A Historic SEIU International Convention
Last month SEIU International held its quadrennial Convention, and over a hundred of our 2015 member leaders, along with union officers, traveled to Philadelphia to serve as delegates. So many important things happened at this Convention—things that will have a big, positive impact for caregivers and the labor movement as a whole.
Top of this list: we elected a new SEIU International president. Mary Kay Henry stepped down after many years of amazing leadership, and April Verrett—our former president of SEIU 2015, and my predecessor, was elected to replace her.
This was a huge and historic union election. April is only the second woman to lead SEIU—a labor organization of 2 MILLION WORKERS—and she is the first Black person to ever hold the title of SEIU President.
April is going to bring our 2015 energy and values to the entire SEIU community: our celebration of diversity, our determination to grow as an Anti-Racist Organization, our insistence that economic justice and racial justice are two strands of the same chord.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing the amazing resolutions that our IU convention delegates passed. You’ll see how they align with the commitments we made during our own SEIU 2015 convention earlier this year: fighting structural racism, naming and achieving a shared vision for the Future of Care, and building a strong union along the way.
ICYMI: Recent Actions and Events
Future of Care Capitol Rally: Hundreds of long-term care providers, consumers, and advocates joined legislators at the Capitol to demand fixes to our broken long-term care system, which leaves too many disabled and aging Californians without the support and services they need. It was a powerful day—click here to learn more and click here to see pictures.
AAPI Heritage Month: During the month of May, we honored the Asian American & Pacific Islander trailblazers who paved the way for social change and continue to lead in our movements. We celebrated on social media and hosted two great events. Click here to watch a video from our event in Elk Grove.
International Workers’ Day: Long-term care workers joined May Day events and actions up and down the state. After all, we have a lot to celebrate! Click here to review coverage of May Day events.
Ramadan: We had two interfaith gatherings in Los Angeles and San Jose as members celebrated the Muslim month of fasting. These were really beautiful events featuring guest speakers, great food, and live entertainment. They helped us envision a better, more equitable future free of Islamophobia, racism, sexism, and classism.
Earth Week: SEIU 2015 members showed up at climate justice events, engaged in digital actions, and celebrated the beauty of our planet. We know that environmental destruction often hits low-income communities and communities of color the hardest. That’s why 2015 members are taking action to highlight the intersection of the environment with racial and economic justice! Click here to learn more.
Improving Care Jobs and Growing Our Union
- We won new contracts in San Benito and Marin Counties that raise IHSS wages and strengthen contracts. Read about San Benito here and about Marin here.
- And in the past two months, more than 400 nursing home workers into our union family:
- Bay Crest in Torrance
- Plum Tree in San Jose
- Anaheim Healthcare Center
- Ojai Health and Rehabilitation
- Menifee Lakes Post Acute
- Lodi Creek Post Acute
- Click here to read more union updates!
Federal Level Policy Wins for Long-Term Care Workers
The Biden-Harris administration recently announced two historic rules that change the game for long-term care workers and the families who depend on their care: the “Nursing Home Minimum Staffing” and the “Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services” rules. Click here to learn more.
These new regulations are a huge deal, and YOU helped make them happen! That’s why Vice President Harris recognized SEIU for our leadership during a live roundtable, and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra came to LA to celebrate with 2015 members. Thank you for your support, resilience, and dedication to this cause. When we fight, we win!
Join Us to Fight Against Proposed IHSS Cuts
We’re building our collective power to improve care jobs and access to care across the state, and keeping tabs on the state budget is an important part of that.
As you may have heard, California has a budget shortfall of about $32 billion, and our leaders in Sacramento must make tough decisions about program funding.
The May Revision of the budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25 includes two proposals that would cut access to IHSS services: eliminating IHSS hours for California’s undocumented population and eliminating the IHSS Emergency Provider Backup System.
It’s important to remember that these are just proposals and that we have care champions in the Legislature helping us resist them. But we need you to join us!
Raise your voice against these cuts to critical services for undocumented people, people with disabilities and older adults.
In Solidarity,
Arnulfo De La Cruz
SEIU Local 2015 President