Members Demand a Budget for Working Families
May 20, 2008
Over 250 members and leaders from across the state gathered in Springfield on Tuesday to make sure our elected officials prioritize working families in the 2009 budget. Following a march to the Capitol, we met with members of the Illinois House and Senate to explain the need for full funding of the services our consumers and families depend on.
“The quality of our health care system depends on workers like us. Too many workers are leaving the field for jobs with higher wages and better benefits. Our elected officials have the power to make quality care for working families a budget priority.”
Nellie Logan
Home Care Worker
Springfield, IL
During an economic downturn that is causing more and more families to struggle to get the care they need, we urged legislators to work together to protect families through the funding of direct care services, expansion of the child care program and a continuing commitment to health care and child care workers. Representatives were pressured to pass a budget that:
- Ensures that home care workers get living wages and health care
- Invests in child care providers through rate increases, a health insurance fund and funding for the Quality Rating System
- Makes child care more affordable for working families and lowers parent co-pays
- Includes long overdue cost of living increases for social service workers
- Provides funding for direct care workers to get the raises and health care
Without the full funding of vital services in Illinois, the quality of care in the state will be in serious jeopardy. We stressed the importance of making health care affordable for all working families and the need for the state to explore new revenue options for the future.
Following the vote to unite in SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana, the gathering demonstrated our commitment to stand together as an even stronger voice for quality care.