About 30 members of UFCW Local 888 who are employed as Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) at health care facilities, along with local union staff, met with state legislators in Albany, N.Y., on March 4. DSPs assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The members, some of whom are employed at AHRC Nassau and in the process of negotiating a first contract with their employer, rallied around the issue of affordability at 21 meetings with state legislators and staff. They advocated for an increased cost-of-living adjustment, with language that would guarantee wage increases for all DSPs, and other health care-related budget issues under Article 7.
The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) in New York oversees various agencies, including AHRC Nassau, that provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Many OPWDD agencies depend heavily on state funding to operate, yet employers often cite funding limitations when resisting wage increases. Advocating for higher funding levels that are specifically tied to worker wages helps to ensure that those resources translate into real pay increases for our members.
In addition to affordability, the members also talked to state legislators and their staff about the critical and complex work they perform every day supporting some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities, while often struggling to meet the basic needs of their own families. DSPs take on demanding, highly responsible work that requires patience, skill and compassion, and many remain in the field because they are deeply committed to the people they support.
“I often say that DSPs are doing God’s work,” said UFCW Local 888 President Max Bruny. “It takes a special person to have the patience and compassion to take care of the vulnerable individuals they serve day in and day out. Lobby day is an opportunity for us to remind elected officials that they deserved to be paid accordingly.”
“I was pleased that some of our state representatives and their aides were aware of who we are and some of what we do as direct care workers, as well as our plight,” said UFCW Local 888 member and DSP Sandra Lewis. “Being in Albany with our union gave us the opportunity to explain some of the many unknown nuances of our work, further substantiating their need to support our salary increase and Article 7 request.”
If your local is interested in coordinating a lobby day with the International’s Legislative and Political Action (LAPAD) Department, contact LAPAD Director Ademola Oyefeso at aoyefeso@ufcw.org.