UDW, the union representing 48,000 Orange County care workers, gathered in Westminster to educate the community on the importance of prioritizing care for workers, people with disabilities, and seniors

In-home caregivers from across Orange County gathered on Wednesday, April 29, at Asian Garden Mall to rally in support of the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program and educate the public—including local business owners– to urge the Orange County Board of Supervisors to invest in care work. Over 250 people came out to support these vital care workers, and many local business owners put up signs of support in their windows.

United Domestic Workers (UDW), one of California’s largest labor unions, represents more than 250,000 care workers across the state. In Orange County, 48,000 care workers provide care to 55,000 IHSS recipients. Union members are demanding that the County Board of Supervisors bargain in good faith and prioritize good wages and benefits for caregivers.

United Domestic Workers (UDW), one of California’s largest labor unions, represents more than 250,000 care workers across the state. In Orange County, 48,000 care workers provide care to 55,000 IHSS recipients. Union members are demanding that the County Board of Supervisors bargain in good faith and prioritize good wages and benefits for caregivers.

Over 14,000 recipients of IHSS care in Orange County—more than a quarter of all IHSS recipients in Orange County—identify as Vietnamese. Home care workers provide vital services to seniors and people with disabilities, but are paid just $18.90 per hour. According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, a single adult in Orange County would need to be paid at least $36.53 an hour to support themselves. With the cost of groceries, gas, and utilities rising, many workers are struggling to make ends meet for themselves and their families.

“Being a care provider is a difficult job, period,” said Cynthia Williams, a UDW member and IHSS provider in Anaheim. “But as the cost of living has increased in recent months, my family has had to make real sacrifices—from driving less to foregoing certain groceries. But, with no end in sight to skyrocketing prices, we need the Orange County Board of Supervisors to acknowledge the important role we play in our communities and pay us fairly for the care we provide.”

“The Vietnamese community has a strong tradition of taking care of our elders and community members with disabilities. I’m proud to be an IHSS provider to family members who rely on me for their daily needs, such as personal hygiene, cooking specialized meals, dispensing and monitoring medication, taking them to medical appointments, cleaning, and giving them companionship,” said Angie Nguyen, an IHSS provider in Garden Grove. “The work we do is vital and needed, so our seniors and people living with disabilities can thrive, and we need the Orange County Board of Supervisors to stand up and invest in care work.”

UDW’s current Memorandum of Understanding with the Board of Supervisors expires on June 30, 2026. So far, the Board of Supervisors has been slow to respond to the union’s requests to increase wages. UDW members have shown up en masse to the last two Board of Supervisors meetings to express the importance of their work and are asking community leaders to support their fight.

The IHSS program is partially funded by Medicaid. Last year, Republicans in Congress and President Trump passed and signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will cut one trillion dollars in Medicaid money, in order to give a massive tax break to billionaires. While California faces a budget deficit and Orange County faces a rapidly aging population, the Board of Supervisors urgently needs to fund the IHSS program to attract and retain qualified care providers to keep up with the communities’ needs

On Tuesday, April 28, UDW also brought their message directly to the Board of Supervisors in Santa Ana with the same message in English and Spanish: Invest in OC home care workers!

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UDW represents more than 250,000 dedicated home care and family child care providers across California. Their 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.