In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a social service that allows people who need long-term care to receive it in the comfort and safety of their own homes. In Alameda County, over 30,000 IHSS workers provide long-term care services (including household work, personal care services, and paramedical services) to older adults and people with disabilities.
Click here to learn more about the essential long-term care IHSS workers provide.
Home care workers in Alameda County currently earn $20.00 an hour, but the living wage for one adult without children in the county is $28.55. Without IHSS workers, our neighbors who receive services through IHSS would lose access to essential long-term care.
In our last union contract, SEIU 2015 members won an 18% wage increase for all IHSS caregivers in Alameda County. In addition, union members secured $5,000 for caregivers to use for training each year, increased access to personal protective equipment, expanded non-discrimination language, and more.
We’re about to start bargaining for an even stronger contract that increases wages, improves benefits, and guarantees equitable access to long-term care for all who need it in our community.
Join Us to Build the Future of Care in Alameda County!
Campaign Update #2 – March 20, 2025
Meet your Alameda County IHSS bargaining team:
Tamara Nghisakenwa
Alameda County IHSS Provider for 17 years.
“I care for my 24 year old son with autism, and I genuinely love what I do. But it can be a struggle to work in this expensive county. Our job isn’t respected the way it should be – that’s why I am on the bargaining team so I can make my voice heard and help build a better care system for caregivers, like me, and recipients, like my son. It’s time we were recognized for the invaluable services we provide our communities.”
Dorrit Geshuri
Alameda County IHSS provider for 8 years, caregiver for 15 years.
“I am on the bargaining team because I am committed to making sure all care workers receive higher pay and benefits. There is strength in numbers, and I am looking forward to building our union power!”
Juliann Coulter
Alameda County IHSS provider for 22 years.
“I am dedicated to providing the best care so that my recipient can stay in the comfort of their home. But we are not compensated fairly for our commitment to caregiving. That’s why I have joined the bargaining team to help us get a contract that allows us to live and thrive with dignity.”
Marilyn Austin -Smith
Alameda County IHSS provider since 1999.
“As we begin the bargaining process, we have an exciting road ahead of us where we will get the chance to sit with the county and negotiate higher wages! I am excited to be a part of the bargaining team and use my voice to help build a brighter future of care.”
Lianx Zhang (Cindy)
Alameda County IHSS provider for 13 years.
“I am excited to learn more from others during the bargaining process. I look forward to negotiating a stronger contract with better benefits for all Alameda County IHSS providers.”
Zhaoyan Li (Lisa)
Alameda County IHSS provider for 15 years
“I joined the bargaining team to not only fight for current providers but for any future caregivers.”
Rosalba Castellanos
Alameda County IHSS provider for 6 years, caregiver for over 20 years.
“By being on the bargaining team, I can help defend my children’s rights by making sure providers are given a strong contract so they can continue providing quality care. Before I joined the IHSS program, I was working nights and I really struggled to take care of my sons. We shouldn’t have to break ourselves in half to be caregivers.”
María Torres
Alameda County IHSS provider for 5 years.
“I joined the bargaining team because I saw it was a great opportunity to do more to help our union.”
Campaign Update #1 – Feb. 25, 2025
As the Alameda County IHSS contract campaign moves forward, members spoke at the February 25th Board of Supervisors meeting about the unique and challenging conditions they face providing home care to seniors and people of all ages with disabilities.
Provider Lirong Lai said the particular demands of in-home care often require IHSS workers to be available on holidays. “Over three years, I have not had Christmas or New Year’s or any travel with my family,” she said. “I want to rest, I want to relax, but I know the importance of the job.”
Brenda Okoli, an IHSS provider for 40 years, echoed the demanding nature of the work. “It’s a 24-hour job,” she said. “We work, and we work hard.”
She implored the Board to find funding for in-home caregivers, who constantly make sacrifices on behalf of their consumers. “I’ve paid customer’s PG&E bills, I went to homes where the water was off,” she said. “I’ve come back to houses after the weekend and they had nothing to eat. I provided it, looking for nothing because they had nothing to give me.“
Other members shared the difficulties of providing care to family members with complex medical issues. Hear more remarks from Alameda IHSS members at the February 25th meeting below: