SEIU 250 DEMANDS A LIVING WAGE FOR HOME CARE WORKERS - 19 ARRESTED

SEIU 250 DEMANDS A LIVING WAGE FOR HOME CARE WORKERS
19 ARRESTED
By Mike Rhodes
August 29, 2003

19 home care workers and their allies were arrested in Fresno today as they demanded respect and a living wage. Shouting “No Justice, No Peace!” protestors shut down the Fresno County Hall of Records. This was the first time most of these workers had ever participated in civil disobedience. Standing with them was Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union.

As the blockade at the Hall of Records formed Jemmy Bluestein led the group in Union songs, including Solidarity Forever which could be heard throughout the building. At first the sheriffs refused to arrest anyone and re-directed traffic to other entrances. When the protestors blocked all the doors to the building the arrests began. No sooner had the police cleared one doorway, when new protestors took their place. In the end 19 people were arrested, given a citation, and then released.

At issue here is that home care workers want a living wage (at least $9.50 an hour) and health benefits. In negotiations with Service Employee International Union Local 250 Fresno County first offered home care workers health benefits and no salary increase. The union rejected that offer and the County took the health benefits off the table, imposed $7.50 an hour, and refused to bargain further. After insulting the workers with this inadequate wage increase they began cutting workers hours.

Dana Simon from SEIU 250 says that the union has shown Fresno County where to find the money to pay for the salary increase and health benefits. Most of the funds are reimbursed by State and Federal sources. Advocates argue that the additional buying power that will result when home care workers earn a living wage will improve the economy of this impoverished County. The union, home care workers, and their allies are beginning to believe that the County’s refusal to increase these workers salary is not about the money. It is about maintaining low wages in the County so the wealthy can continue to exploit poor underpaid workers. They don’t want home care workers to set a “bad example” by emerging from poverty. The success of the home care workers could inspire and motivate other groups of workers to join a union and demanded a living wage with benefits.