United Domestic Workers Alliance is a local chapter of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) government worker union based in San Diego, California. It claims to represent over 60,000 members. It is also a member of Child Care Providers United, a coalition of three unions organizing a so-called “dues skim” representation effort for providers of independently operated state-funded childcare in California.

Background

United Domestic Workers is a union for home care workers based in California. It is affiliated with the American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees as Local 3930. Members eligible to join can be home care workers for family members or others that need assistance who are sick, disabled or elderly. ^[1]

The union has its roots in California’s In-Home Supportive Service Program (IHSS) in 1973. The program was signed into law by then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan (R) to allow people with disabilities to have another option for care than a nursing home. ^[2]

In 1977, supporters of United Farm Workers founder and labor unionist Cesar Chavez formed the organizing committee that became known as the United Domestic Workers of America. In 1994, the union formally affiliated with AFSCME, among the largest organized labor groups in the country. ^[3]

In 2015, the United Domestic Workers, the California United Homecare Workers and the United Long Term Care Workers (an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union) announced a merger. This expanded union coverage for home care workers in 11 counties. ^[4]

Activism

The United Domestic Workers union joined a rally in San Francisco sponsored by the groups ICE Out of California Coalition and California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance. The rally was in opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies enforcing laws against illegal immigration. ^[5]

The UDW has also actively lobbied Congress to pass the “Dream Act,” which would shield from removal any illegal immigrants brought to the United States when they were minors. ^[6]

The union drafted legislation that the California legislature passed to require every Golden State county establish an “IHSS employer of record” and subjecting 200,000 home care workers to unionization. ^[7]

In 2000, the UDW teamed with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to gain $107 million in state tax dollars and $150 million in federal tax dollars to cover the cost of pay increases and health insurance for home care workers. ^[8]

The union clashed with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) over funding. ^[9]

The UDW claims credit for preventing a 20 percent cut in hours by the state and also restoring a seven percent cut to hours through litigation. It also claimed to have shielded the IHSS program during the Medi-Cal managed care transition. ^[10]

The union also pushed and succeeded in doing away with certain safeguards in place on homeworkers, such as eliminating a prohibition on homecare workers using a P.O. Box as their address and a fingerprint requirement and limiting home care workers to a single criminal background check. ^[11]

It also won overtime pay for the workers. It was also among the many unions that advocated for a $15 statewide hourly minimum wage for California. ^[12]

Leadership

Editha Adams is the statewide president of United Domestic Workers.

Astrid Zuniga is the executive vice president. Lientuong Rose Nguyen is the secretary-treasurer.

Doug Moore is the executive director and Johanna Puno Hester is the assistant executive director as well as the AFSCME International vice president.

The union also has 11 district vice presidents. ^[13]