This month SEIU Local 2015 reached a major growth milestone, and I’m excited to share that we are now more than half a million long-term care workers in California! We’re the largest labor union in the state and the largest union of long-term care workers in the country.
So, when we say you’re not alone…you are definitely not alone!
To help us reach all of you, we are launching a brand new podcast. It’s called Who Cares! and it’s all about the critical issues facing care workers and recipients. For our very first episode, I sat down with Fresno County Board of Supervisor candidate Luis Chavez to talk about his plans to uplift long-term care workers in the Central Valley.
Electing Care Champions Up & Down the Ballot
We have so many great people to vote for this November: care champions, housing justice champions, and a lot of powerful women of color. We can win so much with our votes, and we have the numbers! The outcome of this election will impact our efforts to raise standards for care workers, have safe staffing in our nursing homes, and win statewide bargaining for all long-term care workers in California. Check out our “Why be a care voter” details here.
At the national level, the stakes got even higher with a recent announcement from the Harris/Walz campaign: the biggest plan we’ve ever heard to strengthen the nation’s long-term care system: Medicare at Home.
This plan could cover in-home care for most seniors for the first time ever – massively expanding essential coverage for in-home care recipients who need it. Her plan also includes better wages for caregivers to attract and retain the workers we need as the demand for care continues to rise. I spoke with Care.com about the plan, click here to read the article and learn more about Kamala’s groundbreaking proposal.
With so much at stake, we’ve been really busy getting out the vote all across California and in the swing state of Nevada. Over two weekends in Las Vegas, more than 400 Local 2015 members knocked on thousands of doors and had critical conversations with voters to ensure we win Nevada! Click here to view photos.
There’s still time to get involved this election season! Click here to volunteer for phone banking or door knocking. We’re also planning multiple Ballot Parties across the state, so be sure to follow texts and calls from organizers in your region.
Click here to see SEIU 2015’s ballot recommendations!
Vote for care champions up and down your ballot—we can only win improved standards in our caregiving professions with the county supervisors and state and national legislators who stand with us to improve access to care and make care jobs good jobs! Click here to learn which candidates 2015 member leaders recommend for your area!
Bringing Quality and Equity to CA Nursing Homes
In recent months, nursing home members who work at facilities included in our statewide nursing home Labor Management Committee have been building power and taking action to ensure state and federal money our employers received from the Workforce Quality Incentive Program, or WQIP, go into nursing home workers’ pockets—the ones doing the work. I’m excited to share that we reached an agreement that guarantees our members receive a portion of those dollars. Congratulations to our nursing home workers!
In other news, last month Governor Newsom signed AB 2131, a new law aimed at addressing the critical shortage of CNAs in the nursing home industry. This new law now allows people to take the CNA test in Spanish. This is a huge win for diversity and I’m excited about the positive impact it will have on our communities.
Victories for IHSS Providers in Sonoma & Ventura!
Congrats to home care providers in Sonoma and Ventura Counties – both groups recently reached great tentative agreements on new union contracts. Both counties now have a few weeks to vote on the contract and secure benefits for long-term caregivers.
Click here to read the Sonoma press release
Click here to read the Ventura press release
Family Caregivers: Share Your Story!
November is National Family Caregivers Month – a time to honor the invaluable contributions of family caregivers. Too often, home care providers caring for family members don’t get the respect they deserve. That’s why this November, family caregivers across the country will be sharing their stories, and your union is here to support you. Click here to share your story!
Celebrating our cultural diversity!
This past month, we honored the vibrant cultures and contributions of our diverse union family. Click on the photos below to see more pictures from each event 👇🏾
