Some of the lowest-paid health care workers in California will get a pay bump Wednesday under a state law gradually increasing their wages to at least 25 an hour.
Workers at rural, independent health care facilities will start making a minimum of 18 an hour, while others at hospitals with at least 10,000 full-time employees will begin getting paid at least 23 an hour this week. The law will increase workers' pay over the next decade, with the 25 hourly rate kicking in sooner for some than others.
About 350,000 workers will have to be paid more under the law starting Wednesday, according to the University of California, Berkeley Labor Center.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law last year, and workers were slated to get raises in June. Lawmakers and the governor agreed this year to delay the law to help close an estimated 46.8 billion budget shortfall.
Carmela Coyle, president and CEO of the California Hospital Association, said last year that the legislation will support workers and protect access to health care services.
