(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU)-represented Home Care Workers were joined by Public Advocates, Clergy and Elected Officials during a march and rally in Buffalo on Wednesday (March 23rd), to collectively call on Governor Kathy Hochul to provide those Workers with a permanent pay increase in the State Budget.

Those who spoke at the rally that was held in Lafayette Square in Downton Buffalo, before all marched to the nearby Erie County/Rath Building, demanded the State provide fair pay for its Home Care Workers, who they say continued to sacrifice their health during the Coronavirus Pandemic to care for homebound seniors and people living with disabilities.

Activists called on Governor Hochul to include funding in the 2022-23 state budget, which is due April 1st.

 “Governor Hochul, we need a boost,” Geraldine Wright, a Home Health Aide, said while addressing those at the rally.  “How are we supposed to live with this little bit of money they pay us?  It doesn’t meet our needs.  It’s not enough!  We can’t meet the obligations for ourselves because we don’t have the funds to do it.  It’s not about living in luxury, we just want to live comfortably and not paycheck to paycheck.  I get out every day because I want to help my clients - and they need us because they can’t do for themselves.  We must be able to help where needed, but we need more money to do that.”

Jennifer Morretto, a Consumer Directed Personal Attendant, said: “Fair Pay for home care is critical for our very freedom.  Without a competitive wage, we won’t be able to hire the people we want and need to support our ability to stay in the community.  Not only that, Aides won’t stay if they can get a job with better pay somewhere else.  They need a wage that respects the important work they do for us.”

New York State faces the greatest shortage of Home Care Workers in the Nation, who make minimum wage to care for home-bound individuals who cannot care for themselves, those who spoke at the rally said.

It is these Workers - 90% of who are Women and 60% Immigrants - who need a raise to $22.50 an hour to care for this extremely vulnerable population, they said.

A recent City University of New York (CUNY) report says some 26,510 new Aides must be hired annually just to keep up with the growing demand for care and advocates say low wages make it difficult to attract and retain Home Care Workers.

Those at the rally said it is time to treat these Essential Workers with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Advocates also said a permanent wage boost would also be a major step forward in addressing the State’s long-standing history of income inequality.

New York’s Home Care Workforce is comprised primarily of Women of Color and Immigrants.  

1199 SEIU Leaders say the poverty-level wages only perpetuate the racial and gender wage gap.

“New York simply cannot neglect a permanent raise for New York’s Home Care Workers in our state budget,” 1199 SEIU President George Gresham says. “These ‘Health Care Heroes’ have given everything to protect our State’s most vulnerable people during the greatest public health crisis in generations.  We cannot solve the growing home care shortage and provide services for those who desperately need them without investing in the individuals who provide care.  For too long, the essential work of caregiving - carried out principally by Women of Color and Immigrants - has been ignored and undervalued.  We call on Governor Hochul to do right by New York’s Home Care Workers and give them the raise they need.”

Despite being paid through the State’s Medicaid Program, many Workers earn less than $15 an hour.  As a result of the low wages and annual earnings, 57% of the State’s Home Care Workers rely upon public assistance.

Livable wages would not only help increase their economic self-sufficiency, but also end the State’s massive home care shortage by attracting new Workers.

The CUNY report says some 26,510 new Aides must be hired annually just to keep up with the growing demand for care. 

1199 SEIU Editor’s Note: For more information about the Home Care Worker shortage and efforts to fight for fair pay for home care visit: ​​https://fairpayforhomecareworkers.org/.