The IHSS Living Wage Campaign: What California Workers Are Fighting For

The IHSS Living Wage Campaign: What Workers Are Fighting For

California's IHSS workers — the people who get up every day to care for the elderly, blind, and disabled — have been fighting for wages they can actually live on. The campaign for a living wage in IHSS is one of the most important labor fights in the state.

What Is the Living Wage Campaign?

Led by SEIU 2015, the union representing over 400,000 IHSS workers, the living wage campaign demands:

A statewide IHSS minimum of $20/hour for all providers, regardless of county
Annual cost-of-living adjustments tied to California inflation rates
Equal treatment under labor law — the same protections as other California workers
State funding for county wage supplements so low-income counties can close the gap

Why the Current Wage Is Not Enough

IHSS workers typically earn between $18.65 and $21/hour depending on the county. Sounds reasonable — until you look at California's real cost of living:

The median rent for a 1-bedroom in Los Angeles: over $2,200/month
The median rent in the San Francisco Bay Area: over $2,600/month
A full-time IHSS worker at $18.65/hour earns about $2,900/month before taxes

After taxes, transportation, and healthcare, many IHSS workers are themselves struggling to pay rent and buy groceries. This is particularly acute for Latino, Armenian, Filipino, and other minority workers who make up the backbone of the IHSS workforce.

The Racial Equity Dimension

IHSS work is predominantly done by women of color and immigrant workers. Chronically undervaluing this work reflects a long history of excluding domestic and care workers from labor protections. SEIU 2015's living wage campaign names this explicitly — the fight for fair wages is inseparable from racial justice.

What Has the Campaign Won?

Recent wins include:

Several Bay Area counties raising wages to $20+/hour
State budget increases to the IHSS wage floor
Legislative protections against wage cuts during budget crunches

How to Get Involved

Attend your county Public Authority meetings — find yours at your county's Social Services website
Join SEIU 2015: seiu2015.org
Call your state Assembly member or Senator and ask them to fund IHSS living wages in the state budget
Share your story — SEIU 2015 uses personal testimony from workers at budget hearings

Every voice matters. The workers who show up are the ones who win.