Long Beach Medical Center
MiterchLongs& Women's John Bishop
MemorialCare. Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]
T 562.933.1111
2801 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, California 90806
memorialcare.org
June 14, 2022
Long Beach City Council
Long Beach City Hall
411 W Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802
RE: 6/14/22 - Council Meeting Agenda item 28. 22-0652 - Letter of Support Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilmembers,
I am writing to urge the city council to order an economic analysis to determine the impact of the proposed health care worker minimum wage measure.
While we agree our health care workers are heroes, and have supported and rewarded them as such, this measure is deeply flawed, inequitable, and will hurt workers, patients and our communities. Fully understanding this measure's implications for health care workers, providers and patients is critical.
The measure would set new, arbitrary pay requirements for some health care workers in some health care facilities, while excluding thousands of health care workers doing the same jobs in the City of Long Beach. In fact, the vast majority of health care workers in the City of Long Beach are excluded by the measure, creating a confusing, arbitrary and inequitable system.
This measure could lead to workforce shortages at smaller clinics and public health care facilities, as well as significant cost increases, which would jeopardize access to and quality of care for Long Beach's patients, particularly disadvantaged and underserved communities. It would worsen inequities in our health care system.
We urge you to order an economic analysis so that we can better understand this measure's implications for health care workers, providers, patients and the City of Long Beach.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely
Cut Big
Chief Executive Officer