Inyo County Caregivers Rally for Higher Wages and Healthcare

Inyo County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers, along with community members and supporters, rallied Tuesday at the Inyo County Board of Supervisors meeting to call for higher wages and access to healthcare. The demonstration, organized by SEIU Local 2015, the state’s largest long-term care workers’ union, is being described as the largest caregiver action in Inyo County to date.

During the meeting’s public comment period, caregivers noted they have been working without a contract for nearly two years. They said the County has not presented a meaningful proposal in ongoing negotiations.

Currently, IHSS caregivers in Inyo earn $17.25 an hour. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator, the living wage for a single adult in Inyo County is $22.10 per hour. Caregivers argue that the pay gap is pushing workers out of the profession and creating challenges for residents who rely on in-home care.

Union representatives and caregivers said they are seeking higher wages, healthcare coverage, and long-term investment in the workforce. County officials did not respond to the comments during the meeting.’

Oscar Maciel is reaching out to have this be an agenda item to have a further conversation about your contract, pending our next contract session with Inyo County’s counterproposal.