Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About Dignity (Salem, OR) 200?-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2009)
Corporations Attack Services for Seniors; SEIU and Senior Advocates Launch Yes on Fairness Campaign In the face of economic crisis, Oregonians have the opportunity to protect vital services and increase the fairness of the state's tax system. Unfortunately, corporate special interests have launched an effort to reduce funding for seniors and people with disabilities—all so they can continue to pay just $10 a year corporate minimum income tax. Led by the tobacco industry's chief lobbyist, these groups are attempting to undo increases on the tax rates of Oregon's wealthiest individuals and large corporations. If they are successful, the funding that we just won for homecare would be jeopardized. The legislature fought hard to find funds to provide services to seniors and people with disabilities. • «u w * * Homecare chief steward Phyllis Wills canvasses to build political power and win elections. In this time of record need for services, the wealthy and big corporations need to pay their fair share. It would be tragic and irresponsible if those who have been victimized by the down turn in the economy were also victimized by a lack of services. Homecare workers will be fighting to get voters to vote YES for services. Workers need to get registered to vote, get their families and clients registered to vote, and get everybody voting YES on January 26. We can save homecare for seniors and people with disabilities and we can save our jobs. We just need to vote YES. One easy way to get informed and get involved is by visiting the Defend Oregon website (defendoregon.org), which has facts and figures about these fairness measures. There, you can also sign the Defend Oregon Pledge to sign up as a supporter and find out about volunteer activities. a_ a^ • a^ a^ a^ •> a^ a^ aA • End Discrimination Against ALL Homecare Workers Did you know that over 6,000 homecare workers who care for seniors, people with developmental disabilities, mental illness and medically fragile children are denied access to training, workers'compensation coverage and the right to form a union? In 2000, Oregonians passed Ballot Measure 99, which established the Homecare Commission and gave us the ability to form our union and to gain these rights. However, the Homecare Commission currently does not oversee all homecare workers, so we are fighting for a legislative fix to allow all homecare workers to access the benefits and protections we enjoy. Our union worked with chief co sponsors Senator Bill Morrisette and Representative Michael Dembrow on Senate Bill 702 to prevent homecare workers from being discriminated against based on what program their client is enrolled in. Unfortunately, this legislative session the bill did not pass, but it did receive a budget note that directs OHS to review compliance with Ballot Measure 99. We will continue to work with our bill's co-sponsors in the January 2010 legislative session to pass this bill so that all homecare workers have the same rights under the Oregon Constitution. If you take care of a state-funded client with a developmental disability, mental illness, or a medically fragile child, please contact organizer Michael Alexander at 800-527-9374 ext. 418 to find out how you can get involved. 3
