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PRESS RELEASE: HOME CARE ATTENDANTS AND CONSUMERS URGE GOV. NIXON TO IMPLEMENT WAGE AGREEMENT

Administrative action needed to put duly bargained wage rate in effect for the holidays

JEFFERSON CITY – Home care attendants and consumers are gathering at the Missouri Governor’s Mansion to implore Gov. Jay Nixon to implement an already-bargained agreement that will raise wages for attendants, many of whom currently earn fewer than $8 an hour. The wage increase, recently ratified by Missouri’s Quality Home Care Council, would give a much-needed boost to the families of hard working caregivers during the holiday season.

Attendants are working to raise standards across Missouri and reduce turnover in this critical field. With a current average wage of only $8.58 per hour, consumers, attendants, lawmakers, and community leaders helped bring about a first ever contract for attendants that will give consumers the right to determine the hourly wage for their attendants within a range of $8.50 to $10.15 per hour.

A delegation of home care consumers and attendants will deliver carols and holiday greetings to the Governor’s Mansion on Thursday morning after the statewide media call.

Details for the call and events are as follows:

STATEWIDE CALL – THURSDAY at 10:15 AM

  • WHO: Rep. Stephen Webber of Columbia, home care attendant Elizabeth Travis of Columbia, home care consumer Mary Woods of St. Louis
  • DIAL IN NUMBER: 573-200-6911, no PIN required
  • WHY: To demonstrate why action is needed now on home care wages, and to call on Governor Jay Nixon to implement recently approved wage agreement for home care attendants
  • Audio recording of call will be available upon request

JEFFERSON CITY – THURSDAY at 11:30 AM

  • Who: Missouri home care consumers and attendants from across the state
  • Where: Missouri Governor’s Mansion, East Front. Madison St., Jefferson City, Mo.
  • Visuals: Home care attendants and consumers will be caroling at the Mansion and asking Gov. Nixon to act promptly to implement the bargained agreement that will bring hourly wages for many attendants up to $10.15.