After weeks of advocates pushing him to sign SB 525, Governor Gavin Newsom finally put his signature on one of the most consequential pieces of legislation for healthcare workers in the nation last Friday, October 13.

SB 525, which has been a priority bill for SEIU, will raise the minimum wage for healthcare workers to $25/hour over the coming years. For workers in community clinics, minimum pay will increase to at least $21 in 2024, $22 in 2026, and $25 in 2027. The floor for workers at large health facilities and dialysis clinics will rise to $23/hour next year, $24 in 2024, and $25 in 2025.

Subsequently, at all sites, the $25 minimum wage would be increased annually to keep up with inflation.

“As a longtime employee of a community clinic, La Clinica, I am thrilled for what SB 525 means for my lowest-paid colleagues in particular,” said SEIU 1021 Executive Board Member Angel Valdez. 

“Raising the minimum wage for healthcare workers from clinics to hospitals will go a long way to address the ongoing staff shortages that make it harder to get our neighbors the quality care they need and deserve. We applaud Gov. Newsom for doing the right thing by signing this critical bill.”

Healthcare workers around the state, including many SEIU 1021 members, pushed for months to get SB 525 across the finish line in the California State Legislature. Getting the governor to sign was the final step to making the new minimum wage law.