Members of SEIU Local 2015, part of the largest long-term care workers union in the country, representing over 400,000 home care, nursing home and assisted living center workers are taking their message to the streets each weekend here in Susanville, sharing their stories with the community and urging residents to sign their petition. The group will rally along Susanville’s Main Street every Saturday from 11:00a.m. until 1:00p.m. until they receive what they believe is a fair contract.
“We invite all supportive community members to join us in solidarity,” explains SEIU Local 2015 organizer Jacob Hibbitts. “If you see us on the streets of Susanville, you can join us, sign our petition or simply Honk for Homecare!”
According to Hibbitts, elected officials in Modoc County, often the poorest county in the state, passed an 85-cent wage supplement so that every single one of its In Home Supportive Services providers receive an hourly wage increase of $1.85 by January 2022.
“The same workers in Lassen County are still waiting after more than 5-years to receive anything above the bare minimum. In fact, Lassen County is only one of two counties in the entire state to not sign a contract with its caregivers.”
“Upon going to the table for negotiations with Modoc County, IHSS providers were directly told that the County Board of Supervisors wanted to show they value their caregivers. Upon going to the table in 2016, Lassen’s providers – the workers who care for your elderly and disabled neighbors and family – were shown the door.”
The group’s petition is at Forest Office Supply in uptown Susanville, or you can sign at one of the Honk for Homecare rallies, or go to this website to sign up your name, business or organization to the list of supporters.
“Lassen County care providers have fought hard for more than 5-years, while working multiple jobs to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. Meanwhile, rather than giving its workers a raise – which was well within their means – Lassen’s Board of Supervisors decided to pay an expensive fine. That’s correct: Instead of giving frontline essential workers an affordable and well deserved wage, they sent your tax money to Sacramento.”
Hibbitts said that many of these workers were left with little choice but to upend their professional lives to care for a family member and make less than most fast food workers in Lassen County; and far below other healthcare workers.
“In fact, the need for more of these workers is only rising, but the number of workers remains stagnant,” he stated. “Without an adequate wage, the disabled and elderly of Lassen County will continue to suffer staffing shortages that are directly detrimental to their health. Support from the community will help us to lift these workers out of poverty.”
