Dignity, August 01, 2008, Page 6, Image 6

Homecare
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ftiVW Bargaining Survey
Better Jobs for Ourselves
Wages & Benefit Improvements
Wages - Homecare is hard work, physically and emotionally. Our pay needs to reflect the value of the work, the value
of allowing our consumer/employers to live at home with dignity and independence.. .and the savings the state enjoys
in what it would pay in nursing home costs. We have bargained regular pay raises in the past three contracts. In July, 2008
our wages went up to $10.20 per hour.
1.
In our 2009-2011 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? a.
o $10.50 per hour
2.
O $1TOO Per hour
O Other
Should homecare workers who provide care to ventilator dependent quads receive a higher pay scale?
O Support
3.
O $10.75 per hour
Q Do Not Support
O Need more Information
O No Opinion
Should homecare workers have career ladder opportunities, such as higher pay to act as a trainer or mentor?
O Support
O Do Not Support
O Need more Information
O No Opinion
Health Insurance - We have been able to make improvements in our health plan design over the past 4 years,
adding dental and vision coverage and lowering co-pays. We also have been able to bargain for the state to pay the total
cost of the health insurance premium for homecare workers who work over 80 hours a month.
How important is it to you to continue to have fully paid health insurance premiums?
Q Very Important
O Important
O Not Very Important
O Not Important
Retirement Benefits - homecare workers have no retirement security through our jobs. How important is it to you
to negotiate pension benefits:
O Very Important
O Important
O Not Very Important
O Not Important
Mileage Reimbursement - Gas prices are at an all-time high. How important is it to you to increase your mileage
reimbursements for consumer/employer service and medical related travel?
O Very Important
O Important
O Not Very Important
Is public transportation available in your community? OYes
O Not Important
O No
If Yes, is public transportation an option to meet your consumer/employer's transportation needs? O Yes
O No
What barriers would prevent you and your consumer/employer from using public transportation?
For 24-Hour Caregivers - Currently you earn 24 hours of paid time off (PTO) per month until your balance reaches
144 hours. After your PTO reaches 144 hours, you no longer earn 24 hours until you use some of your PTO hours. You are
required to take PTO in 24 hour blocks under our current agreement. How important is it for you to take PTO in smaller
blocks of time than 24 hours?
O Very Important
O Important
O Not Very Important
O Not Important
Registry -"As a Union, we fought hard to establish a registry of homecare workers, making it easier for us to
communicate with potential clients and vice versa. How effective do you think the registry is working?
O Very Effective
2
O Effective
O Not Very Effective
O Not Effective