Washington state is facing a $2.6 billion deficit. Urging lawmakers to raise revenue, save long term care and stop the cuts, over 270 SEIU Healthcare 775NW members participated in a Save Long-Term Care Day at the end of January in Olympia. They marched, rallied and met with dozens of legislators at the Capitol to advocate for better quality care for their clients and lobby for significant new taxes to prevent the massive cuts facing the state's human infrastructure. The rally grabbed the attention of Governor Gregoire, who stepped out of her office to wave as members marched and chanted "SEIU, SEIU".

To keep up the steady drumbeat in the view of the public eye, this past Thursday health care workers talked with 29 legislators about how lawmakers can avoid devastating cuts to long term care. The workers creatively drew attention to the issue at hand with posted and hand-held signs laying out the facts:

73,263 workers and clients already affected by cuts to home care

1.6 million home care hours lost for seniors and people with disabilities since July 1, 2009

$16 million wages lost for low-income home care workers because of hours cut since July 1, 2009

11,000 home care workers at risk of losing health care in 2010

Every day, more and more people are showing support for raising revenue to avoid devastating cuts to home care, nursing homes and adult day health. Tell Governor Gregoire and the Washington State Legislature cutting back on long term care is not the way to solve the budget deficit.

On February 15, the Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition (which includes SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, SEIU Healthcare 775NW & SEIU Local 925) will be holding a "Rally to Protect Our Future" on the state Capitol steps at noon.

(More photos from the two days of action on Flickr here and here.)

Photo Credits: William Wright & Neil Parekh for for SEIU Healthcare 775NW.

Saving Long Term Care in Washington State originally appeared on SEIU.org on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010.