The COVID-pandemic hasn’t just been a health crisis, it’s been an economic crisis, too. But thanks to the work of UDW members, California won’t be balancing the budget by cutting IHSS or family child care. On January 8, Governor Gavin Newsom said he heard us and our union’s demand to protect both programs and committed to permanently restore the 7% reduction to IHSS hours that’s been on the books for almost a decade. Previous budgets have restored the cut on a year-by-year basis, but we’ve made it clear to the Governor that saving money by cutting care is not an option.
“Cutting care hours for seniors and people with disabilities has been a disgraceful chapter in California history,” said UDW Executive Director Doug Moore. “We look forward to closing it in partnership with the Newsom administration.”
Cuts could return in the Governor’s Budget Revise this spring, so UDW remains vigilant—but with no cuts currently on the table, our legislative work this year will focus on raising IHSS pay, extending unemployment insurance eligibility to parent and spouse IHSS providers, securing family child care businesses, dismantling the systemic racism that disproportionately affects us and our communities, and ensuring post-pandemic economic recovery plans include UDW members and our families.
What’s next? We’ll be calling on you to help make calls to lawmakers and the Governor to fight for these priorities and more. Call your local UDW office to get involved!