UC’s Health Care Workers to Receive Multiple Wage Increases in Next Two Years

In line with its commitment to fair and competitive employee pay, UC is gradually increasing the minimum hourly wages for health care workers. Starting on June 1, 2024, the minimum hourly wage for designated health care employees will rise to $23/hour, with further increases of $1/hour each year until it reaches $25/hour on June 1, 2026. Additionally, UC has proposed raising the minimum wage for all AFSCME-represented employees to $24 by April of 2025.

UC’s decision to implement California Senate Bill (SB) 525 is a broader and faster plan than the newly enacted bill, which sets a new minimum wage for “covered health care employees.” However, due to evolving state budget conditions, the Governor’s office is currently reviewing the bill’s timeline. Despite this, UC remains committed to meeting the most ambitious timeline suggested in the bill and bringing these changes to certain UC workers as quickly as possible. The first step will be minimum wage increases on June 1, 2024.

Melissa Matella, associate vice president of Employee & Labor Relations at UC Office expresses excitement about acknowledging and providing wage increases for health care workers. Their dedication and resilience especially during the pandemic were crucial in ensuring that patients in the University of California Health system received optimal care.

In alignment with SB 525, UC will expand the number of overtime-eligible employees to include health care workers earning less than $71,760/year in June of this year and $74,880/year by June 1, 2025. Health care employees newly eligible for overtime will be informed of these changes and any related timekeeping obligations.

Increasing pay for UC workers is part of university’s efforts to enhance its reputation as a great place to work while also maintaining comprehensive pay benefits offerings. Recent improvements include proposed expanded paid sick leave starting on January 1st