Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Support Home Health Workers! Give them $2.28 an hour wage increase!

I went to todays Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Chamber to speak in support of In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers garnering a wage increase. One person said that you could not possible compensate them for what they are worth and another questioned on why they ran for office on the themes of jobs and living wages. It was pointed that Supervisor Rex Bohn had never hired anyone for minimum wage until his most recent election as Supervisor.

As a past union president, organizer and local worker advocate for decades I am here to implore the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to find a solution to the obstacles of giving a raise to our 1,400 plus In-Home Supportive Service workers. These “working poor” contribute an asset that is immeasurable to the Humboldt County population. That they are only paid minimum wage with no health benefits is just deplorable and unjust. I believe in a “Living Wage” not a “Poverty Wage.”

Other counties with comparable populations have been able to find room in their budgets to not only give their In Home health Care Workers wages averaging $1.75 an hour more than Humboldt, but pay an average of an additional $.53 cents into a health program benefit.  I would respectfully ask for the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to support at least matching like counties the $2.28 an hour difference in wages and benefits. I challenge Humboldt County staff to use creative, innovative solution oriented problem solving to make this happen.

I am sure I speak for the majority of Humboldt County residents in asking for resolution in the near future.  

Richard Marks
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5 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:08 PM

    So Rex is for the pay increase?

    ReplyDelete
  2. samoasoftball8:25 PM

    I hope so!

    ReplyDelete
  3. skippy12:25 PM

    If we capped State and County employee's vacation accruals yearly, among other things, there would be enough money for IHHS workers to have raises-- and subsequently 'float all boats' accordingly.

    All the BOS has to do is look at the figures.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous7:39 PM

    Since this is a pro-union blog, go ask your typical IHSS worker what their union dues get them and how many hours a month they have to pay. Here is a link.

    http://www.udwa.org/about-union-dues/

    Then guess how much they make for their $40.00 a month if they work full time? Here in Humboldt County, roughly minimum wage. So what do they get again for their $40.00 except scammed by a public sector union? let's give them a raise and cut those union dues. That would be a REAL increase.

    ReplyDelete
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