Jennifer Schneider, communications director for Local 1199 of the Service International Employees Union, said that workers are frequently "mandated" to work overtime shifts to meet the staff-to-client ratios set by DDS. Schneider said hiring more direct-care workers and paying them only their base salaries would reduce overtime and free-up funding to help families who are under-served by DDS. But she admitted that adding staff at Southbury, where cottages are closing as clients leave, is not politically viable.