|
CSEA Campaign for Quality Care Gaining
Statewide Momentum: What state legislators are
saying...
"These individuals perform the same work and
have the same responsibilities as their counterparts
who work for public facilities and they deserve the
same respect, pay and benefits. I am confident that
my bill will go a long way in helping to reduce the
high employee turnover rate that threatens to
undermine the quality of care in our not-for-profit
facilities."
State Sen. Nick Spano
Leading prime Senate sponsor of the
Quality Care Act
"Parity with their colleagues in the public
sector will allow the not-for-profit direct care
workers to focus all their energy on providing the
best care possible for our residents with
developmental disabilities. Given the
amount of public funding that supports these
organizations, taxpayers
must know that their money is being used to
deliver the highest quality of care possible."
Assembly Member Richard Brodsky
In a statement issued in
White Plains
"I am extremely pleased that this years
budget strengthens our community- based workforce,
including a new, annual Cost of Living Adjustment
(COLA) for human service providers for the next
three years. However, I will continue the fight,
maintaining our vigilance, in order to ensure COLA's
and trend factors are dedicated to strengthening the
community based workforce through recruitment and
retention."
State Sen. Frank Padavan Speaking in
New York City
"I am proud to stand with the hard-working
New Yorkers who provide help for the most vulnerable
among us. Their work with the developmentally
disabled is far too important to deny them a
competitive wage and livable benefits."
Assembly
Member Michael Gianaris Speaking in
New
York City
"I am committed to assuring that
New York
State
provides the best care for individuals with
developmental disabilities in the country. I support
CSEA in their efforts to gain a competitive pay
schedule that will assist the recruitment and
retention of qualified workers for our disabled
residents."
Assembly Member William Magnarelli, Speaking
in
Syracuse
"The least we can do as a state is ensure
that you (developmentally disabled caregivers) are
respected. While it is difficult to put a price tag
on the invaluable services you provide, you all
deserve the best benefits, wages and working
conditions that we can possibly provide. Indeed,
just as you faithfully fulfill your responsibilities
to care for those who depend on you, it is our
responsibility as a state to care for you."
Assembly Member Joan K. Christensen, Speaking
in
Syracuse
"I know about the challenges faced by people
with special needs, their families and the
hard-working men and women who care for them. One of
the most important considerations in the care of
these unique individuals is the consistency of
knowing who will be there that day to help them
dress, shower, eat or just share some time and
visit. The high turnover rates and low pay which
have plagued the field of direct service care for
people with disabilities has made it hard to offer
them the assurance they need that a caregiver -their
caregiver -will be there to help them, day in and
day out."
Assembly Member Jeff Brown In a letter
of support.
"CSEA members are here today to call
attention to the work that workers in not-for-profit
facilities do for those with developmental
disabilities. These workers provide essential care
for the developmentally challenged and they help to
improve the quality of life for these patients and
their
families. Without their dedication, our community
would be lacking many vital services. I have been a
strong advocate for the health care community. I
remain committed to providing resources in a
fiscally sound manner so that we can preserve
programs and the quality of care for those with
developmental disabilities as well as others."
State Senator John A. DeFrancisco, In a letter
of support
"This is a very important government
responsibility, and my admiration goes to the
workers who work with the consumers and their
families. The consumers are individuals in our
society who can't lend their voice to themselves to
what their best needs are. The families are very
involved, but they look to those in elected
leadership roles to fulfill the responsibility to be
sure that societal resources are there to ensure the
quality of care for this very vulnerable
population."
Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli Speaking in
Mineola
"We will, as a people, and those of us who
represent a government, be judged on how we have
treated those amongst us who are the most
vulnerable. When it comes to issues involving the
developmentally challenged and those who care
for them, the government must ensure continuity
of good service, fair pay and fair benefits. Those
of us who must protect the most vulnerable must
ensure that
they do not have the anxiety of having to worry
about massive turnover among those who must care for
them, as well as those who care for them must
understand that it's in the interests to us as a
people to ensure that they are respected and
protected."
Assembly Member Charles Lavine Speaking in
Mineola
"People are willing to make investments with
public money when they see value. They want to know
that somebody isn't going to make $150,000 -$250,000
when their direct care workers make $10 or $12 per
hour worrying about how to live from paycheck to
paycheck... How do I want the caregivers to be
treated? It's
with basic respect and dignity and fairness This
is a good fight that we should all join in and the
government has made a good start, but I think we
need to do more."
Sen. John Flanagan Speaking in
Mineola
"I believe it was Robert Kennedy who said 'a
society can be judged by how it treats its weakest
and most vulnerable people.' I think we can be
judged by the kind of investment that is being made
for the developmentally disabled and a good
indication of how the consumers will be treated is
how the employees will be treated, so I'm proud to
show there is a commitment by the government to make
sure these folks are cared for and are treated the
way they deserve."
Assembly Member Marc Alessi Speaking in
Mineola
"The most important thing we can do is
support our direct caregivers because these are the
people who can provide the quality of life, love and
caring that every developmentally disabled child
should have."
Assembly Member Harvey Weisenberg Speaking in
Mineola
"Only
the highest standards are acceptable when it comes
to caring for people with developmental
disabilities. CSEA is defending those standards
by insisting on decent wages and benefits at the
state's not-for- profit agencies, where staff
turnovers threaten to undermine the quality of
service provided to patients. I applaud CSEA's
campaign to ensure that
New York
's developmental care system remains the best in the
country."
Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle Speaking in
Rochester
"I commend the CSEA for its ongoing
efforts to raise concerns about maintaining quality
care standards here in the
Rochester
area. It is vital that we fight for the rights of
not-for-profit employees that provide an
immeasurable service to those with developmental
disabilities in our community."
Sen. James Alesi
In a letter of support
|
