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IHSS providers urge Orange County supervisors to press for stronger contract offer
Summary
Dozens of in‑home supportive services caregivers told the Orange County Board of Supervisors the county’s recent bargaining proposal is insufficient and amounts to bargaining in bad faith, asking supervisors to back higher wages and benefits for more than 47,000 local providers.
Dozens of in‑home supportive services caregivers urged the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to press county negotiators for a stronger contract that raises wages and benefits for caregivers who provide home care to seniors and people with disabilities.
The caregivers, who identified themselves as members of United Domestic Workers (UDW) and as IHSS providers, told the board the county’s bargaining proposal offered “next to nothing” and described recent bargaining sessions as one‑sided. “I cannot emphasize enough how truly shocked and disgusted I was by the county's proposal or lack of,” Cynthia Williams, an IHSS provider and UDW member representing District 3, said during public comment.
The speakers said they want supervisors to use their influence to secure a meaningful agreement. “We are the people she pledged to serve. It's time for her to stand with us,” Angie Nguyen, an IHSS provider and UDW chair for the Orange County area, told the board, referring to a supervisor who represents her district. Tanya Ferrucci, an IHSS provider and UDW member from District 5, said the board’s handling of negotiations had shown “disregard” for providers and asked supervisors to stop bargaining in bad faith.
Why it matters: IHSS caregivers provide personal care that allows more than 51,000 county residents to live at home, the speakers said. Several commenters linked low pay and benefits to caregiver attrition and higher long‑term care costs for the county if clients must move into institutional settings. Speakers cited county and district totals during remarks: the group cited “over 47,000” IHSS providers countywide, about 13,500 in District 2, nearly 12,000 in District 3 and roughly 10,000 in District 5.
Supporters asked specific supervisors to take public stands. Several speakers addressed Supervisor Katrina Foley, who represents District 5, urging her to continue advocating for higher pay and better benefits. “Support us by demanding fair wages and benefits that reflect the essential work we do,” Catherine Louie, an IHSS provider in District 5, said.
Board members did not take public action on the contract during public comment; the remarks were presented during the meeting’s public comment period. The union and the county’s negotiating teams remain the primary parties in the labor talks. Speakers repeatedly described the county’s most recent proposal as insufficient and called for supervisors to press county negotiators for a revised offer.
The public comment period on IHSS included several speakers from different districts who described long caregiving tenures and the challenges of covering household costs in Orange County. Speakers asked the board to endorse a better bargaining position as a way to retain caregivers and to protect recipients who rely on in‑home care.
Speakers listed union membership and district representation during their remarks. The board did not respond with votes or formal direction during the public comment time; the issue remains in ongoing labor negotiations between county staff and UDW.
