If ratified, caregivers are expected to earn $19.64 starting in January 2026
LOS ANGELES – Today, after months of tireless advocacy, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers of SEIU Local 2015—the nation’s largest long-term care union representing more than half a million workers across California—celebrated a major victory as the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a new tentative agreement for the county’s largest low-wage workforce. .
If ratified by SEIU Local 2015 members and approved by the Board of Supervisors, the new one-year contract will provide a 74-cent wage supplement. The supplement plus a 40-cent minimum wage increase starting in January 2026 will bring hourly wages to $19.64 for more than 240,000 IHSS workers in Los Angeles County—most of whom are women and people of color. This agreement will also secure millions in new state and federal dollars that would have otherwise expired, ensuring resources flow into local communities, uplifting caregivers and strengthening the County’s economy.
“Today’s vote is proof of what’s possible when caregivers stand united,” said Arnulfo De La Cruz, President of SEIU 2015. “For months, our members filled the chambers, shared their stories, and stood strong at the bargaining table. This agreement is recognition that caregivers matter and that their work has value.”
“This is a really great first step for getting us to a livable wage,” said SEIU 2015 caregiver Leilani Reed. “We’ve spent months going to the Board of Supervisors almost every week, and by voting yes on our tentative agreement, the Board finally showed that they heard us! Caregivers keep LA County going, and it’s nice to have that recognition be put into a contract that is going to help us improve the Future of Care.
“A lot of time, effort, love and dedication was put into today’s victory,” said SEIU 2015 Executive Vice President Carmen Roberts. “SEIU 2015 members, organizers and allies pushed to make this agreement a reality, and I want to acknowledge their hard work. Now, the real work begins: fixing the Future of Care in LA County which means investing enough in our care infrastructure to attract and retain the workers necessary to meet the exploding demand for care that is coming our way. It’s going to be a long road, but this contract is the first step to getting to the finish line.”
The contract comes at a critical moment when workers nationwide are under attack and healthcare services face cuts and devaluation. By securing this agreement, Los Angeles County caregivers sent a resounding message: “Not in LA County.”
SEIU 2015 members and leaders praised the union’s bargaining team, Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC), and Board of Supervisors for working together to find solutions. The union identified millions in cost savings that helped pave the way for the agreement while addressing the County’s fiscal challenges.
“This victory belongs to every caregiver who showed up week after week to make their voices heard,” said Carmen Roberts, Executive Vice President of SEIU 2015. “This contract is a first step. We will be back at the table in a year to continue fighting for the wages, benefits, and respect that caregivers deserve.”
The agreement, which is seen as a key step in creating a pathway out of poverty for caregivers, will lay a foundation for addressing the crisis caregivers have been facing. Internal polling among workers has shown that as the largest low-wage workforce in the County, 69% of IHSS workers in the County have struggled to pay rent, 64% rely on food assistance programs, and 37% rely on public programs to help with housing and medical care. As a result of low wages, retention and recruitment of caregivers has been difficult—proven by more than 11 million authorized care hours going unused in 2024.
To learn more about SEIU Local 2015 visit www.SEIU2015.org or on social media @SEIU2015.