Work, Inc.’s Andrea Cook with Provider’s Council President Bill Yelenak. Seth Daniel photos
The first-ever Metro Boston rally of human services workers hosted by Work, Inc. of Dorchester last Friday highlighted the increasing difficulties for direct service providers to take care of the most vulnerable in our society and still make ends meet.
The rally was put together by the state’s Provider’s Council and featured hundreds of direct care human service providers from about a dozen organizations – most from Dorchester and Mattapan – rallying around the topic of receiving a living wage.
Council President Bill Yelenak said they have Caring Force rallies all over the state, but typically hold the Greater Boston rally at the State House. This year, they decided to bring it to a neighborhood and tapped Work, Inc. as the host.
He noted that said reimbursement rates for providers are set by the state at $22.50 per hour, which aren’t competitive with similar state agency jobs that pay up to $3 to $5 more per hour.
“They provide for the most vulnerable in our society but are some of the lowest paid workers in the Commonwealth,” he said. “Right now, our wages are in the 53rd percentile according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and we’re trying to get our workers to the 75th percentile. We think 75 is a much more fair number and that comes in at $27-28 per hour. We need to keep up with inflation and also help these organizations recruit and retain workers.”
He noted that providers like Work, Inc. have trouble retaining employees as they often leave for state jobs doing the same thing, but for more pay.
“Many of the workers they train will stay a year if they’re lucky and then get a better offer from the state,” he said.
Work, Inc. President Jim Cassetta told The Reporter that he would advocate for their workers getting paid state prevailing wages. He said Work, Inc. has a separate, private custodial company that sends their clients out to clean places like Boston Police headquarters at prevailing wages.
“Our direct care workers are getting paid less than the people they are case managing,” he said. “We need to pay our direct care workers the state prevailing wage.”
Laquinta Bryan, of Communities for People, which provides services to those in foster care, said it has become a standard that workers need to have multiple jobs because the pay isn’t competitive.
“When I talk to people across the field there are the things that come up – people working multiple jobs to make a livable wage,” she said. “Three of my five workers have second jobs. That doesn’t just affect them, it affects the people we serve and the quality of care we provide because of the fatigue factor. We shouldn’t need multiple jobs to make a livable wage for the important work we do.
“I’m saying pay us what we’re worth,” she said to wild applause from the crowd gathered.
Also speaking were clients, such as Wileska Surita, whose son, Jempsy Santana, has Down Syndrome and gets services from Work, Inc. She said they have helped her son get a place of his own and supported them through the pandemic and beyond.
Right, Mother Wileska Surita with her son, Jempsy Santana, spoke about how Work, Inc. providers have taken care of them and deserve better pay.
“They have been our lifeline because they never let go,” Surita said in Spanish via an interpreter. “Here, we have found community. For many Hispanic families, it’s one of the most remarkable supports we’ve found. I know their work is difficult but each member of the team goes to the extra mile to help us.”
A number of elected officials were in attendance, including state Reps. Chris Worrell, Brandy Fluker-Reid, Marjorie Decker, Jay Livingstone, chair of the committee that oversees direct care payments, state Sen. Nick Collins, and Councillors Brian Worrell and John FitzGerald.
Each legislator voiced approval for the workers and their rally cry for a liveable wage. Livingstone noted that getting the workers to the same level as state employees would require about $1 billion per year.
“In the House and Senate, each year we’ve chipped away at the difference, and I think that will continue, and especially if we continue to have a Democratic governor,” he said.
The rally was also sponsored by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Bay Cove Human Services, Casa Esperanza, Children’s Services of Roxbury, Communities for People, COMPASS, Family Independence, JRI, Morgan Memorial Goodwill, North Suffolk Community Services, Roxbury Youthworks, Sojourner House, The Home for Little Wanderers, TILL Inc., and Victory Programs.
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