California lawmakers could vote to raise the minimum wage for health care workers to $25 an hour.Senate Bill 525 is expected to go to the assembly on Thursday before the session closes for the year.If passed, not all health care workers would see an immediate increase. Early opposition to the bill stated concerns that raising the minimum wage would lead to more pricey health care services, especially in rural areas.The bill has since been rewritten breaking down health care facilities into four groups: large health care systems and hospitals and all dialysis clinics, smaller health care facilities, high public payor facilities and community clinics.According to the bill, rural health clinics would have until June of 2027 to reach the minimum wage increase of $25. “Right now in the state of California, we have a staffing crisis in our hospitals and that staffing crisis is affecting patient care. Our communities deserve the highest standard of patient care and our healthcare workers want to provide that,” said Joseph Brown, Radiologic technician and SEIU United Healthcare Workers executive committee member. The wage increase would impact everyone under the healthcare umbrella including janitors, food staff and transporters.”If the room isn’t clean, then you get an infection is that less important than the doctor doing the work? No. Everybody has a role to play. We’re a team,” Brown said.If the bill passes both the Assembly and the Senate it will go to the governor’s desk, who will then have 30 days to decide if he will sign it into law.
California lawmakers could vote to raise the minimum wage for health care workers to $25 an hour.
Senate Bill 525 is expected to go to the assembly on Thursday before the session closes for the year.
If passed, not all health care workers would see an immediate increase.
Early opposition to the bill stated concerns that raising the minimum wage would lead to more pricey health care services, especially in rural areas.
The bill has since been rewritten breaking down health care facilities into four groups: large health care systems and hospitals and all dialysis clinics, smaller health care facilities, high public payor facilities and community clinics.
According to the bill, rural health clinics would have until June of 2027 to reach the minimum wage increase of $25.
“Right now in the state of California, we have a staffing crisis in our hospitals and that staffing crisis is affecting patient care. Our communities deserve the highest standard of patient care and our healthcare workers want to provide that,” said Joseph Brown, Radiologic technician and SEIU United Healthcare Workers executive committee member.
The wage increase would impact everyone under the healthcare umbrella including janitors, food staff and transporters.
“If the room isn’t clean, then you get an infection is that less important than the doctor doing the work? No. Everybody has a role to play. We’re a team,” Brown said.
If the bill passes both the Assembly and the Senate it will go to the governor’s desk, who will then have 30 days to decide if he will sign it into law.