FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, 415-554-6131

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MAYOR LONDON BREED SIGNS MINIMUM COMPENSATION ORDINANCE TO GIVE RAISE TO SOME OF SAN FRANCISCO’S LOWEST PAID WORKERS

In-home supportive care workers and nonprofit workers under City contracts receive wage increase

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today signed legislation increasing wages for in-home supportive service (IHSS) workers and nonprofit workers under City contracts, who are among the lowest paid workers in San Francisco. This legislation comes after an agreement was reached following weeks of collective negotiations between Mayor Breed, the Board of Supervisors, and labor leaders.

“This is about making sure that we remain a city for people of all incomes and backgrounds,” said Mayor Breed. “These workers care for many of our most vulnerable residents and it is important that they receive a fair wage so they can continue to do this essential work and remain a part of our communities. I want to thank our labor partners and the Board of Supervisors for their collaboration on this issue.”

The legislation will enact amendments to the Minimum Compensation Ordinance (MCO) to phase-in an hourly wage increase of $3.75 above the current wage being received by 20,000 IHSS workers over the next five years. This represents a 25% increase from the current wage received by IHSS workers, who collectively care for 22,000 low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities in San Francisco. Additionally, the legislation will increase the hourly wage by $1.50 for certain City-contracted nonprofit workers who provide important support services to many of our most vulnerable residents, representing a 10% wage increase from their current levels.

“This is not only the morally right thing to do for this largely immigrant and woman of color workforce, this is smart city planning that will benefit all San Franciscans,” said Supervisors Sandra Fewer and Hillary Ronen, who were the lead sponsors of the legislation. “San Francisco’s senior population is exploding and is expected to increase by 69% between 2010 and 2030. We only have 29 residential care beds for every 1,000 seniors. Already, half of shelter residents are over 50 years old and the nonprofit and home care industries can’t hire enough workers to meet demand today. This raise is essential to keep these critical workers. Thank you to Mayor Breed for working with us to make it happen.”

The City Controller will also convene a working group with nonprofit organizations, City Departments, and labor representatives in the coming months to discuss and work to address wage equity and compaction issues nonprofit organizations may face in implementing amendments to the MCO. 

“We want to recognize Mayor Breed and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for taking an important step in recognizing the contributions of home care providers and non-profit workers in San Francisco,” said Arnulfo De La Cruz, SEIU Local 2015 Executive Vice President.  “Home care providers are struggling to make ends meet. Instead of having to relocate, it’s important that providers be able to stay in their communities so that they can provide care to the seniors and people with disabilities who depend on them. We believe this ordinance is an important first step in achieving that and thereby protecting the dignity and respect of our most vulnerable residents.”

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