Now, not only will homecare workers be paid fairly for the number of hours we work, we will also get the respect we deserve.
Today is also a victory for our clients. Very low wages cause high turnover and a shortage of professional caregivers. This shortage, in turn, hurts seniors and people with disabilities and is going to be a bigger crisis as more of us get older. When these new labor protections become reality, homecare will have a chance at becoming a respected profession that working women and men can support their families with and seniors and people with disabilities can count on.
Most of all, President Obama and Secretary Solis are showing that they're committed to creating good jobs that can sustain a family. Their action today is an important step for turning home care jobs into good jobs.
