Thousands of home care providers throughout California are standing up — many for the first time — to build a better future through United Domestic Workers of America (UDW)-NUHHCE, an AFSCME affiliate based here.

Sixty thousand home care workers represented by UDW throughout the state already have won, or are on their way to winning, first-time contracts that raise wages and grant health care coverage. For example, 9,000 Riverside County providers gained a two-year contract that represents a 27-percent wage increase since 2003.

Eager to advance their agenda, some 250 UDW activist members attended a leadership development workshop in Bakersfield in October.

"Home care is such difficult work and goes largely unrecognized for the enormous contribution it makes to our society," says Kristine Loomis, who is physically disabled and receives care from her husband, Chris, a UDW member. "I believe that people like me also have a lot to give if we have the chance, and home care workers are essential to our survival."

Kristine served on the UDW negotiating team that won the Riverside first contract. "Because of the nature of their jobs, these workers are very isolated. So it's important that they get to meet their peers and find out they're not alone. It turns out we can do a lot when we get together."