Mgmt: Takeaways, "Work for Free"

Mgmt: Takeaways, "Work for Free"

It was Black Friday the 13th for Homecare Bargaining with team members clad in black, wearing Contract Action Team (CAT) stickers. The theme was appropriate.
After we presented our last proposal on creating a joint task force to study and make recommendations for a retirement program for the 2009-2011 contract, the Homecare Commission presented their initial proposals:

Management's Economic Proposals

Homecare workers pay all increased costs for health care benefits in the second year of the contract.
Wage freeze for those earning the Full Assist rate of $9.76 and creating one wage rate for full assist and minimum substantial assist hours at $9.76.
Creation of a new, lower-paid standby category for hourly workers, paid at $4.05.
24-hour care workers would be required to access their paid time off in 24-hour blocks.
24-hour care workers could "opt" to work for free during 24-hour availability hours.
Reduced pay for 24-hour respite care workers to $4.53/hour rather than the differential we negotiated last time; a reduction totaling $80.00/day.

Management did not offer responses to our proposals on a wage differential for ventilator dependent quadriplegics or an increase in mileage reimbursement.

Homecare Workers Won't Be Forced Back into the Dark Ages!