Today, Governor Newsom signed AB 204, providing critical funding to community clinics to retain and recognize community clinic workers. Thanks to an unprecedented partnership and advocacy from SEIU Community Clinic Workers United and eight community clinics across the state, California is dedicating $70 million for retention payments to an estimated 70,000 frontline health care workers at California’s community clinics.
This victory would not have been possible without the advocacy of clinic workers across California. We rallied, spoke with lawmakers, and share the importance of retaining our state’s clinic workforce to preserve and expand services to our state’s patients and communities. The new funding will deliver $1,000 in retention payments to eligible community clinic workers to help combat California’s ongoing healthcare staffing shortage crisis.
“Retention bonuses are an important first step in recognizing that experienced and dedicated community clinic healthcare workers are essential to ensuring that everyone in California – regardless of their race, zip code, immigration status, or ability to pay – has access to timely, quality care,” said Brisa Barrera, Medical Assistant, Santa Rosa Community Health, and member of SEIU-UHW. “Community clinic workers joined together with pro-worker community clinic CEOs to fight for increased funding to our clinics, and we’re as committed as ever to continuing that fight and making sure that our patients receive the best care possible.”