Join us for Save Long-Term Care Day

Monday, January 25, 2010

Call our Member Resource Center toll-free at 1 (866) 371-3200 or fill out this online form today.

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2009 Budget Cuts to Long-Term Care
Last year, the legislature made deep cuts to services for vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities. They cut millions of hours of in-home care, and slashed funding for nursing homes and adult day health as well. Meanwhile, wealthy corporate special interests continue to get billions of dollars a year in tax loopholes.

Things could have been worse - if it weren't for the 35,000 times we called, emailed and wrote our legislators.

Stop the Cuts in 2010
The legislature is facing another huge budget deficit next year. Legislators are already talking about deep cuts - like more cuts to home are and nursing homes and eliminating the Basic Health Plan. Low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities have suffered and sacrificed enough. We need to protect the most vulnerable and make the wealthy special interests pay their fair share.

Join us for Save Long-Term Care Day
Join us on Monday, January 25, 2010. We'll stand together in Olympia and ask legislators to spare seniors, people with disabilities and others in need of care. 

Help Save Long-Term Care in Washington State. Stop the Cuts to Home Care, Adult Day Health and Nursing Home Services. Call our Member Resource Center toll-free at 1 (866) 371-3200 or sign-up online.

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Meet Other Caregivers in Your Area

Clients and Family Members Welcome

Whether you are an individual provider, agency or nursing home worker, Union Area Gatherings are a great way to find out what's happening and how to get more involved in our union.

In almost 30 meetings across Washington State, we'll discuss:

• Our Union's 2010 Legislative Agenda in Olympia, WA and the campaign to Save Long-Term Care
• Local and Statewide Election Results (I-1033, R-71 and local races throughout the state)
• An update on our Leaders in Action Program
• A preview of our upcoming Lobby Day - January 25, 2010

Snacks and beverages will be provided.

Find the Union Area Gathering nearest you in the map below:



View SEIU Healthcare 775NW Union Area Gatherings (Fall 2009) in a larger map

For more information, please call our Member Resource Center toll-free at  1 (866) 371-3200  1 (866) 371-3200 .

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Election 2009: I-1033 Loses, R-71 Wins, and Dow Constantine is is the new King County Executive

For an off-year election, we had a lot at stake. Our work of making thousands of phone calls and knocking on thousands of doors paid off, as we came through with key victories.


I-1033 was defeated. This was the first Tim Eyman-sponsored initiative to lose in an off-election year, and his first tax-related initiative to go down to defeat. I-1033 would have been a disaster for long-term care.



R-71, which protects domestic partnership rights for same sex and older Washington couples, was approved. R-71 is about fairness for all Washington working families.






Dow Constantine won his race for King County Executive, defeating conservative Republican Susan Hutchison. Dow has a strong record of advocating for working families and healthcare.




Most 775NW-backed candidates were victorious throughout Washington.

In local races:

• All SEIU-endorsed Seattle city council candidates (Licata, Conlin, O’Brien, Bagshaw) were elected handily.
• All SEIU-endorsed Snohomish County Council candidates (Gossett, Somers, Koster) were re-elected handily.
• SEIU-endorsed Spokane city council candidate Amber Waldref defeated Tim Eyman’s partner in crime Mike Fagan.
• SEIU-endorsed Tacoma mayoral candidate Marilyn Strickland has a slight lead after the first round of vote counting.
• SEIU-endorsed Tacoma city council candidate Keven Rojecki (and Firefighter Union ally) is losing in his race.
• The SEIU-endorsed Seattle Housing Levy is passing easily.

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Seniors to Seniors - Informing Health Reform

When it comes to health care reform, it may seem like there are more questions than answers: Will my doctor still take Medicare? How will prescription drug coverage change? Is long-term care part of the proposal? And like any political hot topic, unbiased information is hard to find. This video provides a clear and concise overview of health reform and what it means for you.

As you watch, you’ll discover how health reform will:

• Keep physicians in Medicare and stop payment cuts.
• Improve long-term care choices.
• Keep Medicare affordable and close the doughnut hole.

This video was produced by Seniors to Seniors - a coalition of senior citizen advocacy organizations (including SEIU) all committed to educating seniors about what the current health care reform legislation means for them once it is implemented. The coalition’s goal is to help filter through the clutter and the hype to educate seniors about how health care reform will help keep doctors in Medicare, stop physician payment cuts, improve long-term care choices, keep Medicare affordable, and close the prescription drug “doughnut hole.”

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Another Successful Convention!

September 15 -- We just finished our annual convention and leadership conference. Over 430 caregivers from across Washington State and Montana participated in two days of leadership workshops, health care reform, and participated in a rally in downtown Seattle urging Cigna to drop their opposition to a publc option.

Check back soon for more information, pictures and videos!!
 

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