I Want to Add My Voice to Support
Homecare Services! How do I do HP
I am switching to $15/month for my CAPE contribution. This works out
to less than $5 per week AND it is a critical investment in my future. If
we want to win on issues like health care, wages, and services for our
clients, please join me in increasing your contribution to CAPE.
Bobbie Sotin, North Bend
Simply fill out the enclosed CAPE form, tear it out, tri-fold
it, and mail it in—no postage needed! CAPE contributions will continue
to be collected through monthly payroll, so you never need to send in a
check. Your new flat-rate contribution will replace the outdated "cents per
hour" model. Thank you for doing your part in standing up for services!
leader Profile: Alicia Gaovain-Bamey
Alicia is a homecare worker from
Huntington, a small town near
Ontario in Eastern Oregon. She is a
steward and leader who recently got
active to defend homecare services.
How have you seen activism grow
and develop in Eastern Oregon in
the last year? We went from 3 people
attending Home Care Commission
classes a year ago to 25 homecare
attendees at our last class. We involve
new members right from their initial
CEP Orientation into Home Care
Commission classes and our monthly
meetings. I believe in involving other
homecare workers irpmediately so they
know they are a part of something
much larger than themselves.
What is your proudest Union
memory? One of my proudest Union
memories was delivering to Senator
Jeff Merkley over 1,400 signatures on
petitions that me and other Eastern
Oregon homecare leaders collected. It
really hit me hard when Sen. Merkley
4
actually met with us
to take our petitions,
listened to what we
had to say, and let us
know what we are
doing is important
and matters.
How do you think
our participation
in the legislative
activity makes a difference?
Only because of our actions did
we keep the Legislature's funding
for most of our healthcare, to
maintain our wages, and our paid
time off. If we had not marched or
spoken directly to our lawmakers,
we would have stepped back in
time and lost what we had fought
so hard to earn.
What advice do you have for
other members looking to get
active in our Union for the first
time? Call your steward; call
your organizer; call your phone
Alicia Gauvain-Barney addresses
members of the Ways and Means
Committee about the importance of
funding homecare services.
tree captain. There are plenty of
people around you willing to help
you, and what you do makes a
difference. Even baby steps make
a difference. Find one you like
and just do it. One person can't do
all of it, but together we can do
almost anything. I hope that other
homecare workers will be inspired
to step up.