By the Unified Savers Editorial Team
This information is based on official California DSS guidelines and is reviewed for accuracy. For case-specific legal advice, consult a qualified attorney or your local legal aid organization.
SEIU 2015, the union representing more than 500,000 California home care and nursing home workers, formally launched its “$25 by ‘27” campaign on June 10, pledging to push county IHSS wage rates to $25 per hour across all 58 California counties by the end of 2027. The announcement came at a rally in Sacramento attended by roughly 2,000 workers and marks the opening salvo in what the union expects will be contentious contract negotiations with 17 counties whose IHSS agreements expire before December 2026.
What the Campaign Demands
The $25/hour floor is the central demand, but the full platform includes three additional priorities:
- Guaranteed annual cost-of-living adjustments tied to the California Consumer Price Index, to prevent wages from falling behind inflation between contract cycles
- Expansion of paid sick leave from the current 8 days (64 hours) per year to 14 days (112 hours) annually — bringing IHSS providers in line with many other California public employees
- Funding for second-tier orientation and skills training, going beyond the 24-hour introductory training currently required under AB 1228 (2023)
SEIU 2015 President David Huerta said in a statement that the campaign reflects the realities of caregiving in a high-cost state. “Our members are choosing between buying groceries and paying rent because IHSS wages haven’t kept pace with what it actually costs to live in California,” Huerta said. “Twenty-five dollars is not a luxury — it is a floor.”
Counties in the Crosshairs
The 17 counties facing contract expirations before the end of 2026 include Fresno, Kern, San Bernardino, Stanislaus, and Tulare — all Central Valley counties where current IHSS wage rates remain close to the state minimum wage of $18.65 per hour. SEIU 2015 has identified these counties as the primary battleground, arguing that low-wage regions are driving provider shortages that leave care recipients without consistent help.
In contrast, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties — which have historically negotiated higher IHSS rates — already pay $20.25 to $22.00 per hour and are not among the 17 expiring contracts. SEIU intends to use those higher coastal rates as leverage in Central Valley negotiations.
The Funding Question
California IHSS wages are co-funded by the state and counties under the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) formula established in 2012. The state currently pays approximately 65 percent of IHSS wage and benefit costs above the county MOE floor, with the county picking up the remaining share. A wage increase to $25 per hour in all 17 targeted counties would cost the state an estimated $740 million annually in additional General Fund spending, according to a Legislative Analyst’s Office projection released in May 2026.
The LAO noted that the cost increase is manageable within the governor’s proposed 2026–27 budget, but cautioned that any significant federal Medicaid reduction — particularly those proposed in the reconciliation package currently before Congress — could force the state to scale back its IHSS wage commitments.
What This Means for Providers and Recipients
If SEIU’s campaign succeeds even partially, providers in low-wage counties could see raises of $2 to $6 per hour within 18 months. For full-time IHSS providers working the maximum 283 hours per month, a $3/hour increase represents roughly $850 more per month in gross pay.
For care recipients, higher wages tend to reduce provider turnover — a chronic problem in counties paying rates near the minimum wage floor. Stable provider relationships directly affect the quality and continuity of care, particularly for recipients with dementia, autism, or serious mental illness who are most affected by disruption.
Negotiations in the first wave of counties are expected to begin in September 2026. SEIU 2015 has announced plans for countywide work actions — including informational picketing and public testimony campaigns — if county boards of supervisors resist the $25 target.
Related guides: IHSS Pay Rates by County 2026 · SEIU 2015 County Wage Negotiations 2026 · IHSS Union Benefits Through SEIU 2015 · All 58 County IHSS Wages