San Francisco Committee OKs Pay Hike for Nurses
A San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee on Monday approved a new labor contract for registered nurses that raises salaries by 19% over three years, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Officials say the raises will allow San Francisco to be more competitive with neighboring counties and private employers.
Micki Callahan, employee relations director for the Department of Human Resources, said San Francisco needs more registered nurses to meet patient demand, especially because patients at San Francisco's public hospitals often are sicker and require a high level of service.
The pay raises would add about $39 million to the city budget over the three-year contract agreement. Funding would be reserved in the city's 2007-2008 budget, pending approval by the full Board of Supervisors.
The board on June 19 will take a first vote on the labor contracts and could give final approval in two weeks.
The committee also approved labor contracts with clinical psychologists, medical examiner investigators, police officers and other service workers (Selna, San Francisco Chronicle, 6/12).