1. The Fight For a Fair Economy
ULTCW United
Long Term Care SEIU ULTCW
Workers AnnUAL REpoRT 2011
2. In 2011…
When a bank threatened to take the home of one of our members, we took the
giant step of working with others in coalition and even got arrested to help
her fight back to make sure she kept her home.
When the call of “We are the 99%” was sounded, we took giant steps together, marching to City
Halls, closing streets and joining Occupy movements throughout the state. We took on corporate
America and we won. And we’ll continue to do so until there is justice for all.
When our communities were clearly in need, we took the giant step
of providing them with a Fresh Start for the school year.
When the Super Committee in Congress threatened to cut Medicare,
we took a giant step with actions that said “Not on our watch!”
And we will continue to step up for quality jobs and step up for how long term care
is carried out in this state to better serve consumers, patients, and workers and
we will step up with those who join us in getting to that place we call Justice
Taking These Kinds Of Steps Is Fighting For A Fair Economy
Laphonza Butler
pRESIdEnT
SEIU ULTCW
WHAT WE SAID
E SAID
WHAT WE SAID
In 2011, we decided on accomplishing 4 key goals
that would improve the lives of our members while
“
strengthening our union and the communities in which we
E SAID
live and work.
ULTCW 4 KEy GoALS FoR 2011
oRGAnIzInG To RAISE STAndARdS
We knew that in order to lift workers up, we had to focus on raising
standards such as wages and benefits and giving unorganized long
term care workers a voice on the job.
CREATInG qUALITy jobS
We heard from our members that they wanted to take action to
It felt great having cities
transform current jobs into quality jobs that present a path to fulfilling
the American Dream while demanding that corporate America do its
and counties throughout
part by creating the good jobs our communities need.
California recognize the
bUILdInG STRonGER CommUnITIES
We understood that in order to achieve a just society, we had to
hard work we do.
develop stronger, deeper relationships with folks on our blocks
and in our churches who share our vision.
– Julie Chow, Monterey Park
dEEpEnInG mEmbER LEAdERShIp And InvoLvEmEnT
Our members told us they wanted more training and experience to
grow as leaders and help our union achieve its goals and vision.
3. M 2011
2011 brought with it yet more economic challenges
for our country. Although unemployment rates
started to decline, over 10 percent of Californians
M 2011
remain without work. However, even with such
difficult times, ULTCW members took giant steps
and led the way in our fight for a fair economy,
to ensure worker voices were heard, and lay the
groundwork for 2012.
RAISInG STAndARdS, LIFTInG voICES bUILdInG STRonG CommUnITIES
In 2011, ULTCW members and staff worked tirelessly to make sure that We understand that in order to achieve a just society and a fair
the voices of our members and those seeking to organize were heard. economy for all, we must strengthen not only our union, but also
the communities in which we live and work. In 2011, we did
Because of our members’ dedication and action in the fight for social and exactly that when ULTCW members:
economic justice, ULTCW:
• Won higher wages and benefits in contract negotiations for over • Stopped the state’s 20 percent trigger cuts to the IHSS
2,000 nursing program from taking place on January 1st by filing a
home members. lawsuit with coalition members.
• Got offers of reinstatement and back pay for 21 nursing home • Not only endorsed the “We are the 99%” Occupy
workers who were illegally fired for trying to organize a union. movement but camped out and joined marches
throughout California.
• Brought a voice to 471 workers at six nursing homes facilities
when they voted to join • Educated over 500 key senior, disability and veteran
our union. groups on the availability of quality in-home care through
the ULTCW Homecare Exchange program.
• Protected the wages and benefits of more than 15,000 in-
home caregivers from being cut in Santa Cruz, Mendocino and • Provided back to school supplies, health screenings
Alameda Counties. and more to over 13,000 Los Angeles and Oakland area
families and children in need through our 2011 Fresh
• Started organizing private agency home care providers to give Start Community Festivals.
them a voice on the job.
• Partnered with 30 California cities and counties to pass
• Started contract negotiations for the over 150,000 members who resolutions that recognized the important work of long
provide in-home care in term care workers by designating November as “Family
Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Caregivers Month”.
• Provided our members with cost-saving discount programs to • Deepened our reach into local communities and establish
help stretch every dollar farther. new relationships with community and elected leaders
through our involvement in Good Jobs LA and the Occupy
movement.
dEmAndInG Good jobS
ULTCW members took a bold stand in 2011 to shift the national
conversation about our economy so that it focused on holding corporate LEAdInG by ExAmpLE
America responsible and the need to create quality jobs. The success our union experienced in 2011 is due to the
dedication and leadership of our members. During the year,
Through this work, ULTCW members : thousands of ULTCW members took action and led by example to
• Took on corporations like Exxon Mobil, Bank of America, Wells ensure that our goals for 2011 became reality and to prepare for
Fargo, One West Bank, Fannie Mae, Vons and others in order to the work ahead of us in 2012.
protect the middle class.
In 2011, ULTCW members:
• Held “Communities in Crisis” forums in 9 cities throughout
California that exposed • Had 29,477 conversations with other ULTCW members.
corporate greed.
• Endorsed President Obama and set priorities
• Had one-on-one conversations with over 40,000 households for 2012.
about the need to stand united and hold elected officials
accountable. • Held Tele-Town Halls in which over 35,000 ULTCW
members participated and learned about issues important
• Had Congress members walk a day in the shoes of those who to the future of long term care.
have lost their homes
and jobs. • Invested in their future by contributing to COPE, adding
another 2,360 members in making
• Participated in the Good Jobs LA Kitchen Table Summit in which politics work.
2,400 community members told elected officials that the creation
of good jobs had to be a national priority. • Built a stronger union when over 21,750 ULTCW
members participated in a union activity.
• Through mass protests and use of media, we changed the
national debate to Job Creation instead of Debt Ceiling. • Volunteered to lead 420 activities through our Member
Committees.
• We made sure that tens of thousands of home care workers still
kept their health insurance when the state reduced consumer • Facilitated several presentations to students of the
hours in February. We assisted another 1,200 providers with California Long Term Care Workers’ Training Center.
finding client hours through the ULTCW Homecare Exchange
program.
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5. 3
“Although WI and CA “Corporate Am
are miles apart, we paying its fair s
are all united.” bad for Am
– Maria Andrade, Ventura – Michele Reed
1
“Banks got
bailed out, we
got sold out!”
– Christina Knorr,
Solano
2
“
9
I camped
out because
9 we are
the 99%!
”
ULTCW
– Dalisa King,
Long Beach
10
6. “
merica isn’t
share. That’s
merica!” We educated
d, Los Angeles folks and
4 discussed
real
solutions.
5
6
”
– Cindy Valdez,
Santa Cruz
“Taking action means
bringing about change.
I’m proud of the work we
do as ULTCW to make
needed change happen.”
– Natasha Gordon, San Bernardino 8
7
3
8
11
“By being involved in my
union I’ve learned and Photo Key: 1) CA Attorney General Kamala Harris at MLK Day Event,
grown so much this year.”
2) Wisconsin Rally, 3) SEIU President Mary Kay Henry at March for
Workers’ Rights, 4) ULTCW President Laphonza Butler on Sec of Labor
Panel for Immigration Reform, 5) Good Jobs LA Action, 6) May 1st
– Yesenia Barocio, Hollister Rally, 7) Watsonville Action, 8) Fresh Start Festival, 9) ULTCW Members
Participate in Occupy Protests, 10) Nursing Home Members take Action.
7. SEIU ULTCW is comprised of 180,000 long term caregivers
(nursing home and in-home care workers). One of the most
culturally diverse unions in California, ULTCW members
work in 16 counties throughout the state and speak over
nine languages. We are both natural born citizens and proud
immigrants who came to this country to seek a better life
and to achieve the American Dream. We take pride in the
work we do and deliver quality care with great passion to
those in need.
Guided by five core values (Accountability, Diversity,
Empowerment, Excellence and Transparency), ULTCW’s
Executive Board and its membership are dedicated to
“
stepping up and leading the way in the fight for a fair
economy and a just society.
”
Our diversity is what
makes our union great!
– Enrique Camacho,
San Bernardino
SEIU ULTCW Executive Board
yoUR doLLARS AT WoRK
ULTCW mEmbERS dUES - $47 mILLIon
Running
an Efficient
Organization
7%
Deepening our
Leadership
27%
The success that ULTCW experienced in 2011 is due
to the leadership of our members and their financial
support. Only through these contributions are we able
to take the steps necessary to make our journey to
justice a success.
Through our dues we’ve been able to ensure that the Organizing to
voices of long term care workers are not only being Raise Standards
45%
heard, but have become a powerful voice for all
working families and those seeking work. In 2011 we
successfully held elected officials accountable, united
long term care workers for greater strength, fought for
higher standards, and protected vital programs from Protecting the
Future of Long
devastating cuts. Term Care
6%
This chart summarizes how our dues are being put to
work for a better future for us all.
Creating Quality
Jobs
9%
Building
Stronger
Communities
6%
8. oRGAnIzE
To RAISE
STAndARdS
bARGAIn
FoR qUALITy
jobS
WIn ThE
FUTURE oF
In-homE
CARE
pRoTECT And
pRomoTE ThE
AFFoRdAbLE
CARE ACT
ELECT
CAndIdATES
Who hAvE
ThE CoURAGE
To CARE
We took giant steps in 2011, but that only prepares us WIn ThE FUTURE oF In-homE CARE
for what lies ahead. We will need to “step it up” even Time and time again, in-home caregivers and care recipients
more to protect gains made and bring some vital changes encounter any number of problems with the way the current IHSS
that improve the lives of our members and the people system is set up. It needs to change. And 2012 is a moment in
they take care of. which we can step up to do so by making sure that key principles
are achieved. These principles include: finding a stable and
adequate funding source for the IHSS program, making home
ELECT CAndIdATES Who hAvE ThE care providers an integrated part of their consumers’ healthcare
CoURAGE To CARE team, ensuring the IHSS program provides accurate, consistent
and respectful assessments for consumers, assuring that home
For workers in long term care, there is much at stake at the local,
state and federal levels. All of these levels of government affect care providers are respected and receive the training they need
quality of care, the role of caregivers, and members’ paychecks. In to keep themselves and their consumers safe, and stabilizing the
addition, people in our communities are hurting and in some cases workforce by empowering caregivers with a unified approach to
we are dealing with candidates that have not done much to help us, collective bargaining and an opportunity to finally get the chance to
yet they want the privilege to represent us. win better wages, improved healthcare, and even paid time off and
retirement security.
We have to work to re-elect President Barack Obama and support
candidates at the state and local levels who share our values and
have the courage to make decisions that help working families.
bARGAIn FoR qUALITy jobS
A key component in our fight for quality jobs is to build on the work
in 2011 where the most massive nursing home bargaining period
pRoTECT And pRomoTE ThE AFFoRdAbLE took place for us in recent years. Through these negotiations we
must not only improve standards for our members, but also make
CARE ACT a fundamental shift in the way in which employers treat employees.
In the same motion of our election work, we will have to still fight back No longer should any nursing home worker be forced to work
attempts to undercut the promise of healthcare reform championed for substandard wages and live in fear of employer retaliation for
by President Obama’s 2010 Affordable Care Act. Before the elections taking a stand for what is right for both workers and residents.
in November of 2012, “Anti-Care” Members of Congress may try to
remove parts of it, jeopardizing critical dollars that will help pay for the
future of in-home care and making it even more difficult for working oRGAnIzE To RAISE STAndARdS
families that are struggling due to sky-rocketing healthcare costs and While ULTCW is large in size, there are still thousands of California
“
lack of access. We are starting to see the good impact of healthcare long term care workers who have no voice on the job. Through
reform but need to be ready to step up and fight back if others try to our goal of organizing thousands of workers in 2012, we not only
roll it back. empower them to demand change in their workplaces and in their
communities, but we will also be able to raise the standards for all
long term care workers.
As long term caregivers,
we’re all in this together.
– Cheryl Neal,
Cambrian Home Care Worker
9. In 2011, SEIU ULTCW lost its president emeritus,
Verdia Daniels. Because of her leadership and
courage, hundreds of thousands of long term care
workers now have a voice on the job. In 2012, we
will continue to follow in Verdia’s footsteps and fight
to bring equality to all caregivers and respect for the
important work we do.
“
Being a
caregiver is the
most rewarding
thing I think
I’ve done in my
lifetime.
– Verdia Daniels, SEIU ULTCW
President Emeritus (1931 – 2011)
”