FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMonday, Nov. 26, 2012
Contact:Bill Yelenak, Providers’ Council Public Policy & Communications Director
617-428-3637 x122 (office), 860-919-0369 (cell),
Human service advocates plan demonstration at Governor’s office
The Caring Force to urge Patrick-Murray administration
to honor promise to release Salary Reserve before holidays
BOSTON – Human service workers and supporters plan to protest the Patrick-Murray Administration’s decision to delay the release of the Salary Reserve indefinitely with a demonstration at Governor Deval Patrick’s office from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. every day starting Monday, Nov. 26.
The Salary Reserve funds would give about 29,000 human service workers their first annualized salary increase in five years. The legislature included the $20 million fund in the FY ’13 Conference Committee budget. When the governor vetoed funds, the legislature unanimously overrode his veto in July. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services previously pledged to get these funds to workers in time for the holidays until the administration’s unexpected and disappointing decision to delay its release indefinitely.
“The human service community is incredibly disappointed by the Patrick-Murray Administration’s decision to delay these workers receiving their first annualized pay increase in five years, especially when many had been counting on this modest raise to provide for their families during the holidays,” said Providers’ Council President/CEO Michael Weekes.
“We hope that Governor Patrick and Lt. Governor Murray will honor the sacrifices these workers have made for our communities and ensure they get the raises they deserve in time for the holidays,” Weekes continued.
The Salary Reserve would provide human service workers with a modest increase of about 2 percent, which would be an approximate increase for workers of about $13/week or 33 cents/hour. The human services workforce is 80 percent female; employees earn an average of $12/hour. While the state’s revenue has dipped in the last few months, the state’s stabilization fund of more than $1 billion is appropriate to fund this reserve.
Workers must provide services through state-funded contracts by departments within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services or the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to be eligible for the Salary Reserve. Workers from shelters and programs that serve homeless individuals and families that were previously contracted through the Department of Transitional Assistance and the Department of Public Health currently contracted with the Department of Housing and Community Development are also eligible.
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The mission of The Caring Force is to empower those who care about the human services sector to advance an agenda that creates an environment in Massachusetts that protects our most vulnerable neighbors and creates a stronger economy with the pay, recognition, and respect our workers deserve. Visit .
The Providers’ Council, also known as the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers, Inc.,
is the largest statewide membership association for community-based organizations
providing social, rehabilitation, education and health care services.