A few of the lowest-paid well being care staff in California will get a pay bump Wednesday underneath a state legislation steadily growing their wages to at the very least $25 an hour.
Staff at rural, impartial well being care services will begin making a minimal of $18 an hour, whereas others at hospitals with at the very least 10,000 full-time workers will start getting paid at the very least $23 an hour this week. The legislation will improve staff’ pay over the following decade, with the $25 hourly fee kicking in sooner for some than others.
About 350,000 staff should be paid extra underneath the legislation beginning Wednesday, in keeping with the College of California, Berkeley Labor Middle.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation final 12 months, and staff had been slated to get raises in June. Lawmakers and the governor agreed this 12 months to delay the legislation to assist shut an estimated $46.8 billion funds shortfall.
Carmela Coyle, president and CEO of the California Hospital Affiliation, mentioned final 12 months that the laws will help staff and defend entry to well being care providers.
“SB 525 strikes the best stability between considerably enhancing wages whereas defending jobs and safeguarding care at neighborhood hospitals all through the state,” she mentioned in an announcement.
California’s minimal wage for many staff within the state is $16 an hour. Voters will resolve in November whether or not to extend the speed steadily to $18 an hour by 2026, which might be the very best statewide minimal wage within the U.S. Quick meals staff in California now must be paid at the very least $20 hourly underneath a legislation Newsom signed final 12 months.
Some well being care suppliers raised considerations when the legislation was handed final 12 months that it could pose a monetary burden on hospitals as they tried to get well from the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation could lead on suppliers to chop hours and jobs, critics mentioned.
Many hospitals within the state have already begun implementing wage will increase underneath the legislation’s unique timeline, mentioned Sarah Bridge, vice chairman of advocacy and technique with the Affiliation of California Healthcare Districts.
“It clearly does create monetary pressures that weren’t there earlier than,” Bridge mentioned of the legislation. “However our members are all poised and able to enact the change.”
