WHEREAS:
AFSCME has organized and represented direct care workers for over half a century; and
WHEREAS:
Direct care workers provide a public service that is critical to the well-being of millions of children, elderly people and people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS:
There are approximately 1.6 million homecare workers in the United States and this number is projected to grow to 2.6 million over the next five years, and there are several million child care workers; and
WHEREAS:
Many direct care workers are employed by companies and non-profit agencies, others are independent contractors, and the vast majority of all of these workers are unorganized; and
WHEREAS:
Much of home and child care is funded with taxpayer dollars, yet workers are paid poverty level wages and denied health benefits for themselves and their families; and
WHEREAS:
Low pay and poor working conditions have led to a national turnover rate of 70 percent among homecare workers and 30 percent among child care workers, depriving consumers of the stable supply of direct care workers on which they depend; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME International and affiliates have over 50,000 homecare members and over 20,000 child care members and are committed to organizing direct care workers across the country, including home and child care workers, to improve jobs and improve care.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME fight for collective bargaining rights for homecare and child care workers with independent contractor status; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME organize the agencies that benefit from public home and child care funding, yet deny workers fair pay, health insurance and the right to form unions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME support legislation that would increase funding for home care and child care programs; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME affiliates dedicate resources, including Volunteer Member Organizers, to support home care and child care campaigns in their states.
SUBMITTED BY:
Jan Corderman, President and Delegate
Carter Woodruff, Secretary-Treasurer
AFSCME Council 61
Iowa