Historic $25 Minimum Wage for Healthcare Workers Takes Effect in California

Members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are celebrating the achievement,Photo byHush Naidoo Jade PhotographyonUnsplash

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today marks a major milestone for California's healthcare workforce as the state's new $25 per hour minimum wage law officially goes into effect, labor groups celebrated.

Members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are celebrating the achievement, which they hope will improve patient care and address the staffing crisis in hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.

The wage increase, aimed at supporting the lowest-paid healthcare workers, is expected to make a significant impact on family budgets and help retain critical workers in the healthcare system. "Our community is becoming a healthcare desert, and this pay raise will not only lift our families but also ensure patients get the care they need," said Valerie Peoples, a phlebotomist from Watts Healthcare in Los Angeles.

The new wage law comes after years of organizing and was championed by Senator Maria Elena Durazo, who introduced the bill in response to the growing healthcare workforce crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law in 2023.