After strong advocacy by UDW members, Governor Newsom signed bill allowing home care providers to keep their hard-fought overtime protections in the face of federal attacks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Kayla Blado 240-489-1803, kayla.blado@hailstonecommunications.com
September 18, 2025
Sacramento, Cal. —After strong advocacy by members of United Domestic Workers (UDW/AFSCME Local 3930), Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 156, protecting the right of 770,000 In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers in California to earn overtime pay, in the face of federal attacks on those protections.
“I care for my severely autistic adult son who is fully dependent on me for his daily living needs. It’s a round-the-clock job, so overtime pay is absolutely crucial for my son’s care. Some nights, I don’t go to sleep until 3 a.m. and then wake up at 4 a.m. to care for him,” said Astrid Zuniga, president of UDW. “A loss in overtime would have been a $1,200 loss in my monthly income, which would have been unsustainable. I’m grateful that Governor Newsom listened to home care providers and saved our overtime.”
In 2013, after tireless advocacy from UDW and other home care unions, the Obama administration enacted regulations to extend federal Fair Labor Standards Act protections, including the right to be paid overtime for hours worked over 40 in a week, to home care workers nationally for the first time in history. Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced plans to roll back these protections for home care workers. Today’s legislation creates in California a state right to overtime pay for IHSS providers, protecting their hard earned paychecks.
“Members of our union fought hard to gain overtime pay and we weren’t about to let Trump take it away—particularly because domestic workers have been historically excluded from labor protections,” said Doug Moore, Executive Director of United Domestic Workers. “We thank Governor Newsom for his principled leadership to defend care workers.”
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UDW represents more than 220,000 dedicated home care and family child care providers across California. Our 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 our communities.