Care Workers Demand Higher Wages Amid Federal Budget Cuts and Challenges

Caregiving Workforce Faces Challenges Amid Low Wages and Budget Cuts

As the caregiving industry confronts economic pressures, the livelihood of those who rely on child and home care services is becoming increasingly precarious. This reality was underscored by AFSCME members during a national summit focused on the caregiving crisis.

"Our workforces deserve to be paid living wages and respect for the work they do. They are truly saving lives," stated Astrid Zuniga, president of United Domestic Workers (UDW/AFSCME Local 3930) and a home care worker in California.

The event, held in Washington, was organized by Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) and gathered various stakeholders including members of Congress, care workers, union leaders, and policy experts, to deliberate on the importance of investing in care providers for children, the elderly, and disabled individuals.

Rep. Gomez emphasized, "When we talk about the future of the American economy, caregiving must be part of that conversation because supporting caregivers isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s one of the smartest economic investments we can actually make... When caregivers are supported, our economy is stronger."

Linda McPherson, an AFSCME District Council 37 member and president of Local 95, who is involved with Head Start in New York, highlighted the wage disparities that hinder hiring efforts, noting that many child care providers possess qualifications comparable to public school teachers but receive significantly lower pay.

McPherson remarked, "We cannot hire (Head Start) teachers because of the salaries that are being paid."

Zuniga called attention to the impact of federal subsidy reductions for child care and Medicaid cuts, which jeopardize affordable care options for working families. "We need policies that will ensure that we are investing in their workforce, that we are making it a desirable workforce. Benefits, retirement would be awesome. Just a little bit over minimum wage would be awesome," she said. "We really need solid policies to come from the federal government in order to make that happen."

The National Summit on the Caregiving Crisis provided a platform for unionized care workers to directly engage with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, advocating for policies that would not only benefit workers but also families and the broader American economy.

For those interested in the complete discussions, the summit is available for viewing in two parts here and here.