WAGE INCREASE FOR CARE GIVERS REJECTED BY HUMBOLDT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 Eureka, CA- The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors has decided against a pay increase for members of the In Home Support Services they were in front of the courthouse protesting the decision. Care provider Kathy Sobiol vents her frustration:"We take care of the poorest of the poor, the sickest of the sick. Disabled people, we change adult diapers. We only get paid 8 dollars a hour."In home care providers from IHSS were protesting against the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors who rejected their wage increase proposal. Sobilo has been a care provider for five years now and still makes minimum wage. She also has no medical benefits."Im just furious. I've had enough with them. They make so much money they won't give us a 75 cent raise?"Anita hart is an in home care provider who takes care of her disabled son."My son is almost 18 and he's severely autistic and he needs a lot of care."Loretta Stevens who is the Director of The United Home Workers Union says that one of the IHSS clients has had numerous care providers due to the high turn over rate of caregivers."She had 8 care givers in one month. It's hard to retain a care giver at 8 dollars an hour."According to a statement released by the Humboldt County Supervisors, the board already sets aside 3 million dollars for IHSS services. The county’s decision to not approve the pay raise was because they would have to take money from the general fund, and make cuts to other services such as public safety.