Ted Rippy testifying on behalf of LD 1078
My name is Ted Rippy. I am a direct care worker, a consumer advocate, and a union organizer for Local 771 MSEA-SEIU, a union for direct care workers here in Maine.
It is my pleasure to work with Helen Hanson. I met Helen through Local 771 – she’s the president and I’m the secretary. One of my favorite stories about Helen is what happened when I first met her. I asked her to keep me busy and the next thing I knew, I was on a jet plane to Chicago!
I’ve been working with Helen and other direct care workers on some of the bills before the Maine senate, legislature, and Department of Health and Human Services. I was at the meeting with Hannah Pingree about LD1059, the health care for health care workers bill. I also helped advocate for LD1364, the bill to increase hourly wages to $12 for home care workers. But what I’d like to share with you today is my testimony on behalf of a bill I advocated for along with Helen, other union members, members of AARP, and health care consumers.
I feel good about my testimony in support of LD 1078 because I just recently got started on this kind of activity, and because I felt like we were heard — the bill was signed into law by Governor Balducci on June 8 with just one small change.
LD 1078 gives consumers of long-term care control over the kind of care they receive. One of the best things about it was the presentation of the bill by Representative Matt Peterson, a healthy consumer himself, who rolled ito the state house in his wheelchair. As I told the committee in my testimony (PDF): “We need a system that is accessible and responsive to the needs of Maine people and can serve our citizens in the way they deserve. We also need a system that respects and rewards the work of direct care workers just like me and others here today for the skilled work and service we deliver.”
By the way, Helen recommended me for the second class of the Voices Institute‘s National Leadership Program and I was accepted. I am very excited about what we can do together. I can’t wait to make our next move!
Ted Rippy, direct care worker
Congratulations Ted, for having the courage to stand up and testify. I know that it can be scary but you did it. We need more DCW’s to speak up like you did. I can’t wait to see what your next venture is.
Ted, FANTASTIC! Keep up the great work.
Knowing you Ted, you are going to keep on making a move; you have irrepressible energy and spirit!! It has been a privilege knowing you and working with you. It’s also been a lot of fun since you have one of the best senses of humor of anyone I know!