Events held across California
Fresno, CA – Yesterday, SEIU Local 2015 — the nation’s largest long-term care union and California’s largest labor union representing nearly 490,000 nursing home workers and home care providers — launched a statewide Get Out The Vote campaign to elect care champions up and down the ballot ahead of the 2024 November election, including Fresno County supervisors. The full list of endorsed candidates can be found on SEIU Local 2015’s Ballot Recommendations Voter Guide.
SEIU 2015 is holding events across California—including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Fresno—to mobilize voters to support candidates who will invest in strengthening the care economy, improving care jobs—from long term care to child care—and supporting care workers’ access to labor unions.
“SEIU 2015 members are a collective powerhouse of nearly half a million long-term care workers—and they are mobilizing for pro-care, pro-union candidates,” said SEIU 2015 President Arnulfo De La Cruz. “We must elect leaders who understand that caregivers are the backbone of our communities. SEIU 2015 is committed to democracy, empowering our members, and encouraging our communities to vote for a brighter future.”
The Fresno event brought together more than 200 In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and Nursing Home workers, and about 20 community allies alongside endorsed local candidates. These gatherings were not just about planning and strategizing for the election; they were also a demonstration of the power and unity of SEIU 2015 members.
SEIU 2015 is proud to endorse several Fresno public officials in their bid for elected office in this upcoming election season. Among these champions are Fresno City Councilman Luis Chavez and Garry Bredefield, both of whom are running for Fresno Board of Supervisors seats. Local 2015 is also proud to be endorsing Fresno Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria in her bid for State Assembly. The union is honored to fight alongside such passionate, forward-thinking care champions, and we will work tirelessly to elect them.
SEIU 2015 members provide care for older adults and people with disabilities, ensuring that they receive the support they need to lead safe and fulfilling lives. Care providers are primarily women, women of color, and immigrants. Nationally, in-home care workers are 87% women, 62% people of color, and 31% are immigrants. In California, in-home care workers are 80% women, 74% people of color, and 47% immigrants. The expectation that women—especially women of color—work tirelessly for low wages and minimum protections is a result of structural racism.
The November election will have a direct impact on the future of care, labor, and democracy. SEIU 2015 is ready to elect care champions who will work with us to ensure that long-term care jobs are stable, dependable jobs with fair wages, adequate training, and comprehensive benefits.
Home care is the nation’s fastest-growing job sector. From 2020 to 2030, the U.S. will need to fill an estimated 4.7 million home care jobs, including over one million new jobs. California is projected to have 1.1 million job openings for personal care aides between 2018 and 2028. As the aging population grows at an accelerating rate, more and more will require care—we need to retain and grow this sector’s workforce. It’s essential that we elect candidates committed to investing in the care infrastructure that our communities rely on.
To learn more about SEIU Local 2015 visit www.SEIU2015.org or on social media @SEIU2015.