Union Busters: How 1199 SEIU is Hijacking Home Health Care Reform

It's been a year since Governor Hochul blasted the state's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), calling it a "racket" that's been taking a toll on taxpayers. The program, which uses state funds to compensate family members who care for loved ones at home, has seen its enrollment skyrocket from 20,000 to 250,000 since 2015. But now, 1199 SEIU, the powerful health workers union, is trying to unionize the very same family workers who deliver care. This move is a surefire way to increase costs and make taxpayers foot the bill.

The union's plan is to strong-arm companies bidding to serve as the middleman between Medicaid and caregivers, forcing them to sign a memorandum of understanding that would guarantee higher wages and benefits for caregivers. And to top it off, the union wants the contract to remain neutral with respect to the question of whether caregivers join the union. It's a clever move, but one that defeats the purpose of the program, which is to help family members care for their loved ones, not unionized employees. The union's motives are clear: they want to increase their membership by a whopping 200,000 caregivers. And if funding is boosted to pay for higher wages and benefits, taxpayers won't see a penny in savings. In fact, they'll be paying more. It's a classic case of union power grab, and Governor Hochul needs to take a stand.

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