**MEDIA ADVISORY**
WHEN:
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
12 PM PT
WHERE:
Fresno County Board of Supervisors
Fresno Hall of Records, 2281 Tulare St, Fresno 93724
WHO:
Long-term care workers (members of SEIU 2015); Supporters and allies of the SEIU Local 2015 community.
WHAT:
Fresno In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers — members of SEIU Local 2015, the nation’s largest long-term care union and California’s largest labor union representing more than 450,000 nursing home workers and home care providers — are demanding that Fresno’s Board of Supervisors address the care industry’s growing provider shortage, low wages, and lack of benefits and protections.
Fresno County’s current IHSS wage is only $16.60 an hour with a $0.85 health benefit contribution. The board threatens to completely remove healthcare coverage in order to bring their shockingly lowball offer of a 15 cent raise up to 85 cents. Long-term care workers in Fresno County are struggling to make ends meet, prompting many to leave the long term care industry altogether. This comes as Fresno County faces a shortage of care providers. Last year, more than 625,000 authorized care hours went unused, indicating a lack of providers and care that older adults and those with disabilities desperately needed. When care hours go unmet, federal and state funding that supports that care is lost. Investing in home care is an investment in Fresno.
WHY:
Recent polling of in-home care workers in Fresno County underscores the urgent challenges that many of these essential workers face in making ends meet.
- Working multiple jobs: Over 80% of IHSS providers in Fresno County reported working multiple jobs – at least some of the time – just to make ends meet. That’s nearly 4 out of every 5 provider’s in the county.
- Food insecurity: More than 42% of IHSS providers in Fresno County experience consistent food insecurity, relying on CalFresh and/or food banks at least monthly.
- Housing disparity: About 59% of those we surveyed spend at least 50% of their income on housing, and over 19% spend more than 75%.
- Healthcare disparity: 55.7% of IHSS providers in Fresno County are sometimes or often unable to access medication because they cannot afford the cost of prescriptions.
Press Contacts:
DKC News
SEIU@dkcnews.com
On Site Contacts:
UaL@seiu2015.org
vickiv@seiu2015.org