Homecare Workers

I am writing in response to Robert Sullivan’s letter (Jan. 22) concerning homecare workers’ right to organize a union and their suit to force Los Angeles County to take responsibility as the employer of homecare workers. In his letter, Sullivan makes some allegations which are incorrect.

First, Sullivan claims that my statement that “It makes no sense that an 82-year-old person with Alzheimer’s disease is the employer of record,” is an attempt “to distort the truth.” He says that an overwhelming majority of recipients of homecare services are younger. The actual figures are these: 68% of the recipients statewide are over age 65. Almost 30% are over age 80.

Second, Sullivan states that the homecare workers’ suit to designate the county as their employer will take from recipients of the services control over who will be and who will not be employed in their homes.

The L.A. Homecare Workers Union completely supports the position that recipients should have control over who works in their homes. The purpose of our suit is to force the county to take responsibility for the poverty wages and zero benefits it pays homecare workers; not to diminish in anyway the control and independence recipients should have over their lives.

In other cities where the Service Employees International Union has helped homecare workers organize, the union has worked closely with recipient advocate groups to maintain and strengthen this control and independence.

Like Sullivan, homecare workers want to have a voice in the decision-making process dealing with the homecare program.

But as long as the county refuses to acknowledge its responsibilities in the homecare program, neither homecare workers nor their recipients have anywhere to go with their legitimate grievances.

KIRK ADAMS

L.A. Homecare Workers Union

SEIU Local 434

Los Angeles