PCAs & Families Show Up At DSS to Deliver Thousands of Grievances
Dozens of caregivers and family members showed up to share stories of frustration and request DSS address payment issues
HARTFORD – Dozens of Personal Care Attendants and family members braved the bitter cold and wind of Hartford to come together Monday morning with a common cause; make sure caregivers are getting paid for the work they do.
“I work between 70 and 80 hours a week. For me not to get paid is disrespectful and devastating sometimes. I care for someone bedbound and someone that’s blind. It’s difficult for me to work for them and not get paid.”
Leticia Council, PCA/CNA
It’s as simple as that, pay them for the hours they work. But week after week, members continue to say they are not being paid, are having their paychecks reduced or they are fighting for hours they worked. We know they depend on their paychecks being there. The fear of not knowing if it is going to arrive is leaving many dealing with growing anxiety as bills still have to be paid.
Yet, every single one of these caregivers shows up for their consumers, be it family or not, every single day. Despite not knowing if they will be paid that week for the hours they put in they still come because they truly care. They know if they don’t show up that person could be left in a dangerous situation.
The on-going excuse; “hours are unauthorized” or “over the approved amount”, is something that Theresa Coyle addressed. She manages the care for her brother who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a car accident 41 years ago. Coyle has been managing his team of caregivers after using multiple agencies and finding it was not the safest option for him. Her brother requires 24 hour care due to his condition. But time after time the hours of the caregivers and denied, despite all paperwork in the care portal saying they under budget for hours. Coyle said her frustration is she can’t get any answers, no one from GTI can give her a good reason and no one from DSS will return her calls.
“I have a team of nine, working various hours with him. He needs 24/7 support. He can’t be left alone. He needs people with him. They need to be paid. Finding another person to fill those hours isn’t easy. Whenever one person leaves, we’re in crisis, never mind multiple.”
Theresa Coyle, Family Member
District 1199 SEIU New England represents 29,000 health care and service workers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Southeastern Massachusetts. In Rhode Island, 1199 SEIU NE represents almost 5,000 members. 1199 SEIU NE is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – a union of over 2 million members across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. SEIU has been a national leader in pushing the growing Fight for $15 and a Union movement.