Guest Column: Washington's working families are Gregoire's special interest
(by Carol Frontiero Seattle Times 15 July 2008)
In response to attacks on Governor Chris Gregoire, Carol Frontiero, a CNA at Vashon Community Care Center submitted a guest column to the Seattle Times, emphasizing Gregoire's support for working families: Gov. Christine Gregoire's detractors would have voters believe she has spent the past four years looking out only for the "special interests" who contributed to her campaign. In fact, those special interests represent teachers, home-care and nursing-home workers, farmworkers and working families. They are the real winners.
Governor spends time in the shoes of homecare worker
(Tacoma Weekly, 3 July 08) While many working people spent Monday morning going back to the old 9-to-5 grind, Governor Christine Gregoire did something completely different with her day: she shadowed Tacoma homecare worker Rosa Vadillo to discover first-hand what it is like to provide in-home care for someone who is unable to fully take care of themselves.
Governor Gregoire "Walks the Walk" on Home Care
(Public News Service, 1 Jul 08) There's nothing like on-the-job experience. At least that's how Governor Chris Gregoire sees it; she spent a day walking in the shoes of Tacoma home care worker Rosa Vadillo. Gov. Gregoire says she came away from the experience with a better understanding of the struggle that tens of thousands of local home care workers face each and every day.
Governor tries home health care job
(Tacoma News Tribune, 1Jul 08) As Gov. Chris Gregoire helped unclog the toilet, a bay of photographers watching, someone made the joke: Looks like the campaign for governor is getting dirty.
Gregoire was in Tacoma on Monday to job shadow Rosa Vadillo, a 56-year-old home health worker. The visit, a campaign stop, was part of the Service Employee International Union’s “Walk A Day” program, which aims to give politicians a taste of the workaday world.
Voters will likely decide home-care training level
(Tacoma News Tribune, 28 June 08) Washington voters probably will have to referee another conflict between the Legislature and a union that represents thousands of state-paid workers, because their dispute is likely headed for the November ballot. The dispute is embodied in Initiative 1029, which would require criminal background checks and training for home-care aides who dress, bathe and feed people whose age or disabilities prevent them from doing those chores by themselves...
Senior care initiative supporters visit Yakima
(Yakima Herald-Republic, 27 Jun 08) Supporters of an initiative to raise the training requirements for home health care workers said Thursday the measure is worth the estimated $25 million it would cost the state to implement over the next two-year budget. "Quality costs," said Nancy Dapper, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association of Western & Central Washington. "I think the costs are reasonable."...FBI background checks on state and private-duty aides would be required under the measure. Currently all aides -- state or private -- must pass a background check by the Washington State Patrol. Initiative supporters say the FBI checks are more thorough.
More training for long-term care workers
Issues affecting seniors and long-term care keep getting lost in Olympia. We have a tradition in Washington of going to the voters when the Legislature fails to act on critical issues. Perhaps this is one of those special situations where the initiative process is especially fitting. The Legislature has had two opportunities to do the right thing for seniors and people with disabilities and failed. Maybe it's time for the people to finish what the Legislature started?...