Home health care workers arrested after protesting for benefits
NEW HAVEN — Anthony Ligon and Terrell Williams, both New Haven residents, provide comfort and care for others as home health care workers. But they don’t have health insurance of their own.
They and fellow members of SEIU District 1199, a chapter of the New England Health Care Employees Union, called for legislators to grant them that level of support and stability Thursday at the state Capitol in Hartford, staging a protest that ended with the arrests of 20 people, according to state police.
Ligon and Williams said Friday they attended the rally in hopes of securing benefits such as health insurance, sick time, vacation time and other benefits.
The union has called for the state legislature to pass legislation that raises the minimum wage for such workers to $20 per hour by 2023 and create a pathway to affordable health care.
“We are long-term home care (workers) without long-term benefits,” Ligon said. “We were pretty much there to fight for some basic human rights.”
“It’s a basic need that pretty much all workers need and desire,” said Williams. “It’s basically been ignored.”
The protest Thursday was peaceful, according to Ligon, Williams and state police, although initial scanner reports indicated that bleach or some other substance had been thrown at officers.
In a release, state police said troopers were dispatched to the Office of Policy & Management building at 450 Capitol Ave. just before 5 p.m. Thursday to assist Hartford police with the protest.
Approximately 20 people had entered the building and were arrested after refusing to disperse, according to state police. They were charged with firstdegree criminal trespassing and released on $1,000 non-surety bonds, police said.
“It should be noted that this demonstration was peaceful and there were no reports of any injuries of those arrested or the involved Troopers. There was no use of force by the Connecticut State Police,” police said. “The Connecticut State Police support peaceful protest and will work to protect the safety of all those involved.”
Williams said the protest escalated somewhat as protesters entered the building; guards had shoved some of them down, he said. Already feeling disrespected professionally, he said, the interaction strengthened his and his colleagues’ resolve.
Ligon was one of those arrested. He said he would not change what happened.
Williams and Ligon said the work they do provides a particular sense of pride. Instead of just working for a paycheck, they said it allows them to make a difference in an individual person’s life.
Williams said he began providing such care for his mother after she fell ill. After her passing, he decided to continue with it.
“I’m actually (interacting one on one) with another person,” said Williams. “To me, that’s a much better reason to get up and go to work in the morning.”
But it has left him in a precarious position, he said — by caring for three clients, he can just pay his bills. But he makes too much to qualify for subsidized insurance through the state, and purchasing insurance is beyond his means.
Ligon said the work allows people in need of care to remain at home, stay connected with family, and live more of a full-fledged life.
“I take pride in that,” said Ligon.