Advocacy for In-Home Supportive Services Workers and Recipients
WSWA members and volunteers have attended dozens of California Senate and Assembly hearings to stop cuts to the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program and to join IHSS worker members in advocating for living wages. Together with other labor associations, WSWA members have won overtime pay and health and safety benefits that were previously denied IHSS workers. Members who are IHSS recipients have also organized to ensure they and other recipients are given adequate hours of care, to avoid unnecessary and costly emergency room visits, as well as preventable early deaths for our most vulnerable citizens.
IHSS is one of the largest employers in the state of California with over 520,000 employees caring for over 600,000 recipients. IHSS is the largest employer in Shasta County. WSWA’s advocacy has improved the conditions of these workers and recipients of in-home care, ensuring that those who provide care for our elderly and disabled population are adequately compensated and able to participate in the local economy.
Campaign for Affordable Utilities
WSWA members and volunteers have mobilized to attend California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) hearings to fight rate increases, as well as advocacy to prevent utility shutoffs. WSWA’s efforts have forced the CPUC to reduce $2 billion in proposed PG&E rate hikes.
WSWA succeeded in moving Redding city officials to roll back a 1.5% Redding Electric Utility rate increase and end onerous reconnect and transfer fees, while implementing weatherization programs.
January - March
Winter Survival Campaign
Statistically, WSWA’s budget-saving Winter Survival Campaign saves at least six lives each winter when our members mobilize to aid one another in preventing disasters, such as house fires caused by unsafe heating methods or fatalities from untreated illness, inadequate nutrition and shelter. WSWA’s firewood benefit distributes wood for home heat for members otherwise at risk for freezing in the winter. Every year since our founding in 1977, we have been getting food out to hundreds of membership families in low-income communities and keeping members housed through individual advocacy.
August - September
Back-to-School Campaign
The expenses low-income working parents face for back-to-school clothes and supplies, medical exams for school entry and immunizations can break an already over-stretched budget. Our Back-to-School clothing and supply distribution can save WSWA membership families up to $500 – money that can be used to pay for rent, utilities, food and medicines these families will otherwise be forced to do without.
October
Halloween Events
WSWA's annual Children's Safe and Sane Halloween Party and chaperoned Trick-or-Treat for Service Workers is the first in a series of events organized by and for low-income workers and their families through the holiday season. Join the Halloween festivities! You can:
• Volunteer
• Assist on the Trick-or-Treat for Service Workers
• Learn to coordinate the games at the party
• Decorate the event site
November - December
Holiday Events
WSWA volunteers have created budget-saving programs for members to help other members meet seasonal needs such as holiday food basket distributions for Thanksgiving and Christmas time, and holiday toy distributions to parents for their private family gift giving to their children.
