Meetings were held in South Lake Tahoe to mobilize members and develop local leadership for El Dorado County.

IHSS workers and activists came together with UDW staff in the Leadership Development Training program.

In this training UDW members learn about how their union works and how to contact other home care providers and get them involved.

UDW must rely heavily on members communicating with each other because most work from their homes, or their client's home and there is no "common meeting place."

Getting involved with other providers through their union gives home care workers a social and networking forum.

Above and right, some of your local El Dorado member-leaders, participating in the training.

Would you like to get involved?  Help other home care workers?  Contact UDW:
Toll Free: (888) 492-8985

Left, State Mediator counting votes.

Agency shop has been an important issue for Merced County because this unifies all IHSS home care workers in support of their union.  Agency shop means resources and costs (dues) will be shared by all workers, instead of a few paying for all to be represented.

On November 1st 2006 a vote was held, and home care workers had the opportunity to choose whether they wanted  this type of representation.  An overwhelming 71% of voted ballots were "yes" votes, and Agency Shop was approved.

UDW has been organizing volunteer-leaders in Merced County and building member-to-member communication by holding meetings and events that bring our people together.

Most IHSS workers find networking to be very helpful because it breaks the isolation of working in the home and provides opportunities to share ideas with others who have similar interests and experience.