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 ratified new multi-year collective bargaining agreements with Sacramento, Alameda, and Riverside Counties between February and May 2026, delivering wage increases ranging from $1.25 to $2.00 per hour for IHSS providers and expanded health benefit access in all three counties. The contracts, covering more than 80,000 providers combined, represent the union’s most productive county bargaining cycle in four years and demonstrate that local contract pressure can deliver gains beyond the SB 525 wage floor.
Collective bargaining is the mechanism by which IHSS providers — represented by SEIU 2015 in most of California’s 58 counties — negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions directly with county boards of supervisors. While the state minimum wage and SB 525 set a floor, counties have significant discretion to pay above it. Winning above-floor rates requires organizing, sustained public pressure, and skilled contract negotiations at the county level.
Sacramento County: $19.50 to $21.50
The Sacramento County IHSS Memorandum of Understanding, ratified February 18, 2026, raises the hourly wage from $19.50 to $21.50 — effective immediately upon ratification. The two-year agreement also includes:
- A $0.50/hour increase in January 2027, bringing the rate to $22.00
- Health benefit threshold reduction from 115 hours per month to 100 hours per month, extending coverage to an estimated 4,200 additional providers
- Paid sick leave accrual increase from 40 hours to 48 hours per calendar year
- A joint labor-management committee with quarterly meetings to address enrollment backlog and payroll issues
Sacramento County’s Board of Supervisors approved the contract on a 4-1 vote, with the majority citing the economic contribution of IHSS providers and the cost savings of home-based care versus institutionalization. The dissenting vote cited fiscal pressures from anticipated federal Medicaid cuts.
For Sacramento County providers: Your new rate of $21.50/hour was retroactively applied to hours worked on or after February 18. If your paychecks have not yet reflected the retroactive adjustment, contact the Sacramento County IHSS payroll office at (916) 875-3700.
Alameda County: $21.00 to $22.25
Alameda County’s new three-year agreement, ratified April 9, 2026, raises IHSS provider wages from $21.00 to $22.25 per hour, with additional increases of $0.75 in 2027 and $0.75 in 2028 — reaching $23.75/hour by the contract’s final year.
Additional provisions include:
- Dental and vision benefit improvements, adding orthodontic coverage for dependents of qualifying providers
- Mileage reimbursement formalization: the contract now expressly requires the county to process recipient-transportation reimbursement requests within 30 days
- A $250 one-time ratification bonus for providers who were active as of April 1, 2026
SEIU 2015 negotiators credited sustained member turnout at three Board of Supervisors hearings in January and February 2026 as central to the final outcome. More than 600 IHSS providers attended the February 7 hearing — the largest provider turnout at an Alameda County board meeting in recent memory.
For Alameda County providers: The $250 ratification bonus will be issued as a separate payment in July 2026. Confirm your direct deposit information is current with your county IHSS office to ensure the payment reaches you without delay.
Riverside County: $17.50 to $19.00
Riverside County’s agreement, ratified May 22, 2026, is the most significant gain in proportional terms: a $1.50/hour increase from $17.50 to $19.00, representing nearly an 8.6% raise for the county’s approximately 22,000 IHSS providers.
The two-year agreement includes:
- A $0.75/hour increase in January 2027, reaching $19.75/hour
- First-ever contract language establishing a joint safety committee to address workplace safety issues for IHSS providers, including home visit safety guidelines
- Commitment from the county to apply for a state innovation grant to pilot GPS-based timesheet confirmation to reduce disputed submissions
SEIU 2015 Riverside chapter president noted that the county’s initial offer was $0.50/hour — and that 14 months of sustained bargaining and a member-led campaign that included postcards sent to all five Board of Supervisors members were necessary to reach the final agreement.
For Riverside County providers: Your new wage of $19.00/hour took effect with the pay period beginning May 25, 2026. The January 2027 increase will be automatic — no action needed from providers.
What These Wins Mean for the Broader IHSS Workforce
These three county contracts illustrate two dynamics that apply to all IHSS providers across California.
The floor is not the target. SB 525’s $21/hour floor (effective July 1, 2026) sets the minimum, but active union organizing and county-level contract campaigns can consistently deliver wages above it. Counties like Alameda are now tracking toward $23.75 — nearly $3/hour above where SB 525 will stand in 2028.
Benefits are as important as wages. The health benefit threshold reduction in Sacramento County — which brings thousands of additional providers into health coverage — has an estimated value of $350–$500 per month for newly eligible providers. Contract campaigns that focus only on wages can miss this leverage.
Organizing participation drives outcomes. SEIU 2015 representatives across all three counties cited member attendance at board meetings, personal outreach to supervisors, and public testimony as determinative factors. Providers who show up move outcomes; those who don’t participate leave that leverage unused.
Providers in counties where contracts are currently in negotiation — including San Bernardino, Kern, and Tulare — can contact their SEIU 2015 chapter at (855) 810-2015 to learn how to participate in the bargaining process.
For more IHSS wage and worker rights news, visit Unified Savers.
Related articles: SEIU 2015 Road to $25 Wage Campaign · IHSS Pay Rate California 2026 by County · IHSS Provider Health Insurance