Consumer Workforce Council

TRIPIL proudly supports the creation of a Consumer Workforce Council. In September, 2010, Governor Rendell issued an Executive Order creating a council of consumer employers who would work collaboratively with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to establish fair rates of reimbursement for direct care workers wages, to organize benefit packages, to deliver quality training programs, and to improve work opportunities for members of the workforce. Within the Executive Order, a methodology was defined to allow for workers to organize and have representation from a recognized union. The empowerment of consumer employers and workers will bring them to the bargaining table.

Home Health Agencies that do not offer the "consumer employer" model are alarmed that consumers want to be employers of their own workers. The Home Health Association is opposed to the creation of the CWC and is seeking to impede the progress being made because their market share will potentially be reduced. Provider agencies who have offered programs that support consumer employer models are also opposed because they will no longer have exclusive right to speak on behalf of consumers and workers in the rate setting process. Furthermore, they will have to share financial information and workforce data due to greater demands for transparency and cooperation.

TRIPIL encourages people with disabilities to become informed on this issue and join the debate that is raging right now in Pennsylvania.