Homecare workers send a big, bold 900 square foot message to legislators on the lawn of the California state capitol.
Last week, over 1,500 home care providers and consumers from SEIU United Long Term Care Workers, SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, SEIU Local 521, California United Healthcare Workers and United Domestic Workers gathered together for two weeks of actions to let legislators know they will not stand for any additional cuts to the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. Governor Jerry Brown has proposed a 7% across-the-board cut to home care that could result in a $600 million loss of funding.
After being at risk for cuts year after year, and putting California's most vulnerable residents' lives in jeopardy, it's time that legislators get the message and pass a better alternative. That alternative is SB 1503, introduced by Assembly Speaker John Péréz (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento). This new legislation would develop an innovative alternative to further cuts that stabilize long term care and creates better health outcomes for care recipients.
On Thursday, more than 1,000 home care workers came together to spell out the message loud and clear. To get a sense of what this looked like on the capitol grounds, watch the short video below:
Follow the updates on the two weeks of action on Storify here.
