A Milestone in SEIU 2015’s Statewide “Our Care Counts” Campaign, the Union Calls on Other California Jurisdictions to Join Glenn County in Providing Essential Caregivers with Living Wages
Glenn County, CA—Earlier this month, the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) caregivers of SEIU Local 2015, the nation’s largest long-term care union representing nearly 450,000 caregivers across California, reached a tentative agreement on a new Union contract after an eight month-long fight with Glenn County Board of Supervisors. This contract puts essential caregivers in the region on a path to a $20 per hour wage.
The full provisions of the contract amount to a nearly 13% wage increase over the next two years and will be the first SEIU Local 2015 agreement for IHSS members in Glenn County. The agreement has a $1 wage supplement, which will raise wages from $15.50 per hour to $16.25 per hour upon its implementation, $16.75 per hour in January 2024, $17 per hour in July 2024, and $17.50 per hour in July 2025. It also provides for $6,000 in safety equipment over the life of the contract along with funding for training.
The enrollment and payroll provisions set in the new contract ensure that providers are paid faster and that registry provisions protect providers from exclusions and removals. The County has also agreed to improve provider back-up systems to assist providers in using their sick leave benefits.
“Members in Glenn have shown up and been active in the Union for years at the Capitol in supporting their sisters and brothers in actions in other counties to win their contracts — and we’re excited that it’s now their turn, too,” said SEIU Local 2015 Deputy Statewide Field Director Marcus McRae-Alexander.
Today’s announcement also drew praise from SEIU Local 2015 leadership and marked a significant step forward in the Union’s statewide push for higher living wages.
“This is a huge victory for our statewide “Our Care Counts” collective bargaining campaign to increase wages for long-term IHSS care workers in California. This win was propelled by Union members at the bargaining table throughout Glenn County working to raise standards in the industry,” said SEIU Local 2015 President Arnulfo De La Cruz. “We’re grateful to the Glenn County Board of Supervisors for hearing our call and taking action. This win is a crucial step forward in ensuring that our great IHSS members can earn a living wage and afford to live in the cities in which they live and work in the face of rising costs, and we’re looking forward to seeing other counties across the state follow suit and finally invest in the essential workers taking care of older adults and those with disabilities.”
“Our members are more essential now than ever,” said SEIU Local 2015 Executive Vice President Kim Evon. “Tens of thousands of caregivers are needed in this moment just to meet turnover and the current shortage, and as our aging population grows in California, we’ll need to meet the health care needs of nearly 1 million in just the next seven years. I’m thrilled that Glenn County’s IHSS and WPCS workers are receiving the recognition and respect they deserve as they continue to meet this growing demand and deliver their care with empathy, compassion, and dedication.”
“This was an educating and thrilling experience for me,” said Glenn County Bargaining Team member Madelyn Coffman. “I’ve personally supported many other Board of Supervisors meetings in other counties, but I’ve never been on a bargaining team before. Due to my previous experience, I felt prepared to take on Glenn County, and it was empowering to be a part of our contract negotiations to ensure the language is accessible to all caregivers in Glenn County. I am so relieved to finally have this contract, especially now with the inflation in our economy.”
Since January 2020, SEIU Local 2015 has worked with counties and nursing homes across California to win more than 85 contracts, securing better workplace protections, improved wages and benefits, and a voice in the care its members provide.
Over the last three years, SEIU Local 2015 members across California have put their fight to improve the long-term care industry into high gear.
To learn more about SEIU Local 2015 visit www.SEIU2015.org or on social media @SEIU2015.