Neutral Factfinder Rules That Fresno County Home Care Wage Cuts Should Be Stopped

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June 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An independentf factfinder jointly hired by Fresno Counthy and SEIU UHW to resolvethe on-goin dispute over the County's plan to cut the wagees and benefits of 10,000 home care workersz in the Fresno area, ruled againsg the County today and ordered that the cuts be The Fresno Board of Supervisore is expected to vote whether to accepy the findings on Tuesday. SEIU UHW invoked their righ to arbitration after the Board of Supervisors voted to reducwe the wages and benefits of homecare workers. This is the seconed factfinding that has ruled againstthe County'sa planned cuts.
According to the factfinder thereeis "no necessity for a reduction in wage/benefiyt levels and therefore therr should be no change in such levels." He ordered the County to adopt the report immediately. The factfinder ruled that Fresnp County will receive enough additional money through the economicf stimulus to offset any reductions in revenued the County iscurrently experiencing. Accordinbg to the factfinder "the County will benefit substantiall by the retroactive increasde of federal fundingto October, 2008. " ARRA has already made available closwto $2 billion of the Federal Medical Assistances Percentage (FMAP) promised to California.
The funding provides much needed financial assistance for counties struggling with hugebudget deficits. SEIU has also files for an emergency injunction to stop the cuts from goinf into effect onJuly 1st. The lawsuit, which was brought on behalf of individuakl consumersand SEIU, argues that the planned cuts put seniores and people with disabilities at risk and violate the Americansw with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and federal Medicaifd Law. California's In-Home Supportive Services programm provides vital services to manyof California's most vulnerablw citizens.
The services provided by home care workers alloew the elderly and people with disabilitiez to remain safely intheid homes, reducing the need for more restrictive and costlhy institutional care - resulting in more than $1 billion in annuapl savings to the State of California. SEIU UHW representds more than 150,000 healthcare workers across California and our memberzsprovide first-rate care to millions of Californians. We are a proudc affiliate of the2 million++ member Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
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