Subject: [AFSCME Local 3214] Group Home Workers have Mediation on Monday, November 17th, 2014: It’s Time to Help Albertina Kerr Centers “Get It” … PLEASE CALL THIS EMPLOYER: WORKERS NEED STAFFING RATIO THAT WORK, A FAIR CONTRACT THAT DOESN”T FORBID SELF-HELP, MANAGERS THAT RESPECT WORKERS & A FAIR WAGE! *Call or Write to CEO Kris Krenk at: [email protected] or call him at 503-262-0178 Hello Everyone, As we get ready for mediation on Monday, November 17th, it’s clear that Albertina Kerr Centers Management team doesn’t “get it” yet. They still don’t understand that: *1) Last year the State Legislature did the right thing in restoring the funding for Developmental Disability Services, but Albertina Kerr Centers chose not to restore any of the positions cut at the group homes affected by the earlier cuts and continued to add more cuts. This severely affects the ability of workers to provide the quality of services to our most vulnerable people. This has led to an increase in isolation since the ability to get folks out has become very difficult and the ability to do so safely has been severely impaired. We have workers that do not fill in shifts at other houses because, they as the have told managers, they do not believe they can ensure the safety of people living a 5 person home with a one person on night shift at our Lemming house. Both, the State of Oregon through DHS and Albertina Kerr Centers, create Individual Support Plans (ISP) for each individual we serve, laying out goals, activities, and supervision of individuals with developmental disabilities that workers must follow. The workers want Kerr to agree to staff at levels that allow us to do this safely. If we do not have the staff to follow these plans, we have, can, and will be ‘charged’ with neglect or abuse. We are not asking for a specific ratio, though Plans used to have this information in them. We are just asking for language that says they will give us enough workers to do our jobs and ensure that we can maintain a safe genuine quality of life for the folks that we serve! *2) Kerr Workers are no longer willing to waive our rights to be able to engage in the same activities that other workers are permitted. We especially find language that says that workers cannot engage in “any form of self-help” appalling. The Management Team was very intense in their response when they gave us the message loud and clear that the government gives ‘rights,’ not employers. We workers always thought that all people should have the ability to engage in ‘self-help.’ *3 ) Last year, Albertina Kerr Centers decided to keep the majority of the increases received from the State of Oregon, even though the State Legislature was clear that the priority was for wages. AKC workers earn ‘poverty’ wages, receive no annual increases, with a starting wage of $10.44 an hour and Rita has been working for 14 1/2 years making $12.49 an hour This non-profit company listed in its 2013 ‘annual report’ it had $9,408,649 in Investments alone! Please help us by calling! J. Linda Peterson Direct Care Worker serving Folks with developmental disabilities
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 19:16:37 +0000
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