Now that this year’s G8 summit will be held at Camp David instead of here in Chicago, members and other community leaders are asking World Business Chicago to put the $65 million raised for the summit into creating new jobs in the community. Read more and see our members speak out for vital jobs programs here.
CHICAGO (March 1, 2012)—Fed up with chronic health and safety violations at a Humboldt Park nursing home,a vocal group of pastors, community activists and workers at the facility took matters into their own hands today, delivering badly needed sanitary supplies that the home’s ownership has failed to stock for residents entrusted to its care.
The group prayed and chanted outside the Center Home for Hispanic Elderly nursing home, calling on administrators to rectify the dangerous supply shortage and follow through on other reforms it promised to make after state regulators found numerous health and safety violations at the facility three months ago. Workers also complained that daily staffing shortages add to their difficulty in providing quality care for residents.
Workers have complained for months that nursing home administrators were not giving them enough supplies — such as diapers and gloves — to last an entire shift. Such shortages leave residents in unsanitary conditions that are preventable, workers say.
“It is unfortunate that it has come to this,” said Marilu Vazquez, a CNA at the facility. “While the company is making money, it is allowing our elderly residents to experience unnecessary hardships that are easily preventable.
“We are demanding that Center Home administrators not only provide us with the necessary supplies, but to also bring staffing levels up to the required levels. We deserve it, but more importantly, our residents deserve it.”
The nursing home was cited by state inspectors in November for similar violations, including “rationing” supplies in a way that exposes residents and workers to the spread of infection and disease. Among other areas of correction, inspectors called on Center Home administrators to “maintain an infection control program” and assure that services provided “meet professional standards of quality.”
Meanwhile, the nursing home showed a profit significantly higher than the industry average, according to the latest available statistics.
Press conference participants piled bags of diapers and gloves on the steps of the nursing home to demonstrate the need of the workforce and the neglect of the administrators to provide such items. At the end of the press conference, participants delivered the supplies to administrators inside the building.
“Residents and workers do not deserve these unsanitary and unsafe conditions,” said Adam Kader, director of the Arise Chicago Worker Center. “Nursing home operators must be held accountable when they shortchange and neglect their residents and staff just because they want to make more money for themselves. Shame on you, Center Home. Delivering quality care should be the standard you strive for.”
Hundreds of home care workers and consumers took the Capitol by storm on Tuesday, visiting lawmakers and explaining the impact the proposed budget would have on home care services for seniors and people with disabilities. The lobby day was then followed by a rally where our speakers called for an end to corporate handouts that rob funds from those who need it most.
“Today, we want our lawmakers to know that the $216 million tax break that they doled out to CME Group could have provided 37,000 of our seniors and people with disabilities home care services,” exclaimed rally emcee Tonya Smith, a home care worker from Addus.
Several consumers shared their personal stories with the crowd of over 500, pointing out that without the help they get from their home care worker they may not be able to continue living the independent lives they want to live.
Personal Assistant Maria Hernandez and consumer Crisstian Hernandez
“I’m a full-time student right now studying to be a math teacher one day,” said Crisstian Hernandez, a home care consumer from Posen, IL. “Without this program, I would not be able to attend school and pursue my dream. Our state seems to have its priorities misplaced when it comes to choosing the winners and losers during tough economic times.”
Several political allies stopped by to voice their support for home care funding as well. State Senator Gary Forby from the southernmost region of the state, State Representative Al Riley from the South Suburbs of Chicago, and Chicago’s West Side State Representative Derrick Smith all reaffirmed their unwavering support for home care services.
“I want you all to know that my mother receives the services you provide and my sister is the one who provides it for her, so I get it,” said Representative Smith, over cheers from the crowd.
While energy was high in the rotunda, the realities of the budget proposals are somber. The Governor’s proposed cuts would mean loss of access for many to the critical services we provide and fewer hours for those already enrolled in the program. These cuts could leave many of our consumers with no choice but to transition to nursing home care, swallowing more state resources and sending us to the unemployment line.
Bonita Rodriguez, Home Care Worker and Member Intern
“Home care workers like me are losing hours, and when I lose my hours that means seniors are losing their services,” said Bonita Rodriguez, a home care worker who works with seniors. “Without my service, my senior probably wouldn’t eat, probably wouldn’t get out of bed, and probably wouldn’t be clean. Budget cuts are targeting seniors and people like me so the rich can get their tax breaks. Well we’re here to fight back and we’ll keep coming back until lawmakers get the message!”
Home care consumers and workers returned home after the rally energized to keep the pressure on back in our communities and make sure quality care and quality jobs are protected in the budget. Cuts to home care are only initial proposals at this point, but we stand ready to activate and mobilize if these plans move forward. Stay tuned for more updates and ways to get involved.
Visit our photostream to view more photos from the lobby day and rally.
This primary season, candidates and lawmakers seeking re-election are getting hands-on experience learning the role home care programs play in the lives of seniors and people with disabilities in Illinois. Several political hopefuls agreed to participate in ‘Walk a Day in Our Shoes’ events around the state, where they spend a few hours with a local Personal Assistant and consumer in order to fully understand the vital need for home care services.
Personal Assistant Haley Stokes, Consumer Jaiden Harriott, and State Senate Candidate Marla Wilson
“Making sure our lawmakers understand what’s at stake is paramount to protecting our jobs and quality care,” said Haley Stokes, a Personal Assistant in Rockford. “Connecting candidates with the consumers we serve and the work we do ensures that our voices are heard and our message gets out.”
During these events, candidates perform services for home care consumers and get a chance to hear personal stories about the devastating impact cuts to the program would have on that individual consumer, their families, and their communities. In addition, Personal Assistants demonstrate their commitment to providing quality care and explain how cuts would hurt them as well, in the form of fewer hours to work and maybe even a loss of employment.
In Springfield, Personal Assistant Kevin Holmes and his consumer Ed Vorties hosted state representative candidate Sue Scherer. Scherer performed the services Holmes normally would for Mr. Vorties, like meal preparation and cleaning around the house.
“I was in a nursing home at one point and I am not interested in going back,” Mr. Vorties explained to Scherer. “I want to remain in my own home and in my community where I contribute by serving as an Assistant Minister at my church and volunteering my time as a Sunday school teacher. Cuts to home care funding would mean a loss of independence for me and a loss to my community as well.”
“Nursing homes can be an important resource for people who need round-the-clock care,” added Holmes, “but people deserve to have a choice if they want to remain in their own homes and can do so with some assistance from a personal assistant like me. The idea of taking that choice
Personal Assistant Kevin Holmes, Consumer Ed Vorties, and State Rep. Candidate Sue Scherer
away from someone like Mr. Vorties is wrong, and that’s why we want to make sure our lawmakers understand that cuts to home care will have devastating effects.”
Sue Scherer got the message and pledged to fight hard in Springfield to protect home care funding if elected. Check out Channel 3’s coverage of the event here.
In Rockford, three candidates vying for a state senate seat also took part in these events. Candidates Dan Lewandowski, Steve Stadelman, and Marla Wilson each joined local home care workers and consumers from Rockford, seeing firsthand how home care services support people with disabilities in their community. In the southwestern region of the state, home care consumer Sandretta Howard and her Personal Assistant Silda Chapple will host State Senator James Clayborne. Finally, State Senator Gary Forby will participate in March with a local Carbondale consumer and home care worker. These statewide activities are one more way Personal Assistants and consumers are fighting back against budget cuts and helping to protect the future of the DORS program.
Child care, home care, nursing home, and hospital workers organized a candlelight vigil against gun violence in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood this month, highlighting a need for greater job opportunities to keep young people away from gangs.
Members of SEIU and the Chatham neighborhood displayed flyers about the connections between gun violence and a lack of economic opportunity in the community.
Members held the vigil on the site of a tragic shooting. On Nov. 5th, 2011, three innocent bystanders, two men and one woman, all in their 20s, were killed in the parking lot of Church’s Chicken and A Piece of Cake bakery on 87th and South King Drive. The woman who was slain was picking up a birthday cake for her two-year-old daughter. No one has been charged in the shooting.
Several residents of the 6th Ward who have been shot, or whose loved ones have been shot, spoke about the physical and psychological pain of dealing with shootings in their neighborhoods. Home care worker Cynthia Youngblood, who also works part-time for Chicago Public Schools helping special needs children, almost lost her 17-year-old daughter when she was shot twice by random gunfire last June. Her daughter Diamond was hospitalized for 15 days and still needs crutches. Seven months later, Cynthia still has to take significant time off work, unpaid, in order to take her daughter to physical rehabilitation, counseling and medical visits.
“Every time I take my daughter to physical rehab or counseling it means I’m not able to work. We struggle to get by. Those two bullets did a lot of damage to my daughter and to our family,” said Youngblood. “Why are we dealing with random gunfire in our neighborhoods? We need to build-up our communities by creating jobs, not tearing our neighborhoods apart,” Youngblood said.
6th ward alderman Roderick Sawyer came out to support our anti-violence initiative.
Child care worker Jacqueline Smith was shot in the back in September 2008 in the Gresham neighborhood. Jacqueline, who had just watched the four young children that she was caring for leave her home, was struck by a stray bullet that almost punctured her lung. Three other bullets struck the outside of her house but the children weren’t injured. Jacqueline eventually moved her child care service to the 6th Ward, thinking it would be a safer and quieter place to continue her business, but she worries that the community where she wanted to restart her life is becoming more and more dangerous.
“Let’s be honest, we have too many young men who don’t have jobs and don’t see any way that they can contribute their lives towards a future. We simply can’t allow our young people to slip through the cracks because they can’t find meaningful work,” said Smith, who could not attend the vigil but offered a statement. “If we want to reduce violence, we have to start by giving people a purpose and a job with a livable wage.”
The candlelight ceremony will be the first of many opportunities for members, residents and community partners to become involved in actions against neighborhood violence and the lack of job opportunities that allows it to flourish. Members are creating a community-based coalition in the 6th Ward to advocate for solutions, aiming to mobilize union members and to partner with interfaith groups and churches, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and civic leaders to create jobs, improve schools, reduce home foreclosures, prevent violence, and encourage economic development and investment in the 6th Ward.
Watch Alderman Sawyer and Cynthia and Diamond Youngblood address gun violence in their community:
Child care providers united in SEIU Healthcare Illinois received a 3% rate increase, effective Jan. 1, 2012 that will be reflected in our February checks. The rate increase – the 5th increase in our current contract, with two more increases still to come – is possible because of our strong, united stand to win a good contract. (more…)
SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana members spread a little Christmas cheer at the Chicago Board of Trade last week, conducting a Salvation Army-style mock charity drive for the CME Group.
"We see you when you're stealing, we need you to atone, we know when you make money, so you better leave us alone!"
The CME Group has made headlines recently as its bid for a $100 million state tax break was overwhelmingly defeated by the Illinois House of Representatives, but the group’s demand for corporate welfare is likely to resurface in Springfield. Despite earning $900 million in profits last year, the CME Group has repeatedly threatened to leave the state, taking its jobs with it, if legislators don’t pander to its demands for a taxpayer handout.
In spite of members’ Santa hats, festive bells, and lovely singing voices belting adapted Christmas carols like “CME gets tax breaks, and we get charged more, they’re the Grinch that stole Christmas, stealing from the poor!” to the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” few passersby seemed interested in giving to the rich this holiday season.
"Taking money from the many, stealing taxes penny by penny!"
“These people have their hands out to get even more money from taxpayers, money we should be spending on things that the poor and the middle class need, like job creation and Medicare. People are losing their homes, their jobs, they don’t have money for food, and the CME is threatening to take their jobs out of the state if we don’t give them $100 million? Everyone knows that’s a scare tactic. It’s blackmail,” said DORS PA Flora Johnson.
After the demonstration at the Board of Trade, members went across the street to the Occupy Chicago site at Jackson and LaSalle to deliver lunches to protesters there.
Members and allies demonstrated on a bridge in Joliet, calling on Rep. Adam Kinzinger to put his constitutents to work.
All across the country on November 17th, unions, community groups, chapters of the Occupy movement, and other diverse representatives of the 99% came together to demand support for job creation instead of more corporate welfare.
In Chicago, Joliet, and St. Louis, SEIU Healthcare members spoke, marched, and occupied bridges to speak against cuts to vital safety-net programs as hundreds of similar actions across the country made our voices even stronger.
Home care worker Veronica Wansley spoke out for home care consumers on a bridge in St. Louis.
“My consumer has multiple sclerosis, and she’s blind. It’s a proven fact that it would cost more to put her in a nursing home than to continue to fund the programs that allow me to help her stay safe and independent in her own home, and it would eliminate the jobs of thousands of health care workers like me. I’m here to say that Congress needs to focus on protecting jobs and safety-net programs, not tax breaks for corporations and the rich,” Veronica said.
“I depend on Social Security, Medicaid, and public housing to get my needs met, but I’m not just worried about me,” said Jane Addams Senior Caucus leader Ruth Long, addressing the crowd in Chicago shortly before it shut down the LaSalle St. bridge. “I’m worried about the thousands of vulnerable Americans who depend on these programs who are suffering because of the greed and selfishness of the 1%.”
Workers, patients, and others whose lives would be negatively affected by the closure of Englewood’s St. Bernard Hospital gathered there on November 10th to say, “Hands off my Medicare!”
As Congress’ supercommittee works toward a decision about how to handle our nation’s debt crisis, working people all over the country are sending the message that cutting the funding that keeps vital safety-net hospitals running isn’t the way to fix our broken economy. In addition to leaving low-income and elderly community members high and dry when it comes to their health, hospital closures due to Medicaid and Medicare cutbacks will put thousands of health care providers out of work–61,000 in Illinois alone.
Englewood resident Frances Smith tells the crowd how the closure of St. Bernard Hospital would affect her health.
“People like Ms. Frances count on this hospital,” said St. Bernard Unit Secretary Veronica Powell, referring to a resident of a nearby retirement building who also spoke at the rally. “Cutting the funding that keeps St. Bernard open means cutting off their lifeline to the care they need.”
“And, cutting funding means cutting jobs from our economy,” Veronica added. “St. Bernard is the largest employer in Englewood–if this place closes, I’ll be out of a job, along with nearly 700 other workers.”
Right now, Congress’ supercommittee is deciding how to reduce our nation’s looming deficit, and with it, the fate of Head Start programs that provide working families with the quality care they need to stay in school and got to work every day. Together, child care providers and consumers are working to make millionaire members of Congress understand that cuts to federal funding of state child care programs will make it harder for parents to take or keep the jobs they need to support their families as the economy struggles to recover.
“I’m a single mother juggling school, work, and motherhood. I and thousands of other parents depend on programs like Head Start to provide not just a safe place for my son to stay while I’m at work, but to give him a good education. Federal child care funding makes it possible for many families to improve their lives by working while going back to school in order to make it in this economy–if it weren’t for Head Start, I couldn’t make this work for my family.”–Candice Battle
It’s up to us to carry the voices of working parents to the representatives making decisions that affect their lives. Please talk to your child care parents about the impact that quality child care makes on their lives and families, and share their answers with us.
