SPEECH FOR THE ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING ANNUAL BOARD MEETING & AWARDS BANQUET DINNER

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK DONALD FLETCHER, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING ME THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE AND RECOGNIZETHESE DISINCTIVE EMPLOYEES OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, FAMILY SUPPORT, INTENSIVE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, AND SPECIALIZED HOMECARE UNDER THE ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF SOME MANY INDIVIDUALS IN THIS REGION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE AWARD WINNERS HERE TONIGHT.

THE TYPE OF WORK YOU DO IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HUMANITY.  YOUR DEDICATION TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IS COMMENDABLE AND IT EXEMPLIFIES THE KIND OF COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS THIS SOCIETY THRIVES FOR.

I KNOW THAT THE TYPE OF WORK YOU DO FOR THE MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED, WHETHER IT BE IN DIRECT CARE, SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES, OR COORDINATING SERVICES IS DIFFICULT WORK.  OFTEN YOU ARE FACED WITH DOING THE TASKS THAT MANY OTHERS COULD OR WOULD NOT DO. YOU FACE STRESSESFUL SITUATIONS IN YOUR PROFESSION THAT MUST NOT INTERFER WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE AND YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS COMPENSATE AT A QUALITY RATE OR THANKED FOR YOUR COMMITMENT & CARE TO THE INDIVIDUALS YOU SERVE.  I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM AWARE OF THE LABOURIUOS, AND THANKLESS WORK THAT YOU DO AND I FIND IT TO BE AN HONORABLE PROFESSION.  OUR JOBS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE CHALLENGING BUT COMPARED TO WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY, OUR JOBS EASY.  THERE ARE MANY DAYS I BELIEVE THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO REACHING PEOPLE, TOUCHING PEOPLES LIVES AND IMPROVING THE HUMAN CONDITION, WHAT YOU DO WILL BE REMEMBERED LONG AFTER HAT WE DO IN THE LEGISLATURE IS FORGOTTEN.  ALL OF YOU HERE TONIGHT SHOULD CONSIDER YOURSELF THE UNHERALDED HEROES OF THE COMMONWEALTH. 

WITH SALARIES ROUTINELY BELOW $20,000 PER YEAR, I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU MAY WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS TO MAKE A LIVING; YET, YOU REMAIN IN THE HUMAN SERVCIES FIELD BECAUSE OF YOUR COMPASSION.  I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I RECENTLY WENT TO BAT FOR ALL OF YOU IN BOSTON DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE.

OUR EFFORTS IN THE HOUSE TO RAISE THE SALARIES OF THE COMMONWEALTH’S HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS AS PART OF THIS YEAR’S BUDGET PROCESS WAS INSPIRED BY THE DIRECT CARE WORKERS AND THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE. OUR GOAL WAS TO BRING ALL DIRECT CARE WORKERS, SUPERVISORS, AND MANAGEMENT STAFF UP TO A LEVEL THAT MORE FAIRLY COMPENSATES THEM. THE AMENDMENT MY COLLEAGUES AND I SPONSORED GAVE THE LOWEST PAID WORKERS A VERY MODEST 2-3% PAY RAISE AND FUTHER REQUIRED THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE A PLANBY YEAR’S END TO ADDRESS, OVER A 3 YEAR PERIOD, AN ENTRY LEVEL SALARY FLOOR, MORE EQUITABLE SALARY RATES FOR ALL WORKERS AND AN IDENTIFICATION OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS OTHER BENEFITS.

BEFORE I GO, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING FOR RECOGNIZING THESE FINE EMPLOYEES AND INDIVIDUALS, HERE TONITE, FOR THEIR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IS WELL DESERVED.