IHSS caregivers urge higher pay in large public-comment turnout at Santa Clara County meeting

Dozens of in‑home support services (IHSS) caregivers, labor leaders and allied unions pressed the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors during the June 17 public‑comment period to press county negotiators for larger wage increases and improved benefits for IHSS workers.

Speakers described long hours, multiple jobs and the difficulty of paying rent in Silicon Valley on the $20.04‑per‑hour rate they currently receive. Gina Kim, executive vice president of SEIU 2015, told the board that $20 an hour is not a living wage in the county and that 3,000,000 approved care hours went unused last year because the jobs are not competitive.

The remarks drew broad support from organized labor. Michael Hickey of the San Jose Teachers Association and Jack McGovern of the South Bay Labor Council said their memberships stand in solidarity with IHSS workers. Several speakers, including longtime IHSS providers Tanya York and Araceli Avila, described the personal consequences of the current pay rate: needing second jobs, cutting back hours, and the risk that recipients will lose critical in‑home support if providers leave the field.

Why it matters: IHSS caregivers provide essential daily services for seniors and people with disabilities; providers argued that low pay directly leads to fewer available hours for recipients and greater downstream costs such as avoidable hospitalizations.

Supporting details and proposals

- Many speakers urged the board to instruct negotiators to “prioritize dignity” by delivering a contract that increases wages and stabilizes benefits for IHSS providers. Kim of SEIU 2015 said the county should be a “driver of progress, not poverty.” - Several unions and allied groups — including Krona (Stanford nurses’ group), the South Bay Labor Council, SEIU 1021, and Working Partnerships USA — announced explicit solidarity with IHSS workers and called for an immediate contract that reflects the cost of living. - Multiple IHSS providers gave direct anecdotes describing work schedules, unpaid overtime and family caregiving responsibilities tied to low wages.

County response and next steps

Speakers requested that the board and county negotiators return to the table with a stronger offer; the board did not take a direct vote on IHSS wages during the meeting. Supervisors and county staff heard the comments during the public‑comment period; several board members acknowledged the testimony and said they would continue to follow contract negotiations and the county’s budget process.

Ending

Speakers and allied unions said they will continue public engagement and organizing while negotiations continue. The county’s next formal budget and contract actions will shape whether the requested wage and benefit changes are implemented.