Speak up for IHSS caregivers
Tuesday, August 26
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Santa Maria
(Remote testimony SB or online)

Message from United Domestic Workers:

Unfortunately as you have heard our county’s IHSS Caregivers are not doing too well right now.  We have had two meetings with the County Board of Supervisors staff to discuss our next 3-year contract, and the offer has been truly disheartening.

• Our county’s IHSS caregivers currently earn just $18.67. 
• The current offer on the table increase would bring caregiver pay up by .33 cents to just $19.00 per hour,  where they would remain for 3 more years.
• Caregivers’ compensation still does not include Medical Coverage or even period for Vacation, and neither of those benefits are on offer from our county.

Our members have been attending recent Board of Supervisors meetings sharing their stories and the challenges faced living in a county where the MIT Living wage index estimates a living wage should be $30.98. https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/06083  

We are asking our community partners to join their voices with those of the county’s IHSS caregivers at the next Board of Supervisors meeting.  Without an in-depth knowledge of the contract negotiations process, our community partners can easily speak in support during the public comment period simply sharing things like: 

• Their own experiences with the physical, emotional, and financial costs of providing care for aging or disabled loved ones
• The importance of a living wage to maintaining a strong care workforce in our community
• How the lack of adequate wages and benefits will continue to make it hard for our county to meet the current and growing need for caregivers to provide the supports our aging population requires
• The consistency with which UDW’s IHSS caregivers offer their support back to the community
• The importance of adequate compensation, career pathways and learning opportunities to any workforce 

Please join for the Public Comment portion of our next County Board of Supervisors Meeting in support of our local IHSS Caregivers.

Santa Maria County Board of Supervisors Meeting
511 Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria

Tuesday, August 26^th
Please arrive by 8:40 AM, the meeting begins promptly at 9 am.
Editor's Note: Put in a speaker slip when you arrive requesting to speak during Public Comment. Remote testimony and emailed comments are also possible. Get instructions here: https://ca-santabarbaracounty.civicplus.pro/2836/Board-of-Supervisors-Methods-of-Particip 

Let me know if you can show up in support.  We look forward to seeing you!  Please feel free to share this ask for support widely!

Robert Gibson | Union Representative [email protected] 
United Domestic Workers of America/AFSCME Local 3930
402 S. Miller St. Santa Maria, CA  93454
(805) 349-9656 (office) | (820) 899-8810 (cell)
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