**Media Advisory**
WHEN:
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Press should arrive at 12:45pm PT; Conference to begin at 1pm PT
WHERE:
David McDonald Park
Coventry Ave, Clovis, CA 93611
WHO:
Leaders and officers of SEIU Local 2015; Long-term care workers (members of SEIU 2015); Supporters and allies of the SEIU Local 2015 community.
WHAT:
Leaders and officers of SEIU Local 2015 — the nation’s largest long-term care union and California’s largest labor union representing nearly 450,000 nursing home workers and home care providers — will be holding a press conference in support of Fresno In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers and long-term care workers as they call for Fresno’s Board of Supervisors to address the growing demand for care and the industry’s current provider shortage crisis amid poverty wages, barriers to healthcare, disparities in compensation, and more. In Fresno County, the board threatens to completely eliminate healthcare coverage in order to bring their shockingly lowball offer of a 15¢ raise up to 85¢. Supervisors have even noted that many providers qualify for Medi-Cal—a tacit acknowledgement that the wages they offer caregivers is so low.
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..
- About 58% of IHSS providers also reported that sometimes or often are prevented from visiting the doctor due to concerns about cost.
The press conference comes after the Board of Supervisors shut down and canceled a pre-scheduled board meeting in August, and the continued refusal to bargain with 2015 members.
Press Contacts:
DKC News
SEIU@dkcnews.com
On Site Contacts:
UaL@seiu2015.org
vickiv@seiu2015.org