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Talking with @SEIUVA512 Home Care workers this morning about working in a pandemic, why they do what they do, and why they are demanding $15 and a union for all care workers. Here’s what they shared. A thread.
“We need a union because we need a voice. We have needs and we deserve to be heard,” said Shonta, a life-long care worker and organizer from Richmond.
“Home Care workers need paid leave during a pandemic. We need to be acknowledged, appreciated and respected. And that means being financially compensated and protected,” said Thomasine, a home care worker from Richmond.
“Politicians say we should be contract workers without paid sick days or vacation. That’s why we’re telling politicians that they need to do things differently.
They need to protect us. They need to treat us as human beings.”
- Thomasine, home care worker from Richmond.
They need to protect us. They need to treat us as human beings.”
- Thomasine, home care worker from Richmond.
“We are essential, and we need $15/hr now, not in 2026. We’ve been asking for it since 2012.”
- Thomasine, home care worker from Richmond
- Thomasine, home care worker from Richmond
“Where I’m from, if we say someone is essential, then we treat them essential.
That’s why I’m a union member. To speak out and demand to be treated as essential.”
- Yolanda, home care worker and mother of a son with disabilities, from Richmond.
That’s why I’m a union member. To speak out and demand to be treated as essential.”
- Yolanda, home care worker and mother of a son with disabilities, from Richmond.
“If any essential worker is wondering, ‘do I deserve $15?’ the answer is YES!
You deserve $15. You deserve it now! You deserve more!!”
- Yolanda, home care worker and mother of a son with disabilities, from Richmond.
You deserve $15. You deserve it now! You deserve more!!”
- Yolanda, home care worker and mother of a son with disabilities, from Richmond.
“There’s strength in numbers. That’s how we won hazard pay, raises and PPE. And that’s how we’ll win paid sick days, $15 now, and union rights!”
- Shonta, home care worker and organizer, from Richmond
- Shonta, home care worker and organizer, from Richmond
When asked what home care workers need, here’s what people said:
Healthcare!
Retirement!
Paid family leave!
Freedom to join a union!
Collective bargaining!
Training!
Quality care for consumers!
Back-up care system!
Paid vacations!
Respect!
Healthcare! Retirement! Paid family leave! Freedom to join a union! Collective bargaining! Training! Quality care for consumers! Back-up care system! Paid vacations! Respect!
“We need one job to be enough!
So many home care workers here in Martinsville also work nights at the factories.
And a lot of them got COVID there, and they still don’t have any paid leave or support.”
- Michelle, Home Care worker
So many home care workers here in Martinsville also work nights at the factories.
And a lot of them got COVID there, and they still don’t have any paid leave or support.”
- Michelle, Home Care worker
