SEIU Local 2015 and Broad Coalition Demand a Fair Contract to Lift Up Caregivers and Stabilize County’s Homecare System
LOS ANGELES (July 30, 2025) — In a powerful show of unity, SEIU Local 2015 caregivers were joined by a diverse coalition of elected officials, community organizations, and faith leaders outside the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, calling on the County to deliver a fair contract for the more than 240,000 In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers who care for low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
Those who attended to express their support included representatives from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Community Coalition, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, One LA, InnerCity Struggle, St. John’s Community Health, Filipino Workers Center, and the elected offices of Assemblymember Mike Gipson, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, Senator Lola Smallwood Cuevas, and Senator Lena Gonzalez.
“Today, we are joined by an extraordinary coalition of elected leaders, community organizations, clergy, and other allies who understand that our fight is bigger than a labor contract,” said Carmen Roberts, SEIU Local 2015 Executive Vice President. “It’s about protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities, it’s about bringing dignity to these essential caregivers, and it’s about bringing stability to Los Angeles County’s healthcare system.”
In 2024, over 11 million authorized homecare hours for LA County low-income seniors and people with disabilities went unused due to worker shortages, creating additional instability in the county’s already strained healthcare system.
“I want to acknowledge that the County is facing tough financial decisions due to federal cuts. But let’s be clear—those cuts are impacting the entire care continuum, from hospitals to homecare,” stated Arnulfo De La Cruz, president of SEIU 2015. “And homecare workers are the first line of defense, preventing unnecessary ER visits and keeping your constituents who rely on homecare safe and independent in their homes. These workers deserve a fair wage that allows them to provide for their families without relying on public assistance.”
A recent survey of SEIU Local 2015 members who live in Los Angeles County and provide care showed that 64% use food assistance and 37% rely on public assistance programs to simply get by. Results also showed that 69% of homecare workers report struggling to pay their rent or mortgage and 26% spend more than 75% of their income on housing.
The coalition highlighted the urgent need for action in the face of rising costs, workforce instability, and growing demand for care. Many caregivers—most of whom are women, immigrants, and people of color—earn poverty wages while delivering essential services that keep nearly 285,000 Angelenos out of emergency rooms and long-term institutions.
“Homecare isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline,” said Maria Torrez, SEIU Local 2015 member leader who spoke of her own struggles with being homeless due to low wages. “And yet, the very workers who provide this care are being paid poverty wages. Many of us, including me, have faced and experienced homelessness. That’s just wrong—and that needs to change.”
The coalition’s call to action for the Board of Supervisors was clear: invest in IHSS caregivers, protect the care system, and deliver a contract that honors the work and dignity of those who make independent living possible for hundreds of thousands of LA County residents.