On November 16th, home care workers and advocates escalated demands for Congress to pass the Build Back Better act swiftly.
Care workers like Thomasine Wilson spoke to a crowd of 700 people in D.C. “We help others live, but the reality is that we are barely able to live ourselves. After 20 years as a home care worker, I only make $9.50 an hour," said Thomasine, a Virginia home care worker and member of SEIU 512. "Caregiving is in our souls, but we can’t care for your families without being able to care for our own. I'm telling Congress: Building America back better means investing in home care and not leaving workers or consumers behind.”
In a major show of force, hundreds of essential home and child care workers, consumers, moms, and supporters from nearly 20 states took to the National Mall urgently calling for “Jobs, Care, and Justice.”
“What do we want? Home care!” marchers chanted as they moved down the National Mall, carrying signs reading “Respect Black Lives. Respect Home Care.” and “Home Care Workers Care for America.”
Congressional champions of care, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Pramila Jayapal, as well as Senate leaders including Senator Bob Casey, Senator Patty Murray, and Senator Ron Wyden joined care workers as they came together outside the Capitol. They were flanked by banners that read, “Time to Deliver: Pass Build Back Better Now!”
- Watch on FB Live and Instagram Live.
- Read the op-ed by April Verrett, President of SEIU Local 2015 in The Hill
