The University of California (UC) is taking a step towards fair and competitive employee pay by gradually increasing 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 beyond that. UC has also proposed raising the minimum wage for all AFSCME-represented employees to $24 by April of 2025.
In addition to these wage increases, UC is implementing California Senate Bill (SB) 525, which sets a new minimum wage for “covered health care employees.” Despite a review of the bill’s timeline due to evolving state budget conditions, UC is committed to meeting the most ambitious timeline suggested in the bill to bring these changes to certain UC workers as quickly as possible, starting with minimum wage increases on June 1, 2024.
Melissa Matella, associate vice president of Employee & Labor Relations at UC Office, expressed 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, $74,880/year as of June 1, 2025, and $78,000/year by June 1, 2026. 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 the university’s efforts to enhance its reputation as a great place to work while maintaining comprehensive pay