Kings County home care workers rally for $20 hourly increases for “living wage”
Kings County home care providers of SEIU Local 2015 voiced their struggles to survive on low wages and absence of healthcare Tuesday morning as they advocated for ‘Time for $20’ wages to the board of supervisors.
“What do we want?”
“Contract!”
“When do we want it?”
“Now!”
“Is it time for 20?”
“Yes!”
“Is it time for heroes?”
“Yes!”
“Is it time for hero’s pay?”
“Yes!”
Their list of requests is not long: an increase to their current minimum wage which currently is $15 and health insurance or a pathway to health care.
“I would say those are our top two. Our members would wish they would have vacation, would wish they would have holidays, but they’re hurting. They are hurting so the two main things you know that shouldn’t be a choice is getting livable wages and health insurance,” said María Xiquin Espinoza, SEIU Local 2015 regional director.
Statewide, Xiquin Espinoza said the union is fighting for a path to $20 an hour.
“It’s been six years since the last pay increase, and since that, six years, a lot has happened. With COVID, with the cost-of-living, gas, I don’t have to tell you how that is,” said union member Robert Gutiérrez.
SEIU 2015 has represented caregivers in Kings County since 2015 and has bargained with the board of supervisors since then for improved wages and benefits.
“Everything is going up, bills, groceries. And we’re just trying to keep up with just everyday living and we’re hoping that the Board of Supervisors will hear our cry as far as wages increase. Handout hopefully pass at the bargaining table,” said Gutiérrez, who lives in Hanford and has been an in-home supportive services home care provider for five years.
Kings County is currently home to approximately 2,875 seniors and people with disabilities who receive vital care from approximately 2,416 In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) home care providers.
During the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Board meeting, Xiquin Espinoza told the board that increasing wages or benefits by $1.00 would cost the county approximately $633,363,508 per year.
However, the county would receive more in federal funds, $1.98 million, and state funds, $1.13 million, with federal and state funds covering 84 percent of these costs, so every dollar earned by an IHSS provider brings an additional 84 cents into the county, Xiquin Espinoza said.
Xiquin Espinoza said similar workers in Fresno County make 60 cents more than minimum wage plus health insurance.
She hoped that at Tuesday’s closed session to discuss labor negotiations of the contract the board would “do some movement.”
The board did not report out of the closed session and couldn’t be reach for comment.
“The Board of Supervisors continuously says no to health care, which is a shame because we’re talking about homecare workers, health care workers who deserve to have health insurance, just like many of the other county workers and deserve to have a living wage above the minimum wage,” said Xiquin Espinoza.
“So today we’re here to tell the Board of Supervisors that they need to do better at the bargaining table and that they need to come and put the workers at a path to livable wages.”
