As an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) provider in California, you are part of a workforce of nearly 700,000 caregivers who make it possible for elderly, disabled, and blind Californians to live with dignity in their own homes. It’s meaningful, demanding work — and like any workforce, providers have organizations working on their behalf.
This guide offers a straightforward look at the unions that represent IHSS and WPCS providers in California: what they are, what they do, how dues work, what membership includes, and what your options are if you ever have questions about your participation. Our goal is simply to give you the information you need to feel confident and informed about this part of your life as a provider.
A Brief Background: How IHSS Unions Got Started
California’s IHSS program pays for caregivers — often family members — to provide in-home support to elderly, blind, and disabled residents who qualify for Medi-Cal. For most of the program’s early history, providers had no collective voice in setting their wages or working conditions.
That changed in 1999, when California gave IHSS providers the legal right to unionize and collectively bargain. Since then, county-level IHSS Public Authorities have served as the official “employer of record,” and unions have negotiated Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with each county’s Board of Supervisors covering wages, health benefits, and other working conditions.
Today, IHSS bargaining units across California’s 58 counties are organized under two major unions.
The Two Unions That Represent IHSS Providers
1. SEIU Local 2015
Service Employees International Union Local 2015 is the largest union in California and describes itself as the nation’s largest long-term care union, representing more than half a million nursing home workers and home care providers statewide.
SEIU 2015 primarily represents IHSS providers in California’s larger and more urban counties, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Ventura, Fresno, Monterey, and others organized across five regional offices.
Contact: Member Action Center — (855) 810-2015, Monday–Friday 7 AM–7 PM
Website: seiu2015.org
2. UDW/AFSCME Local 3930
United Domestic Workers of America (UDW), affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), was founded in 1979. UDW represents over 200,000 home care and family child care providers in California and operates in many of the state’s smaller and mid-sized counties.
UDW represents IHSS providers in counties including Alpine, Butte, El Dorado, Imperial, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Stanislaus, Sutter, and Tuolumne, among others.
Contact: Member Benefits Center — 1-800-621-5016
Website: udw.org
Not sure which union represents your county? The easiest way to find out is to check your pay stub — the union name will appear next to your dues deduction. You can also contact your county’s IHSS Public Authority directly.
What Is the Purpose of These Unions?
Both SEIU 2015 and UDW exist to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions on behalf of IHSS providers. Because providers work for individual care recipients rather than a single employer, they have no traditional employer to negotiate with — the union fills that role by bargaining with county governments on their behalf.
In practical terms, the unions work to:
- Negotiate wage increases through collective bargaining with county Boards of Supervisors. IHSS wages are set county-by-county and currently range from $16.00 to $21.50 per hour across the state (as of July 2024), with wages above minimum wage typically the result of union contracts.
- Secure health benefits for providers who work a sufficient number of hours. Health coverage availability and eligibility thresholds vary significantly by county.
- Advocate in Sacramento on legislation affecting IHSS funding, provider rights, and program expansion.
- Provide member support services including help navigating timesheet issues, paycheck problems, and IHSS administrative questions.
- Offer training opportunities to help providers improve their caregiving skills and professional development.
- Lobby against program cuts that would reduce hours or funding for IHSS recipients and providers.
Both unions have also advocated for a shift from county-level bargaining to statewide bargaining, arguing this would reduce wage and benefit disparities between counties. Legislation to that effect (AB 283) was advancing in the California legislature as of mid-2025.
How Much Do Union Dues Cost?
Union dues are automatically deducted from your IHSS paycheck by the state. Here’s what each union currently charges:
SEIU Local 2015 Dues
- Regular Members: 3% of gross wages per month
- Monthly minimum: $15.50
- Monthly maximum: $45.00
- Associate, Displaced, and Retiree Members: $15.50 per month flat rate
- Average dues paid in 2022: approximately $471 per year (per federal filings)
UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 Dues
- 3.5% of gross monthly pay
- Monthly minimum: $20 (equivalent to $240/year minimum)
- Monthly maximum: $49 (equivalent to $588/year maximum)
- Average dues paid in 2022: approximately $444 per year (per federal filings)
Note: Because dues are calculated based on your authorized IHSS hours, they may fluctuate from month to month. UDW notes that dues calculations typically run 2–3 months behind your current hours, so changes in your workload won’t appear on your paycheck immediately.
What Do You Get as a Member?
Union membership provides access to several concrete resources, though what’s available to you personally will depend on your county and how many hours you work.
Wage representation: The union negotiates your pay rate with your county. Providers in counties with active union contracts have generally seen higher wages than those in counties where negotiations have stalled. It’s worth noting that the negotiated contract applies to all providers in a county, whether or not they are union members.
Health benefits (where available): In 28 of California’s 58 counties, some or all providers have access to health insurance through their IHSS employment. Eligibility typically requires working a minimum number of authorized hours per month for two consecutive months. In Los Angeles County, for example, SEIU 2015 negotiated a health plan available to providers working 74 or more hours per month. Details and eligibility thresholds vary significantly by county.
Member support line: Both unions operate member hotlines where providers can get help with IHSS-related questions — timesheets, paycheck errors, client issues, and navigating the system.
Training: Both unions offer or connect members to caregiver training programs, including the state’s IHSS Career Pathways program, a statewide training catalog designed to help providers build skills in their field.
Legislative advocacy: Both unions lobby at the state and county level to protect IHSS funding, expand provider rights, and push back against program cuts that would affect both caregivers and the people they care for.
UDW-specific member benefits: UDW lists access to a low-cost group dental plan (available to members regardless of hours worked), a credit union membership, and free or low-cost college enrollment assistance as part of its membership package.
One important clarification: Even if you are not a union member, the terms of the union’s contract with your county still apply to you. You do not need to be a dues-paying member to receive the wages and benefits negotiated under the MOU. The main difference is that non-members cannot vote on contracts, attend union meetings as members, or participate in internal union elections and affairs.
A Note on Automatic Enrollment
Many IHSS providers are surprised to learn that union dues may be deducted from their paycheck even if they never signed a union membership card. Dues deductions can begin automatically depending on how your county’s arrangement with the union is structured.
This reflects how union contracts with government employer-of-record arrangements generally work in California. However, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2014 decision in Harris v. Quinn, IHSS providers were found to have First Amendment protections that give them the right to stop paying union dues without losing their job or their pay. This means stopping dues deductions is a legal right, not a privilege — and there is no penalty for exercising it.
Thinking About Leaving the Union?
If you’ve decided that union membership isn’t the right fit for you, you have the right to opt out. The process for doing so is different depending on which union represents your county, and the specifics — including timing windows, required documentation, and processing timelines — vary enough that it’s worth going to the right sources for guidance.
A few things are true regardless of which union you belong to:
- Opting out does not affect your ability to work as an IHSS provider or receive payment for your work.
- Your client’s care services are not impacted in any way.
- The union’s negotiated contract for your county continues to apply to you after you leave — your wages and any negotiated benefits remain in place.
- You’ll no longer be able to participate in internal union activities such as voting on contracts or union leadership.
Because the process differs between SEIU 2015 and UDW, and because the details matter, we recommend going directly to sources that walk through the steps for your specific union:
To learn about opting out of SEIU Local 2015: Visit seiu2015.org or call their Member Action Center at (855) 810-2015. The union’s own website provides information about the resignation process. Third-party opt-out guidance specific to SEIU 2015 is also available at optouttoday.com/seiu-2015.
To learn about opting out of UDW/AFSCME Local 3930: Visit udw.org or call their Member Benefits Center at 1-800-621-5016. Third-party opt-out guidance for UDW is available at optouttoday.com/udw-afscme-3930.
If you need additional help navigating the process: The Freedom Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides free assistance to IHSS providers who want to stop union dues deductions. They have staff experienced specifically in helping California caregivers work through this process. You can reach them at freedomfoundation.com.
Whatever you decide, taking the time to understand your options — and going to the right resources for accurate, union-specific guidance — will make the process much smoother.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to join the union to be an IHSS provider? No. Union membership is voluntary. The union’s contract with your county covers all providers in that county, but you are not required to be a member to work as an IHSS provider.
Will opting out affect my wages or benefits? No. Your wages are set by the county MOU regardless of your membership status. Health benefits tied to your employment are similarly available to non-members if they meet the hour requirements set by your county.
What if my county isn’t listed under either union? Some counties may be in active bargaining, may have recently changed representation, or may have a different arrangement. Contact your county’s IHSS Public Authority to confirm which union, if any, represents providers in your area.
Can I rejoin the union after opting out? Yes. If you opt out and later decide to rejoin, you can sign a new membership card with the union at any time.
I never signed anything. Why are dues being taken out? Dues deductions are authorized through the union’s collective bargaining agreement with your county. Even without signing a membership card, deductions may begin automatically. Your right to stop them is protected under the Harris v. Quinn Supreme Court decision. Contacting your union directly is the best first step.
My dues seem to change month to month. Is that normal? Yes, for IHSS providers. Dues are based on authorized hours, not a flat salary, so they fluctuate with your workload. Both unions also process dues on a delay, so changes in your hours won’t show up immediately on your pay stub.
The Bottom Line
The unions representing California’s IHSS and WPCS providers — SEIU Local 2015 and UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 — play a meaningful role in shaping wages and working conditions for hundreds of thousands of caregivers across the state. They have secured wage increases above minimum wage in many counties and negotiated health benefits where none previously existed.
At the same time, membership is not required, dues are not insignificant (averaging $444–$471 per year), and every provider has the legal right to opt out without any effect on their ability to work and be paid.
Whatever you decide, the most important thing is that your decision is an informed one. If you have questions about your specific county’s union representation, wages, or benefits, your county IHSS Public Authority is always a reliable starting point.
IHSSConnect is a California-based platform connecting IHSS caregivers and care recipients across all 58 counties. We do not represent or affiliate with any union or employer organization. This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal questions about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.
Related Resources
- SEIU Local 2015: seiu2015.org | (855) 810-2015
- UDW/AFSCME Local 3930: udw.org | 1-800-621-5016
- Opt-out guidance: optouttoday.com
- Freedom Foundation (free assistance): freedomfoundation.com
- California DHSS IHSS provider information: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ihss-providers
