News

Home care workers in the USA vowed to stand together and fight today's decision by the Supreme Court to undermine the rights of hard working, dedicated, mostly female home care workers to collectively bargain to improve their working conditions. The ruling in the historic Harris vs Quinn case also puts at risk the ability of seniors and people with disabilities to get the reliable care they need to remain in their homes.

"No court case is going to stand in the way of home care workers coming together to have a strong voice for good jobs and quality home care," said SEIU President Mary Kay Henry. "At a time when wages remain stagnant and income inequality is out of control, joining together in a union is the only proven way home care workers have of improving their lives and the lives of the people they care for."

The case was brought by the National Right to Work Committee, an extreme right-wing think tank, and it is part of a political agenda to weaken the power of working people. Yet the impact of today's decision will be felt by all those using home care services today, and those needing services in the future.

SEIU member and personal carer Areesa Johnson of Illinois blogged about the case here in January. She said, 'this line of work often involves more than an exchange of services; you build a relationship with the people you care for and share in the joy of their independence through the work that you do. My consumers get to stay in our community, living safely and independently where they want to be, and that makes me very proud to be a home care provider.'

Areesa's concern, like that of many others, was that a poor decision in this case would mean the driving down of home care standards, and ultimately a worse system of care for America's elderly.

Despite the rhetoric from those taking this case, bargaining in home care has historically delivered improvements which have helped states reduce turnover and make it easier for their citizens to recruit and retain home care workers. Read more about this here: http://www.seiuhcilin.org/improving-home-care/

Today's decision will not deter this mostly female workforce from organising - for their sake, and for the sake of their elderly and disabled clients. "They are trying to divide us and limit our power, but we won't stop standing together for our families and our consumers" said Flora Johnson, a home care provider from Chicago. "Before we formed our union, I made less than $6 an hour, but by uniting we are set to make $13 an hour by the end of the year. I know from experience that we are stronger together."

"For our parents and grandparents to get the care they need to live at home, workers need a strong voice in a union," Henry said. "I know that Flora Johnson other SEIU members are determined to keep up the fight to end poverty wages and ensure quality care."

Care workers everywhere can join the fight back by joining their union and fighting for improvements in this under-recognised and immensely important sector.

Watch the video about the importance of home care and the impact the decision will have: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnvk4_YK-1U#t=85