How long have you been a PCA?

ROGERIA: Since 1999.

How many consumers do you have? What is your relationship like with your consumer?

ROGERIA: I have two consumers, and they’re like family. I treat them as I would like someone to treat my mother. I cook one consumer her favorite Portuguese foods. I don’t want either of them to feel any pain or deprivation.

What do you enjoy about your job?

ROGERIA: I enjoy the people I care for, making them feel good and knowing that they have everything they need in their own house. I hope I never need it, but if someday I did, I would like to be treated the same way.

How would having a good union contract improve your life?

ROGERIA: I would have peace of mind, knowing that I have insurance and back-up for my consumers when I’m sick – this really worries me right now. A little more money wouldn’t hurt, either.

How did it feel to be at Advocacy Day at the State House?

ROGERIA: I liked it a lot. It was good to be there all together to fight for what we need; if we get a good contract, I’ll know I was part of that. Even though the governor didn’t meet with us personally, it was very nice to have someone in his office receive us one by one. My oldest daughter says, "I’m so proud of you for fighting for what you need."

Why is it important for other PCAs to come to the State House on June 18?

ROGERIA: More people make a big difference – it will get the governor’s attention. Plus people would have a great time. I loved Advocacy Day.

What do you like to do when you're not working?

ROGERIA: Relax with my family. I especially like to cook lots of food and have my whole family come to the house on Sundays.

How did you become a PCA?

ADAM: I’ve worked with people with special needs such as autism and cerebral palsy since I was 15 and spent time with a family friend who was autistic. I left this line of work for a while to attend college and work for political non-profits, but I’ve returned to it since living in the Pioneer Valley. I’ve worked a number of different caretaker jobs since living here, and I’ve happily held this job as a Personal Care Attendant for a wonderful 24-year-old man for over two years now. My consumer has severe cerebral palsy, blindness and inability to talk, but he loves music, country drives and good company, and I do, too.

How long have you been a PCA?

ADAM: I’ve officially been a PCA for over two years now, though I’ve worked in human services for longer.

How did you become involved in the campaign?

ADAM: I actually became involved in the PCA unionizing campaign early on. I helped gather signatures for the petition to allow Massachusetts residents to vote on whether PCAs should unionize. I gathered around three thousand signatures, which helped in the cause of pressuring the Massachusetts legislature to give PCAs the right to establish a union to collectively bargain around wages and benefits. Then just a few months ago, my co-worker, consumer and I were featured in a newspaper article about the unionizing effort. Obviously, I’ve had a personal as well as moral and political interest in the campaign, and I’m delighted that SEIU and PCAs around the state have been successful with this. We’re only beginning in this process, which I think has the potential to be cutting-edge in establishing a model for effective unionized state caretaker programs around the country.

How can other PCAs help as we prepare to bargain our first contract?

ADAM: Stay informed about what’s happening. Read what the union sends out. Give your input about what’s most important to you in this process, or what you’d most benefit from personally, such as increased wages or benefits. Talk about it all with your co-workers, friends who are PCAs, and employers. Remember that what happens affects all of us. A lot of people are trying to raise a family on a PCA income.

What do you like to do for fun?

ADAM: I like to hang with my friends, and I like to read and write. I’m working toward writing a political book. I like to stay informed about what’s happening in the world, and I maintain a small political newsletter to help keep my friends informed. I think we live in dire times, and we need some serious change. That said, everybody needs to relax. I live out in the country, so I get to go on a lot of hikes in the woods. Expanding my consciousness, being in touch with nature, and laughing with my friends are my ideas of fun. Life can be pretty amazing, even though we live in dark times.

How did you become a PCA?

MARY: I took care of my ex-husband’s mother when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I quit my job to take care of her for twelve years. I also took care of other people on-and-off and now I have other consumers. I’ve been a PCA 19 years now.

What was it like talking to other PCAs about the union election?

MARY: The response was very favorable to the idea of building a union and getting wages and benefits. A few PCAs had their consumers at their homes when I visited and the consumers reacted favorably as well.

Why should other PCAs get involved in the campaign?

MARY: Their involvement will benefit all PCAs. For instance, coming to meetings and socializing with other PCAs helps you to understand that people are doing the same work.

When PCAs bargain for a contract with the state, what improvements would you like to win?

MARY: I definitely want a pay raise. Every PCA deserves a wage increase. We also need health insurance. Health insurance should be guaranteed to all PCAs. You never know what can happen to you on your job. I also would like to win paid time off like personal days, vacation days, sick days and holidays. I would also like to see a better recruitment network for PCAs and consumers.

What do you like to do for fun?

MARY: I like art (making pictures with flowers set on wax) and spending time with my grandchildren. I have four children, 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. I am raising three of my grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Is there any advice you would give to parents and grandparents who are also PCAs?

MARY: You should encourage your children and grandchildren to be interested in your consumer so they can make the connection with the work that you do as a PCA. Kids should be engaged and informed about PCA work so that they develop respect for people with disabilities.

Husna and Kassim are a married couple who both work as personal care attendants.

How long have you been a PCA?

HUSNA: I have been a PCA for 14 years — since 1994.
KASSIM: I’ve been a PCA for 5 years.

What do you enjoy about your job?

HUSNA: I enjoy the flexibility. My consumer feels like a part of my family.
KASSIM: I like my job because working as a PCA also allows me flexibility and I feel comfortable. As I was growing up, I wanted to be a doctor. Being a PCA will hopefully help me to become a nurse or get certification so that I can go back to Zanzibar, Tanzania, and help my people.

What improvements would you like to see for PCAs?

HUSNA: I would like to see a lot of improvements. I would like to see a wage increase regularly — at least every two years. The cost of living increases, but the money I make does not increase.
KASSIM: We need our rights to be recognized. We also need health insurance, sick days and training. The training would help us to become educated and established so that we can advance in society. Things change from day-to-day. In the future, we may need to know different things to do our job well.

Why is it important to for others PCAs to get involved in the PCA campaign?

HUSNA: I think it is important for other PCAs to get involved so they know their rights and can work as a team. Then they know when to fight, what to fight for and how to fight together.
KASSIM: It is important to get involved as a union because we will have a PCA registry, a chance to work with a consumer consistently. When you have no union, the work is not always consistent. Right now, we can work with one consumer today, but tomorrow, because of circumstances, things may change and it’s hard to find another consumer.

What is it like to be married and both work as PCAs?

HUSNA: I love my husband because he is very understanding about my job. Sometimes he comes to my job and helps me with work that I cannot do, such as physical and technical tasks. For instance, one time my consumer’s wheelchair broke down. My husband came to help because I could not turn the chair upside down by myself. He fixed it.
KASSIM: My wife and I work as a team. I love her because she is a very good team player. For example, many times she travels to Africa. When she travels, I work for her. I am her replacement. And if I go to Tanzania, she takes my place.

Do you have any advice for PCAs with families?

KASSIM: The only way to stay together as a family is to cooperate as a family. We have to work together and raise our children together. My wife and I support each other. PCAs have to work together with family and with each other because we are all one big team.

How long have you been a PCA?

CLIFF: I’ve been working part-time as a PCA for 30 years, and full-time for 5 years. I used to work as a teacher, but when my brother needed me to be his PCA, I was glad to help out. We live in the same house.

How have you been involved in the PCA campaign?

CLIFF: I go to meetings, I’ve been in two video shoots for organizations, and I’ve been interviewed about the PCA campaign on Good Morning America. I’ve also made phone calls to connect with other PCAs in my area. I think if we all get together as a strong group of people, we’re more likely to be heard by the people who make the decisions.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

CLIFF: I go to concerts, sporting events, and movies.