Individuals who rely on DDS programs at private agencies should be concerned about the consequences of Public Act 12-33.
Public Act 12-33 allows Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) to collectively bargain with the state through the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Later this year, SEIU Home Care Workers United will negotiate a collective bargaining agreement for self-directed DDS Personal Support, Individual Home Support, Individual Day Support, Respite, Adult Companion, and Transportation services.
The costs of this new union contract, which may include increased wages and benefits according to the SEIU, will be included in the Governor's biennial budget request to the 2013 Connecticut General Assembly.
Will these costs be covered by a commensuate increase in the budget for DDS - or will the increased costs of self-directed services be taken from other line items within the DDS budget?
Will the private agencies be squeezed? Will the budget for new graduates be reduced? Will more people be placed on waiting lists?
The Act states explicitly that the budgets of individuals who self-direct shall be increased to account for additional expenses caused by a new contract or award which includes increases in wages or benefits. What about others who rely on DDS? There is no parallel protection for the budgets of individuals who are served by private agencies or for the budget for new graduates.
The DDS Five Year Plan calls for an increase in the amount of self-directed services - so the impacts of this new union contract will be even greater in future state budgets.
We must work together to insure that the overall budget for DDS is increased so that the budgets for private agencies and other DDS programs are not reduced to pay for unionized PCAs.
This web page is brought to you by Raising Voices for Action, Inc. http://raisingvoicesforaction.weebly.com
Later this year, SEIU Home Care Workers United will negotiate a collective bargaining agreement for self-directed DDS Personal Support, Individual Home Support, Individual Day Support, Respite, Adult Companion, and Transportation services.
The costs of this new union contract, which may include increased wages and benefits according to the SEIU, will be included in the Governor's biennial budget request to the 2013 Connecticut General Assembly.
Will these costs be covered by a commensuate increase in the budget for DDS - or will the increased costs of self-directed services be taken from other line items within the DDS budget?
Will the private agencies be squeezed? Will the budget for new graduates be reduced? Will more people be placed on waiting lists?
The Act states explicitly that the budgets of individuals who self-direct shall be increased to account for additional expenses caused by a new contract or award which includes increases in wages or benefits. What about others who rely on DDS? There is no parallel protection for the budgets of individuals who are served by private agencies or for the budget for new graduates.
The DDS Five Year Plan calls for an increase in the amount of self-directed services - so the impacts of this new union contract will be even greater in future state budgets.
We must work together to insure that the overall budget for DDS is increased so that the budgets for private agencies and other DDS programs are not reduced to pay for unionized PCAs.
This web page is brought to you by Raising Voices for Action, Inc. http://raisingvoicesforaction.weebly.com