Thanks to the campaign by DC’s homecare workers, more agencies are obeying the law and paying the city’s living wage of $13.60 an hour.When homecare workers started meeting in July of this year, few in any in attendance were making $13.60 an hour. But after getting the word out about the living wage to fellow workers through meetings, flyers, word -of-mouth and radio advertisements, agency owners have apparently gotten the word too and started paying properly. At recent meetings, nearly all those in attendance report receiving the living wage.“My agency started paying $13.60 in July or August,” said Shanita Ware, who has worked in home care since 2009. “It makes a lot of difference in covering my bills.”Ware, a native of D.C. who cares for a 95-year-old, wheelchair-bound patient, credits the campaign by fellow homecare workers who are members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, for the change, which has increased her hourly pay to $13.60 from $10.50, a nearly 34 percent increase.Carl Wilson, a home health aide for 20 years, also received a raise recently to $13.60 but only at his part-time job. His primary employer did offer employees a one dollar raise two months ago and has promised, but not yet delivered on a raise to $13.60 as well. Wilson says that both agencies were spurred to act by the homecare workers campaign.“It’s the law so they owe us the living wage,” Wilson said. “And I’ve got three kids in college and my partner just lost her job four months ago.”DC homecare workers are taking legal action to get unpaid back wages and these wages include any hourly pay less than the living wage starting in 2011. They are also suing for unpaid sick days, overtime, for not being paid in a timely manner and for other damages.Recent reports have named Washington, DC as the most expensive city to live in the United States. DC’s homecare workers maintain on online presence at WeCareForDC.org.- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/campaign_by_dc_homecare_workers_boosts_salaries_by_33_percent#sthash.AWADaAww.dpuf