Service Worker Union Protests Federal Cuts in Aloha
April 5 was a day of action for many grassroots groups and unions. At one intersection, with a group in purple shirts getting honks of support from some passersby, Aloha was no exception.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU 503), the Oregon union branch of 72,000 public services workers and care providers in the state, were out on the sunny Saturday afternoon, demonstrating at the Aloha intersection of 185th and the Tualatin Valley Highway.
The demonstrators were part of a larger SEIU effort across the state. Demonstrations were also held in Oregon towns such as Madras, and Medford, and others.
The SEIU represents many workers including those assisting at-risk youth, caring for children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Members wanted to raise their concerns about the damage potential Medicare cuts may cause to both the workers and those they serve. The SEIU represents many workers including those assisting at-risk youth, caring for children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
In the face of contract negotiations with the State and impending possibility of cuts to Medicare, SEIU 503 member Carolynn Kohout said that things are “a big question mark.”
Kohout says that the loss of federal funds results in clients losing caregiver hours and caregivers taking a pay cut.
Currently, federal funding accounts for two-thirds of the homecare workers provider’s budget – with only a third coming from the state of Oregon, Kohout says. She says that the loss of federal funds results in clients losing caregiver hours and Caregivers taking a pay cut.
The union supported their members protesting this weekend throughout the state.