Dignity, July 01, 2004, Page 6, Image 6

Better Jobs for Ourselves - Wages & Benefits Improvements
WAGES
Homecare is hard work, physically and emotionally. Our pay needs to reflect the value of the work, the value of allow­
ing our clients to live at home with the dignity and independence....and the savings the state enjoys in what they would
pay in nursing home costs. We bargained two pay raises in our current contract, a $.40 cent raise 7-1 -04 and a $.30
cent raise 01 -01 -05 (contingent upon workers' compensation claims cost).
2.
In our 2005-2007 contract, we will again push for increases in wages, which is clearly a priority.
How much of a wage per hour increase should we fight for? $ per hour.
3. Two wage issues we would like your input on have to do with 24 hour caregivers and
"exceptional need" clients. Tell us what you think.
Support Do Not Support Need More Information No Opinion
A. 24-hour caregivers changing from an hourly pay
scale to a monthly salaried pay scale reflecting the
level of care/hours required by their client.
B.
Caregivers providing "exceptional" need services
(such as ventilator care) receive a higher
classification pay scale.
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENTS
One of our biggest victories in bargaining our first contract was health insurance benefits.
Now we need to know what improvements you would like to see in coverage.
(Please rate the following in importance with 7 being the most important and 7 being the least important.)
___ Dental Coverage
___ Vision Coverage
___ Better Benefits in Plan Design
___ Coverage for Dependents (Please check uninsured dependents you would cover.)
Spouse___
Spouse/Children___ Children_____
___ Lower Co-Pays
___ Lower "hours worked" requirement for coverage
___ Other (Please specify)_____________________
OTHER BENEFITS
5. How important is it to you to have the ability to have a tax-deferred pension plan, such as a 401K,
where you could save pre-tax income for retirement?
Overy important
Olmportant
ONot Important
Other Benefits?
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STRONGER TOGETHER