Your story about Senate Bill 376 paints a misleading impression about the University of California’s opposition to this legislation. The bill would not only mandate higher wages for contract workers at UC, a step the university already has taken in paying wages above state and federal levels, but would require that these workers be accorded full benefits — changes in policy that would be out of step with any other state agency.
In July, UC President Janet Napolitano announced a plan to raise to $15 an hour the minimum wage for all workers hired to work at least 20 hours a week. The first phase of this initiative takes effect on October 1 when all such workers, including those hired by contractors, will earn at least $13 an hour. By fall 2016, that will rise to $14 an hour and by 2017 to $15 an hour.
The University of California is the first public university in the nation to voluntarily establish a minimum wage of $15 an hour and is at the forefront of efforts to treat workers fairly and equitably.