At-home caregivers for people with disabilities and older Washingtonians are holding the line in budget talks with the state.
Individual provider members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 775 are negotiating their contract for the next two years. They don’t want to be swept up in potential budget cuts during the pandemic.
Dora Poqui, caregiver and union member, said the state contracts workers for certain hours, but they often provide care around the clock, especially if they’re helping out a family member.
«You’re limited with the hours they do contract you for and sometimes, the second job, you’re not able to work out of the house because these clients that we take care of, they require that hands-on,» Poqui explained.