“I went on a hunger strike, but the Fresno County Board ignored it! It’s time for change — caregivers need livable wages and healthcare.”
Fresno care provider Olga Valle Ayarzagoita knows that sacrifice is sometimes necessary to make progress. That’s why she went on a hunger strike in late May: she’s willing to take a fierce stand for livable wages and healthcare for Fresno County caregivers.
Olga understands the power of sacrifice.
“A hunger strike isn’t something you do lightly,” says Olga. “It’s not easy. It’s hard. I did one because I don’t want them to take away our healthcare insurance. I took drastic action to make the Fresno County Board of Supervisors take us seriously. On May 21st, I went on a radio show called La Unica Mexicana to announce it. I wanted it known throughout the community that I was willing to deprive myself of food for the sake of making sure caregivers are being taken care of.”
Like many caregivers in Fresno County, Olga struggles to make ends meet on poverty wages. Worse still, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors continue to threaten to completely remove healthcare coverage in order to bring their shockingly lowball offer of a 15¢ raise up to 85¢.
In County contract negotiations, the Supervisors have been trying to get caregivers to accept lower wages to stay on government assistance programs like Medi-Cal. For people like Olga, this is unacceptable. Olga knows people whose lives will be in legitimate danger if the Board strips their healthcare.
One of Olga’s friends — also a caregiver — is a cancer survivor. In early June, her doctor informed her that she needs more labs done to see if her cancer has returned. Currently, Olga’s friend can barely afford her doctor’s visits and lab tests. Without the healthcare she currently has, she wouldn’t even be able to do that much. Essentially, losing her current healthcare would be a death sentence for Olga’s friend, who has tried telling the Board of Supervisors these details at union rallies, but they don’t seem to care. She is at her wit’s end. In fact, one evening, while discussing what few healthcare options she has with Olga, she broke down in tears. She told Olga in between tears, “I contribute to this nation, to Fresno. I pay my taxes. I work hard. But I still have to worry about my healthcare being taken away. How is that fair?”
This is why Olga went on her five day hunger strike: not just for herself and her needs, but for the friends around her whose lives will be in danger if they lose their healthcare.
“It’s become a matter of life and death without adequate healthcare. My family isn’t covered by insurance in the way I think they should be,” says Olga. “But we are covered, for the most part. Sadly, there are other caregivers who have other ailments that need to be taken care of, and we’re being pushed to take a raw deal. There are people waiting to get services, and now they want to take away our healthcare on top of that? This makes no sense, and that’s why I went on the hunger strike: to bring attention to this.”
The Numbers Tell The Story.
In 2024, the salary for each Fresno County Board of Supervisor has increased by 31.3% that started with an annual of $152,000 to now $188, 272 this year. Meanwhile, more than 80% of IHSS providers in Fresno County reported working multiple jobs just to make ends meet, more than 55% of IHSS providers in Fresno County are unable to afford their medication, and more than 54% of IHSS providers in Fresno County have difficulty paying their mortgage or rent each month.
The pain of a hunger strike.
Olga’s hunger strike lasted for five days. During that time, the only things she consumed were ice water and flavored gum. Olga knows the commitment it takes to put on such a protest to make a stand.
“The pain was excruciating. I was left feeling nauseous, dizzy, and exhausted. I was very emotionally drained, since the hunger pains were a constant reminder of why I needed to do the hunger strike in the first place. What made it even worse was how the Board of Supervisors didn’t even bother to respond to the hunger strike. They ignored it! I know through the lack of compassion and empathy shown by the powers that be, the pain of being ignored was almost worse than the hunger cramps I had to endure. But it was worth it.”
Olga fights for a cause that is bigger than herself.
As a caregiver, Olga main purposes in life is to provide essential care to her autistic son, Robert. Olga has a daughter named Bobbie who helps her take care of Robert when she has to take care of other household priorities. Olga’s husband died several years ago, leaving her a widow and a single mother to provide for her two children. Before he passed away, Olga’s husband learned about SEIU 2015 and the opportunities to be a part of the union that works to improve the IHSS program and encouraged Olga to become a member nearly 9 years ago.
“I remember my husband telling me about the IHSS program. It was something he thought would better our lives, and it has. Before I entered the IHSS program, I was working as an elementary school teacher, and struggled to find balance between work and needing to care for my son, Robert.”
Due to Robert’s history under the care of teachers and other adults, Olga was happy to become Robert’s full-time caregiver. Olga has experienced trust issues mixed with bad experiences in the past relating to the care of her son before being his primary caregiver.
Olga’s hunger strike may be over, but she’ll never give up.
Olga’s son is a big part of why she embarked on the hunger strike against the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to protest on behalf of many IHSS providers like her juggling multiple jobs, barely making ends meet with low wages, and struggling to afford housing.
“It’s hard for many of us. My struggles often are paying for gas and groceries. I don’t want healthcare to become the straw that breaks the camel’s back. The healthcare situation with the Board is another example of those in power not caring enough about the needs of Fresno’s working people. For me, it is a matter of justice — It’s life and death.”
See our Fresno County IHSS updates on our web here.
Fresno County IHSS Contract Campaign
That’s why Olga and other Fresno IHSS care providers are speaking out and supporting their Union’s campaign to win the best possible contract for Homecare Workers in Fresno County, we need everyone to be involved and we need to hear from you about your priorities.
