The University of California (UC) is set to increase the minimum hourly wages for its health care workers, starting from June 1, 2024. This is in line with its commitment to providing fair and competitive pay for its employees. The minimum wage for designated health care employees will rise to $23/hour on June 1, 2024, $24/hour on June 1, 2025, and $25/hour on June 1, 2026. UC has also proposed raising the minimum wage for all AFSCME-represented employees to $24 by April of 2025.
In addition to this, UC is implementing California Senate Bill (SB) 525, which sets a new minimum wage for “covered health care employees.” Although the Governor’s office is currently reviewing 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.
Melissa Matella, associate vice president of Employee & Labor Relations at UC Office, expressed her excitement about acknowledging and providing wage increases for health care workers. Their dedication and resilience 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 as of 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 the university’s efforts to enhance its reputation as a great place to work while maintaining comprehensive pay, leave and benefits offerings. Recent and upcoming improvements for eligible UC employees include proposed expanded paid sick leave starting January 1st , paid leave following a reproductive loss starting January 1st , enhanced infertility benefits starting January 1st , adoption assistance starting January 1st , and paid time off for family care and bonding starting July 1st .
