The Work We Do: Ms. Eula Sheffey Is Leading D.C. Homecare Workers in the Fight for Justice

January 1, 1970

Eula Sheffey has been a homecare worker in Washington, D.C. for more than 30 years. She works for the Capital Care agency. During her entire career, Ms. Eula has never made more than her current wage, $13.80 an hour. She’s a leader in the struggle for justice for D.C. homecare workers—to organize in the Fight For $15 and to win back wages owed to hundreds of the region’s home health aides. Ms. Eula is 71. Only her dedication to her patients and to the welfare of other homecare workers exceed her warmth and humility. Widowed as a young woman with three small children, she supported her family by doing hair. When her kids were grown and able to take care of themselves, Ms. Eula followed her calling and did the work she’d always wanted to do: home care.Over her career she’s cared for the terminally ill, seniors and disabled people; she’s also dealt with the abuse and ill treatment many homecare workers face daily: shorted checks, cut hours and outof- the-blue agency closures. Ms. Eula is pragmatic about her role as a leader. She is, in her view, just doing what’s right. And encouraging others to do the same. “I tell them one voice don’t go, so we have to march,” she says. “My grandchildren have marched with me. They told me ‘Grandma, you’re going to end up in jail, and we’re not going with you.’ I said that’s fine as long as they come and get me out.”- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/the_work_we_do_ms_eula_sheffey_is_leading_dc_homecare_workers_in_the_fight_for_justice#sthash.0XBqwQa0.dpuf