SACRAMENTO-The United Domestic Workers of America (UDW/AFSCME 3930), a union of 110,000 California home care workers, issued the following statement regarding the California 2019-2020 Budget:
“The first budget signed by Governor Gavin Newsom gives us many reasons to be optimistic about the future of long-term care in California. This budget shows Assembly Speaker Rendon, Senate Pro Tem Atkins, and Governor Newsom clearly recognize that long-term care needs to be a top priority in the immediate future in order to avert a humanitarian disaster in which we are unable to meet the needs of our growing aging population.”
“We are especially thankful that the budget includes one-time funding of $1 million for an actuarial study of alternative ways to finance long-term care requested by UDW and our partners in the California Aging and Disability Alliance (CADA). In coordination with the governor’s Master Plan for Aging, having an accurate picture of who will need care and how much that care will cost is crucial to creating the person-centered, affordable long-term care system we so desperately need. And for the first time ever, this budget creates a fiscal incentive for counties to invest in IHSS through good faith collective bargaining. After years of open contracts, this is an important step towards building a stable home care workforce.”
“We are disappointed however, that this budget does not permanently restore the 7 percent cut to IHSS hours, instead restoring the cut only through the next two years. Failing to remove the cut from statute “kicks the can down the road” and leaves IHSS providers and clients in a state of fear that, without constant vigilance, a cut could go back into effect. UDW will be come back to lawmakers next year to seek a permanent restoration.”
“This budget contains the seeds of a full-grown solution to the long-term care crisis, but much more will need to be done to ensure a future where every Californian has the care they need to live a full and well life, in comfort and dignity. We look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and legislature to make that future a reality.”
-Doug Moore
Executive Director, United Domestic Workers of America (UDW/AFSCME 3930)
