Caregivers with the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program and SEIU Local 2015, joined by Dolores Huerta, local veterans, faith leaders, and social justice groups, shut down the county’s regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August 20th, 2019. The demonstrators called on the Board of Supervisors to represent and protect the needs of thousands of caregivers and their constituents. Dolores Huerta was arrested, along with seven other demonstrators, at the Fresno County Board of Supervisors while calling for a living wage for caregivers.
Dolores stated, “In-home caregivers haven’t received a decent wage increase in over 10 years. Meanwhile, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors have given themselves a hefty salary increase. I decided to get arrested because I’m angry about the way home care workers are being treated. I was appalled by the way the sheriffs were mistreating Arnulfo De La Cruz, Executive Vice President of SEIU Local 2015. He was standing there peacefully when they grabbed him by the neck. The sheriffs were behaving in a brutish and aggressive manner in response to our peaceful protest. I am proud to stand with the over 17,000 support caregivers and their care recipients. These workers save the county upwards of $50,000 a year in providing services to the county’s elderly and differently-abled. They deserve a living wage! Si Se Puede!”
