Dignity, May 01, 2012, Page 8, Image 8

Major Victory
for Connecticut
Homecare
Workers!
In March, homecare workers
celebrated the historic formation
of Connecticut Homecare
United, the first-ever union for
Connecticut's care providers. As
a result, they will become a new
chapter of the state's largest union
of health care workers, District
1199, SEIU.
SEIU 503 homecare members from
■Oregon traveled across the country
Ito join this successful campaign to
■win a voice for Connecticut's home
■care workers and to ensure quality
■care for thqse they serve*
Linda Robles (Central Point) and
Paula Brock (Grants Pass), were
■among the SEIU 503 members who
■participated in the Connecticut
■campaign, along with other SEIU
[members from around the country.
In addition to making house visits,
[phone calls, and rallying to get out
the vote, they also testified before
the Connecticut legislature. Brock
explained,
"We were all
there for one
reason; to help
the homecare
workers and
their consumers
to fight for
the right to
receive a fair
living wage and
benefits."
Robles added,
"It was very
enlightening to
hear how our
Conneticut homecare workers with the governor.
brothers and sisters
were being treated
bargain a contract and have a voice
by many of the State Lawmakers in
in the state's homecare system.
Connecticut. Basically,-in this day and
age, they were still being treated like
Was all the hard work worth ® Paula
domestic servants."
Brock reflected that, "My experience
in Connecticut was fantastic;. - Jo be
By a margin of 1228 to 365, the
onjthe other; side of the country with
Con necticut homecare workers voted
SEIU members from Washington,
to join SEIU. The vote, completed by
California, Illinois, Minnesota, New
mail-in secret batlot, was the first step
York and many other states gave me
toward a voice for quality jobs and
the insight to see just how much
quality care for workers there, Who
of a difference we can make by
have long been disrespected, unheard,
standing together. We put in long
and unrepresented.
hours, worked 3 weeks straight, and
together won them the opportunity
Though almost all American workers
have the right under federal law to
to have a voice and be a part of
deciding howto make things better.
vote to form a union and bargain a
What more can I say? I LOVE SEIU
contract if a majority desires, home
503, and all my caring brothers and
care workers
sisters!"
have faced
yea rs of
Linda Robles concluded that, "If I
political
had to rate my experience as a union
hurdles to get
Organizer from 1 to 10,1 would give
to this point
it a resounding 10. J felt the strong
and still lacked
unity of my brothers and sisters
the right
together fighting for the future Iwb
to bargain
Oregon homecare workers contributed to the success of the Connecticut
campaign.
a contract.
Forming the
union means
that homecare
workers in
Connecticut
will now have
the right to
homecare workers in Connecticut.
This is one of the most important
things I have done in my life and I will
cherish the memories. Although this
was the hardest and most exhausting
work that I have ever done, I would
do it over and over again!"