Tyler Tunison is in his fifth 12 months as a house well being care employee. He’s getting ready now to feed his shopper a fast lunch.
“Today, we’re going to be consuming a hen salad sandwich,” he mentioned.
Tunison is one in every of nearly 530,000 direct care employees within the state, lots of whom are calling on the state legislature to boost their wages.
His shopper, Keith Gurgui, helps the hassle.
“Without private care aides, I might not be residing at dwelling independently, be capable to work, have gone to highschool. I’d be in a nursing dwelling, depressing, depressed,” Gurgui mentioned.
Median annual earnings within the state are simply over $21,000. While employees obtain beneath minimal wages, the workforce is likely one of the state’s largest.
What You Need To Know
- Tyler Tunison is a house well being aide, one in every of 530,000 direct care employees in New York state
- He’s becoming a member of colleagues and advocates in calling on the state to boost their wages, which proper now are a median of simply over $21,000 a 12 months
- The Fair Pay for Home Care Act that was just lately launched within the state Senate would permit employees to make not less than $35,000 a 12 months
- The invoice is now earlier than the well being committee.
Tunison says he hopes the trigger will obtain extra consideration, “and hopefully get higher care and wages for dwelling well being care employees and the folks they care for.”
Gurgui turned paralyzed from the neck down after a swimming accident whereas on a visit to Delaware in 2012, 10 days earlier than he was to start out faculty. The care he receives is round the clock, making certain he’s bathed, fed, and cozy.
Recent research present that 42 p.c of employees reside in or close to poverty. Meanwhile, the variety of jobs within the business is predicted to rise to simply over 700,000 by 2028.
Tunison mentioned the job is just not a simple one.
“We’re getting him into his sling so he’s able to be put onto his elevate, so we are able to elevate him up and put him into mattress,” he mentioned.
He’s finished numerous jobs from retail to clerical work, however this one is most fulfilling.
“Ever since I began, I couldn’t actually see myself doing the rest proper now. The want for one of these work is so essential. I even bought an opportunity to go to town and care for my grandparents,” he mentioned.
A brand new invoice launched within the state Senate final week calls for dwelling care employees to obtain greater wages, one thing Tunison says will hold him doing what he loves for an extended time.
“Just to have the ability to assist folks. I don’t assume there’s something higher than that. Just serving to others,” he mentioned.
The Fair Pay for Home Care Act would elevate wages to 150% of the minimal wage, permitting employees to make not less than $35,000 per 12 months. The invoice is now earlier than the state well being committee.
On Monday afternoon, the state Senate majority handed a finances proposal that may ship emergency help to New Yorkers. Included in that’s an injection of $624 million that may go towards growing the wages of dwelling well being care employees.
Tyler Tunison is one in every of nearly 530,000 direct care employees within the state, lots of whom are calling on the NY state legislature to boost their wages. Right now, their median earnings are simply over $21,000 yearly. Despite the low pay, he says he loves his job. @SPECNewsHV pic.twitter.com/dseZql8kbd
— dominic mckenzie (@DominicM_) March 15, 2021
The State Senate majority right this moment handed a one-house finances proposal that may ship emergency help to New Yorkers, together with $624 million to extend the wages of employees like Tunison, who the state says “saved working by the pandemic at nice private danger.”
— dominic mckenzie (@DominicM_) March 15, 2021
Discussion about this post