New contract raises wages to $20.07/hr on March 1st for 4,200 workers, so they can afford the rising cost of living and support their family
Santa Barbara, Cal.—This week, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved a three-year union contract for In-Home Supportive Service (IHSS) workers represented by United Domestic Workers (UDW/AFSCME Local 3930) with significant raises and strengthened benefits, that will ensure quality care for seniors and people living with disabilities. The contract gains come at a time when Santa Barbara County has an aging population, and demand for home care services is skyrocketing. IHSS workers provide their clients with the care they need to live with dignity, health and freedom, including bathing, feeding, grocery shopping, medication reminders, ensuring they receive proper medical care, and providing crucial companionship.
UDW represents just over 4,200 IHSS workers throughout Santa Barbara County, and is one of the largest unions in California, with over 220,000 home care and child care providers across the state. The contract was overwhelmingly approved by 98% of member voters and goes into effect on January 1, 2026.
“Together, we’re able to achieve higher pay for thousands of homecare workers in Santa Barbara County. This contract shows that there’s power in numbers, and we all win when more workers have a voice,” said Courtney Cazenave, a Santa Barbara County IHSS worker. “We’re going to keep pushing for higher pay, training, and benefits so that homecare workers are fully compensated for their vital contributions to our communities.”
The contract provides the following wage increases for Santa Barbara County IHSS providers:
- $19.07/hr effective January 1, 2026, due to statewide minimum wage increase
- $20.07/hr effective March 1, 2026;
- $20.40/hr or $3.50 above minimum wage (whichever is higher) effective July 1, 2027.
“Our Santa Barbara members are the backbone of our community, serving seniors and people with disabilities. This contract, and the others we’ve ratified in 2025, show that workers can do powerful things when we come together,” said UDW Executive Director Doug Moore. “In 2026 and beyond, we’re going to keep fighting for home care workers to be paid fairly for their vital work. As we see drastic cuts on care at a federal level, it’s incredibly important for counties to continue to value home care workers’ contributions to our communities.”
In 2025, UDW members have ratified eight IHSS contracts across the state, increasing wages and benefits for over 147,000 workers so that they can continue to provide quality care for California’s seniors and people with disabilities.
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UDW represents more than 220,000 dedicated home care and family child care providers across California and is one of the largest unions in the state. Their members are the backbone of care for seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working families—fighting for fair wages, better working conditions, and policies that strengthen communities.