Margitte Kristjansson is the Communications Manager for UDW Homecare Providers Union, AFSCME Local 3930/AFL-CIO

Meet the caregivers who are standing up for a living wage, dignity

by Margitte Kristjansson

and Allison Padgett

It is inconceivable but true: in 2015 there are workers in America that don’t have the right to a minimum wage.

What’s worse, these workers are responsible for taking care of the most important people in our lives—our grandparents, parents, friends, and loved ones who require in-home support to stay safe and healthy at home. And thanks in part to our aging baby boomers, homecare is the fastest-growing occupation in America.

California caregivers stage daily vigils at Governor’s office

by Margitte Kristjansson


When Governor Brown announced that he was stopping implementation of overtime pay and other wage protections for hundreds of thousands of IHSS homecare workers, the caregivers of UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 launched into action.

Yesterday marked the start of just one of their many statewide actions in the fight to win back their rights: every day in February, homecare workers are staging a vigil starting at 10 AM outside of the governor’s office.