Manila Freeman and Vernette Mahone interview conducted by Clare Luz and Khalid Ibrahim, 2018-07-05

Vernette Mahone and Manila Freeman describe their experiences working as personal care assistants. They were interviewed together in a conference room at the Detroit Public Library's Jefferson Branch. They have often worked together over the years as PCAs, and also engaged in activism on behalf...

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Bibliographic Details
Format: Audio
Language:English
Subjects:
African Americans > Employment
Courtesy in the workplace
Employee morale
Employee rights
Employees > Training of
Freeman, Manila > Interviews
Home care services > Michigan
Job stress
Mahone, Vernette > Interviews
Medical care > Michigan
Quality of work life
Temporary help services
Violence in the workplace
Work environment
Work ethic
Work-life balance
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Summary:Vernette Mahone and Manila Freeman describe their experiences working as personal care assistants. They were interviewed together in a conference room at the Detroit Public Library's Jefferson Branch. They have often worked together over the years as PCAs, and also engaged in activism on behalf of PCAs--organizing for unionization, better labor conditions, more respect and representation. They have both done organizing work with SEIU across the U.S. and are now involved in a new group called Care Workers in Action. Manila started PCA work with family members then for pay after retiring from her job as a GED Specialist with the Detroit school system. She describes several ideas for advancing the PCA workforce, emphasizing training and education, particularly the need for ability to do math and handle fractions. She and Vernette describe the wide variation of home situations they face including helping clients in unsafe neighborhoods with gang and gun violence. They do it because they love to help people and know that there is a serious need. Many of their clients would not be able to stay at home or would die if it were not for PCA support. Vernette began PCA work when she cared for her mother and she loves it. She expresses anger that PCAs are marginalized for wanting to help others and tells several stories of legislators who opposed improved conditions for PCAs, but who are now reliant on PCAs for their own care. She discusses the need for a PCA Community Center that could help PCAs learn about resources and network with each other.