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.
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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.
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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.
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