Support home care workers

Published 2:51 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2015

I’m proud to be a home care worker in Washington State, which means I provide care for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Last year, home care workers negotiated a contract that provided a modest retirement contribution so that home care workers would be able to save for retirement. But Senate Republicans are supporting a budget that says, “You can never retire!” by refusing the fund this retirement contribution.

This is wrong, and any budget agreement has to fund the retirement plan that was agreed to. For home care workers, who receive poverty-level wages and are often elderly themselves, this agreement is the only way to save for our own retirement.

Home care workers like me are holding up our end of the bargain, but the Legislature is threatening to go back on the state’s word. We negotiated our contract in good faith and reached a historic deal with the state without arbitration. Now it’s time for Olympia to live up to honor its agreement and help hard-working home care workers retire with dignity.

– Daryll Johnson