Media Advisory
For Jan. 14, 2014
Contact: Karim Olaechea
(267) 971-9716
Home Care workers to march for a living wage
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Santa Clara County home care workers will march on 70 W. Hedding Street to bring attention to the low wages paid by the county to its more-than-17,000 home care providers. Like fast food workers who are waging a campaign to earn decent wages, Santa Clara’s home care workers barely make enough to get by.
WHAT: Home Care workers march for a living wage
WHEN: 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014
WHERE: 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose
VISUALS: More than 150 workers will rally at county headquarters.
The work of In-Home Supportive Services providers is not very visible to the public, but home care workers take care of some of Santa Clara County’s most vulnerable residents, senior citizens and people with disabilities. With an aging population and a growing need, Santa Clara must do more to invest in professional, personalized Quality Care @Home.
The state’s population is aging and the need for in-home care will only grow in the future. Today, Santa Clara County has about 200,000 individuals who are over 65 years old. By 2030, that’s going to double to be more than 1 in 5 residents. Santa Clara County has identified transportation and home health to be two of the most pressing needs for this segment of the population.
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The Service Employees International Union is an organization of 2.1 million members united by the belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide. SEIU is dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and creating a more just and humane society. For more information, visit www.seiu521.org
