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D.2
Board of Supervisors
Contra Costa County
Date: July 28 2015 Public Comment
The County is currently in labor negotiations with the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). Ben Delgado,
deputy director for government relations, SIEU-UHW, Michelle Franklin, SEIU-UHW, and Melody Lacy,
IHSS caregiver, brought the following information and issues to the Board's attention:
IHSS workers have earned $11.50/hr since January of 2009. The workers receive no sick leave or vacation
benefit, and are not paid overtime rates for work exceeding regular hours. One proposal is to discontinue
healthcare benefits, in the belief that most workers are eligible for Medi-Cal. The organization asks that the
Board commit to a $1.00/hr wage increase, so that calculations can be made to find out if the assumption of
Medi-Cal eligibility is an accurate one, using solid numbers. Not all are in favor of discontinuing the health
benefit. It was noted that workers who are homeowners, there is a possibility that upon their passing, the
Medi-Cal Recovery Act could lay claim to the homeowners estate (home) to recover the cost of benefits. It
was further noted that some caregivers work too many hours to qualify for Medi-Cal and would be
significantly impacted by the loss of a workplace group plan.
Janet Marshal Wilson did not speak, but left written comments for the Board's consideration (attached).
THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN
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