HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) - A organize Personal Care plan to unionize thousands of Assistants will drive a wedge Connecticut Personal Care in their personal Assistants is moving forward relationship. Also because despite a very vocal state resources are so scarce, opposition that claims the the plan will not really plan won't help the disabled improve wages or benefits. "I or the workers. The Malloy just think it will break the Administration is about to relationship between an release the names and employer and employee, don't addresses of thousands of fix something that's not Personal Care Assistant broken," said Strogoff. workers to the Health Care But some PCA's disagree. Workers Union. Those against Teresa Sarmiento is a PCA who the plan are calling it does not have benefits. forced unionization. The "I'm a single mother, so I've controversy began when Malloy got a lot of concerns. I cleared the way for the don't have anything," said process in September. It's Sarmiento. The estimated that there are at Governor, and the union said least 5,000 Connecticut this just gives the Personal residents like Cathy Ludlum Care Assistants the same of Manchester that depend on rights as other workers. "I thousands of Medicaid funded became involved in this issue, Personal Care Assistants, thanks to Cathy," said Sen. known as PCA's. "I have a Joe Markley (R) Southington. great team of about twelve Ludlum and other people and they give me a opponents are being aided in fantastic quality of life, the battle by a small group with their help I've lived on of Republican state lawmakers. my own for twenty years," "We'd love to see benefits said Ludlum. The for all assistants, that average wage for assistants would be great stuff, there is between ten and twelve is just no reason to think dollars per hour with no that union can accomplish benefits. Jillian Strogoff is that," said Ludlum. The a PCA and she does not agree Republican lawmakers believe with the unionization plan. the plan is just a power grab Both Ludlum and by the union aided by a Strogoff fear that an Governor that is beholden to Executive Order issued last them for helping him get year by Governor Malloy elected. It is an allegation clearing the way for the that Malloy denies. Health Care Workers Union to
Tags: care, home, opposed, union
