"We Need a Raise" ARC Workers Tell Lawmakers

Issue 6-2 April 2000

When Alameda County ARC job coordinator Scherry St. Julien started working six years ago she discovered that one of her clients earned more than she did. After five years, San Francisco ARC community living instructor Nancy Brunn makes $10.45 an hour. The living wage in San Francisco, as determined by the Association of Bay Area Governments, is $14.75 an hour. Though she has the responsibility of supervising 91 people, ARC habilitation coordinator Kelly Butler makes less than $9.00 an hour.

All three of these Local 535 members testified before the Assembly budget subcommittee, along with other members from San Francisco and Alameda County ARC, to lobby state legislators to increase wages for undervalued and underpaid ARC employees. Here's some of what they told lawmakers.

Nancy Brunn

Like many ARC workers, Nancy Brunn feels strongly about her work. "We help the developmentally disabled develop independent living skills, as opposed to living in an institution. I think of my job as helping some extraordinary individuals live their dream of an independent life."

For that effort, these San Francisco ARC workers start at $10.00 an hour. "The wage is pathetic. It's getting to the point that many bright, energetic, and talented people who feel passionate about this work, want to take the job, and can't afford it. They can't afford to live in San Francisco.

"What are we going to do about retirement if we're just making our expenses? You can't even begin to think about starting a family when you are not able to make a living wage. You have to choose between working with people who have become like family to you and having a family yourself.

"It's a terrible choice. If we don't earn a living wage we'll see a decline of quality of people who go into this work. It's vitally important to increase our wages so that we can continue to support adults living independently in the community."

Kelly Butler

For the past 12 years, ARC habilitation coordinator Kelly Butler has helped the developmentally disabled lead better lives. She and her co-workers supervise, train, and teach working skills to their disabled clients at the ARC Hayward center. For that they start at $7.33 an hour.

"People are stressed, many work one and two other jobs," says Butler. "One of my co-workers is homeless and has to sleep on couches. People are frustrated and sad. We wouldn't be here if we didn't enjoy what we do. We're good at it. But it's very hard to keep a positive attitude. We deserve a living wage."

Scherry St. Julien

Alameda County ARC job coordinator Scherry St. Julien helps her clients work independently in the community. She has been at her job nearly six years. She started at $7.95 an hour. "I am at the top of my ladder now and can go no further unless I go into management. But I like direct care. Our clients need us, and not everybody can do this job. It takes a special person to work with the disabled.

"We want more people who are qualified and will stay for awhile. If there is a shortage of workers, clients can't get the training and supervision they need to maintain a job. They will stay at home all day waiting for a place to go. The next step is institutionalization. I have to take a second job in a home to make ends meet. It's tough. The only reason I stay is that this job is rewarding. It's certainly not the money."

There might be some help on the way. As the Dragon goes to press, the state Senate and Assembly budget subcommittees have passed a 20% pay increase for those programs funded by the Department of Developmental Disabilities. The Assembly budget subcommittee passed an additional 12.4% for programs funded by the Department of Rehabilitation.

According to SEIU lobbyists, the Senate can be expected to do something for the Department of Rehabilitation programs as well. There might be even more money available due to the state surplus, but the total amount is unclear at the present time. In any case, the increases will be included in the 2000 budget that will be sent to the governor for his signature in July. Local 535 ARC workers vow to keep the pressure on to get their much needed raises.