Caring for the Caregivers: SEIU Local 2015 Battles for Living Wages in Siskiyou County

On August 6, 2024, representatives from SEIU Local 2015, California’s largest union, made a powerful appearance before the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors to advocate for better wages and working conditions for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers.

SEIU Local 2015, a chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), represents over 470,000 long-term care workers across California, including home care providers, skilled nursing facility staff, and assisted living center employees. As the largest long-term care union in the United States and the largest local union within SEIU, their voice carries significant weight in discussions about worker rights and healthcare policy.

The union’s presentation to the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors focused on the critical role of IHSS providers in the community and the need for fair compensation. Jacob Hibbits, representing SEIU Local 2015, opened the discussion by stating:

“We’re organizing to make sure that all 500 of our IHSS providers in Siskiyou County, as well as thousands others across the very rural and remote North State, get their wages and have their contract with their Union. This would be Siskiyou County’s potential first contract.”

Hibbits emphasized that Siskiyou County’s IHSS providers are among the lowest-paid in California:

“They are the only caregivers in the California North State and the only County besides Kern County that are making minimum wage, which means they’re making less than interns and a lot of other workers in this County.”

Key points raised during the meeting included:

1. The importance of IHSS providers in enabling vulnerable residents to live independently in their homes.
2. The financial struggles faced by many IHSS workers due to low wages.
3. The potential for increased state and federal funding to support wage increases without burdening the county’s budget.
4. Personal stories from IHSS providers and recipients, highlighting the demanding nature of the work and its impact on both caregivers and clients.

One IHSS provider, Cynthia Sver, shared her personal experience:

“I should be retired. I should have retired two years ago, but if I did, what kind of life would he have? He wouldn’t have life. A lot of people out there would not have a life if it wasn’t for us caregivers, and I worked for minimum wage. That’s another reason why I can’t retire because I don’t make enough to retire.”

Another speaker, Maya, an IHSS recipient, highlighted the challenges of finding and retaining caregivers:

“It can be nearly impossible to find a provider because they get paid close to nothing. She [my wife] had to leave her job making $25 an hour as a Medtech in Oregon to stay home and take care of me.”

SEIU Local 2015 representatives urged the Board to consider a modest wage increase for IHSS workers. Hibbits pointed out:

“Every time you raise the wages for IHSS providers at the county level, the state and the federal government kicks in 84 cents on every dollar that you increase, which means you’re not having money go to Sacramento and DC. You’re actually getting more money from Sacramento and DC.”

The union’s appearance at the Board meeting is part of a broader campaign by the Service Employees International Union to improve working conditions and compensation for long-term care workers across California. As the population ages and the demand for in-home care services grows, SEIU Local 2015 continues to advocate for policies that support both caregivers and the individuals they serve.

The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors listened attentively to the presentations and is expected to consider the union’s requests as part of their ongoing budget discussions. The outcome of these deliberations could have significant implications for the future of IHSS services in Siskiyou County and potentially influence similar discussions in other California counties.