BY DEBORAH SULLIVAN BRENNAN

SAN DIEGO —  San Diego County home care workers will get $1-per-hour raises for the next three years under a new agreement union leaders say will make it easier to attract and retain caregivers.

“Our hope is that it means that caregivers will be able to care for people and make a wage that will help them take care of themselves and their families,” said Doug Moore, executive director for United Domestic Workers Local 3930.

Union members rallied last week to encourage the Board of Supervisors to raise wages, and officials said they reached an agreement with county officials during labor negotiations Thursday.

The proposed changes must be ratified by union members and approved by the state and are expected to take effect in May.

Home care workers in San Diego earn $16 per hour now, said Matthew Maldonado, director of operations for the union. That will rise to $17 per hour in May and then to $18 per hour in January of next year and $19 the following year, he said.

County officials also agreed to provide $20,000 life insurance policies for caregivers. And they authorized $50,000 for personal protective equipment such as gloves and hand sanitizer, along with $40,000 to help with transportation expenses, he said.

There are 30,000 home care workers caring for 38,000 people in the program now, he said. Most are family members assisting a parent, child or other relative who is eligible for Medicare.

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