Workers continue urging County Supervisors to address crisis by raising wages
Shasta County, CA – Today, Shasta’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers, members of SEIU Local 2015—the nation’s largest long-term care union representing more than half a million workers across California—returned to the Board of Supervisors meeting to urge elected officials to invest in long-term care.
In Shasta, more than 4,300 IHSS workers provide essential long-term care (including paramedical, personal care, and household services) to more than 4,500 older adults and people with disabilities, including veterans. The IHSS program ensures people who need long-term care can receive it in the setting of their choice, supporting their ability to remain in their homes in the Shasta community.
Despite their vital role in Shasta’s long-term care system, IHSS providers earn $18.10 an hour—far below what’s needed to cover household expenses for workers and their families.
Recent polling reveals low wages for Shasta home care workers prevent them from paying for housing, feeding their families and accessing medical care:
- 81% of Shasta’s IHSS workers work multiple jobs—at least some of the time—just to make ends meet.
- 56% of Shasta’s IHSS workers have difficulty paying their mortgage or rent each month, reporting that they are sometimes or always late with their payments.
- 56% of Shasta’s IHSS workers are sometimes or often unable to access medication—and 52% are sometimes or often prevented from visiting the doctor—due to concerns about cost.
- Nearly 40% of Shasta’s IHSS workers experience consistent food insecurity, reporting that they are sometimes or always late with their payments.
“I took a $6 an hour pay cut when I left my job as an assistant manager to become my grandfather’s caretaker,” said Natosha Harlow, a Shasta County IHSS worker. “He served our country during the Korean War and I’m grateful to be able to serve him as his IHSS provider.”
In Shasta and across California, the population of older adults is growing, increasing the demand for in-home care. Yet, lack of access to the wages and benefits needed to provide for their families is driving IHSS workers out of the caregiving profession.
“Shasta’s IHSS workers are a lifeline for the community, bringing critical long-term care into people’s homes while saving the state thousands of dollars in costly nursing home expenses,” said SEIU Local 2015 Executive Vice President Kim Evon. “Their work is essential and needs to be valued as such in order to safeguard the health and well-being of Shasta’s future.”
SEIU Local 2015 is committed to advancing policies that improve the lives of long-term care workers and those they care for. The union’s bargaining team encourages the Board of Supervisors to collaborate to address these pressing issues and ensure that Shasta’s long-term care system is prepared to support the county’s future.
To learn more about SEIU Local 2015 visit www.SEIU2015.org or on social media @SEIU2015.