Low-income workers in Nassau face loss of pay increase

Thousands of low-income workers providing home care and other social services in Nassau County face the loss of a promised $1-per-hour pay increase Aug. 1 under a bill that would delay the hike for at least six months.

"Dammit! It's just not right!" John Durso, head of the Long Island Federation of Labor, told members of the Nassau County Legislature Monday night, slamming his fist on the lectern.

Despite the protest from Durso and other union officials, the Finance and Rules committees passed the bill Monday along party lines, with majority Republicans in favor and Democrats against. The full legislature was expected to consider the bill next Monday.

To union officials, the financial impact hurts a working class of people who need the pay raise the most. The increase would raise the hourly wage from $11.50 to $12.50.

"These workers have just been basically lifted above the poverty level," union coordinator Helen Schaub told members of the Finance Committee at Monday's meeting. "Passing a living wage law was a real step to lift some who are below the living wage . . . to just above the poverty level."

Evelyn Dumay, 42, of Westbury, who cares for an 85-year-old Hicksville man, said she also works part time as an assistant on a school bus to help raise her four children. "A dollar is a lot of money to me. When you're working for $9, $10 an hour, it's a good thing -- not great -- but a good thing," Dumay said.

The workers provide daily living support to residents in their homes so that they don't have to go to a private facility.

Legis. Peter Schmitt, the Republican presiding officer, introduced the bill at the request of the home health care industry, which said it could not afford the $1 increase because it is facing increased costs, including the MTA payroll tax, and lower state reimbursement. "We felt it was a compelling issue that had to be brought to the floor for debate," Schmitt of Massapequa said in a statement Wednesday.

The industry said the reimbursement of each agency is set by the state, and it varies by agency depending on the actual costs incurred by the agency in the prior year.

The union representing the workers told lawmakers that the median reimbursement to the agencies was $22 per hour. Industry officials told lawmakers on Monday that state reimbursement rates have not kept up with costs and that they would provide more financial specifics to the full legislature before it votes on the measure next week.

Bob Callaghan, a spokesman for the Long Island Chapter of the New York State Association of Health Care Providers, said in a statement Wednesday that the industry is hurting.

"The Nassau County living wage, which is the highest in the state and includes paid time off and a supplemental payment for health expenses, has brought home care agencies to the breaking point and left many wondering whether or not they can afford to continue providing personal care services in the homes of county resident," Callaghan said.

In 2005, the legislature, then under Democratic control, passed a Living Wage Bill that gradually raised the minimum wage private contractors providing county services have to pay their employees. The final increase had been scheduled for next month.

Republican legislators said they were balancing the possibility that home health care workers would be laid off if the agencies needed to save money. "The balancing act I hear is loss of jobs versus the dollar raise," Legis. John Ciotti (R-North Valley Stream) said.

But Democrats said the workers deserved the raise. "I am adamant that the workers should get their $12.50 per hour as we unanimously agreed four years ago," Legis. Diane Yatauro of Glen Cove, the Democratic minority leader, said.

For Ofelia Rivera, 36, of Glen Cove, who cares for a 101-year-old Brookville woman, the raise would help her make ends meet. "Everything is getting so expensive. Money is getting shorter, and we're not getting the raise." 

What they're paid
The living wage hourly rate paid to 2,500 employees of companies providing services to Nassau County

$9.50 - 2007

$10.50 - 2008

$11.50 - 2009

$12.50 - 2010

Average salary - $22,000 a year.

Average loss of pay without raise - $2,080.

Number of clients served - 3,000.

Provider agencies who serve the clients - 35.

Sources - Nassau County, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers Union.