Minimum Wage At UC Schools Jumps To $13 Per Hour

The minimum wage for thousands of workers at University of California campuses across the state increased to $13 an hour Thursday, the first in a series of bumps that will push the wage to $15 by October 2017.

UC President Janet Napolitano announced the wage hikes in July. Under the plan, all employees who work 20 hours or more a week will be paid at least $13 an hour beginning today. All new and renewing contracts with the university will also require that workers be paid the same minimum wage.

The wage will rise to $14 an hour on Oct. 1, 2016, and to $15 on Oct. 1, 2017.

“Supporting the employees -- and their families -- who help make UC a leading institution is an important part of our values as a public university,” Napolitano said.

The University of California system is the state’s third-largest employer, with about 195,000 employees at its 10 campuses, five medical centers, three national labs, the Office of the President, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources and other locations, according to UC.

The new minimum wage is being implemented over the course of three years to give universities time to plan and budget for the cost increase, UC officials said. UC officials said the bulk of funding for the increase comes from the system’s ancillary funds, such as sales in bookstores and food services, not tuition and fees or sources that support core instructional programs.

The increase will not only apply to direct university employees, but to all employees of university contractors as well. Along with the increase, the university plans to more closely monitor contractors’ wages and working conditions.

The UC opened a new phone hotline and central online system for contract workers to report complaints and violations to the Office of the President. Audits of contractors will be conducted to guarantee they pay employees at least the new minimum wage, UC officials said, as well as to ensure compliance with various laws and policies.

• Also see:
• New Leaf to Raise Starting Wage to $12 per Hour
• Stanford Career Advice: Five Strategies for Making a Career Pivot
• Thousands Of Job Openings Posted In California Over The Past Week

--City News Service/Bay City News

--Photo via Morguefile