In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a social service that allows people who need long-term care to receive it in the comfort and safety of their own homes. In Solano County, nearly 7,000 IHSS workers provide long-term care services (including household work, personal care services, and paramedical services) to older adults and people with disabilities.
Click here to learn more about the essential long-term care IHSS workers provide.
In our last union contract, we increased wages to $1.20 above the minimum wage, secured personal protective equipment from the Public Authority, and protected funding for our healthcare program.
But since then, our current wage has been outpaced by the rising cost of living. Solano’s home care providers currently earn $17.70 an hour, but the living wage for one adult without children in the county is $28.22 according to MIT’s living wage calculator. Without IHSS workers, our neighbors who receive services through IHSS would lose access to essential long-term care.
We’re getting ready to start bargaining for a new contract that increases wages and improves benefits for workers and guarantees equitable access to long-term care for all who need it in our community.
Meet the Solano County IHSS providers who will represent you at the bargaining table:
Minerva Chavez
Solano County IHSS provider for 6 years.
“Along with being an IHSS provider for my daughter, I work for the school district. If I didn’t have two jobs, I wouldn’t be able to make it in this county. That’s why I am on the bargaining team — to make sure we all get better benefits and wages.”
Daphne Dunstan
Solano County IHSS provider and SEIU 2015 member since 2014.
“I joined the Solano bargaining team because I want to tell the Board of Supervisors that we need better wages and benefits. I am also fighting for my fellow IHSS providers in Solano County to be paid well, have retirement benefits, and good health insurance.”
Elizabeth Cruz
Solano County IHSS provider for 2 years.
“Our clients can’t always advocate for themselves, but as caregivers, we can fight for their rights. By making sure IHSS are good, dignified jobs, we can improve the care industry for our community members. I joined the bargaining team to give a voice to the clients, families, and caregivers in Solano County. Through using our strength and united voice, we can achieve our goals.”
Maximina Del Real
Solano County IHSS provider for over 2 years.
“I am a non-family caregiver. I joined the bargaining team because I want to learn more about how I can help my clients and fellow caregivers. Please get involved with SEIU 2015 as we start negotiating for a better contract with the Solano County Board of Supervisors.”
Maricela Chavez
Solano County IHSS provider for one year.
“As a mother of a kid with special needs, I am on the bargaining team to share the needs of care workers and people with disabilities. Through being united, we can pressure Solano County to improve our jobs and give us the benefits we need.”
With the collective power of every Solano IHSS worker, we can improve our jobs and increase access to long-term care in our county!