Assemblyman Brian Manktelow (R,C,I,Ref-Lyons) is pushing for funding to support a third overall increase to wages for direct-care workers starting April 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. Currently, the Assembly Majority has proposed for the third increase to be implemented from January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020, leaving direct-care workers without a wage increase for another nine months. With minimum wage having been increased on January 1, 2019, this leaves some direct-care workers making minimum wage for what many consider to be an extremely grueling job.

“Direct-care workers provide crucial support to so many members of our society,” said Manktelow. “By keeping them at the same rate as minimum wage workers, it leaves the field open to possible competition. People might begin to question why they are doing such a difficult job when they could make the same amount of money in a less demanding position. It’s great to hear the governor say he won’t sign off on a budget that doesn’t include funding for direct-care workers, despite leaving it out of his proposed budget, but we need to take care of these people now, not in nine months.”

The Assembly Minority’s proposed amendment would tide direct-care workers over until Phase 3 starts on January 1, 2020 and ends March 31, 2020. It also proposes for Phase 4 to be from April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021 in order for direct-care worker pay to stay above minimum wage as it was before the minimum wage increase.