D.C. Homecare Workers Say “Be Fair To Those Who Care” at Rally to Secure Unpaid Wages

November 30, 2014

On August 6, District of Columbia homecare workers rallied on the steps of City Hall to secure unpaid wages and draw attention to a proposal that would exempt them from the city’s Living Wage Law.Many of the 5,000 homecare workers in D.C. have faced hardships since their employing agencies were cut off from Medicaid funding during the district’s fraud investigation earlier this year.“Homecare workers in D.C. are struggling,” said Michael Thompson, a resident of the city who has been a homecare worker for nine years. “It is a very serious matter for any of us to put in the hard work caring for our patients—and then not be paid. People have been put into very tough situations, like being evicted or losing everything that they have.”In addition to seeking back wages, homecare workers are opposing legislation proposed by City Councilwoman Yvette Alexander that would exempt them from the city’s Living Wage Law. Currently, homecare workers are covered under the law but many are still not receiving the $13.60-an-hour living wage.Councilman David Catania, who authored the fair wage legislation that covers homecare workers, addressed the crowd and vowed his support. “We know that our homecare workers deserve, at a minimum, a $13.60 wage. We’re going to make sure that what you’re promised, you get.”- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/d_c_homecare_workers_say_be_fair_to_those_who_care_at_rally_to_secure_unpaid_wages#sthash.QMhUCnde.dpuf