Campaigns
Disaster Relief
Western Service Workers Association (WSWA) led disaster relief after the Pajaro floods in 2023 that left thousands of residents flooded out of their homes, with no notice, and without work. WSWA ran large-scale distributions of material resources for all residents affected by the flood, and continues to assist residents applying for FEMA aid and getting access to the resources they were promised by official agencies.
Utility Fight
WSWA Members are Leading the Fight for Affordable, Reliable and Sustainable and Modern Energy for All.
Santa Cruz County WBC mobilized a delegation to the California Public Utilities Commission in San Francisco on June 2, 2022 to express opposition to PG&E’s third rate-increase request of 2022. Members and volunteers joined an informational picket line and held up signs saying “Stop the Shutoffs!” and “NO MORE RATE INCREASES!” WSWA members and supporters are continuing to demand affordable electricity rates.
IHSS Fight
Western Service Workers Association (WSWA) members who work as caregivers through the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program and their allies have mobilized through the Santa Cruz County Workers Benefit Council (WBC) to Sacramento to fight cuts to the IHSS program, demand overtime pay, additional hours of work and higher pay. These mobilizations have won significant victories for caregivers and care recipients throughout the state.
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. Every year since our founding in 1974, 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.
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
Holiday Campaign
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.
