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Workers At St. John's Health Care Center To Be Paid $15/Hour Under 'Living Wage' Contract

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Details of a new $15 an hour "living wage" contract for workers at South Los Angeles' largest health center will be unveiled Thursday.

A news conference was held at 9:15 a.m. at St. John's Well Child and Family Center, 808 W. 58th St.

Service Employees International Union Local 721 members voted unanimously on March 3 to ratify the new three-year agreement to raise the minimum wage for workers from the state's $8 an hour to $15.37 an hour. The agreement between the center and the SEIU was intended to send a strong message.

"To throw down as one of the first organizations in the country, to support the fight of the $15 and the fight for living wage across the United States of America," Jim Mangia said.

The clinic serves residents in downtown, South Los Angeles and Compton — areas that lead the state in chronic disease rates and uninsured residents.

"It's important that parents have the chance to support their families on a wage that makes sense and not have to work three or four jobs to make ends meet," LA City Councilman Curren Price said.

The new contract comes as the Los Angeles City Council considers requiring hotels to pay workers $15.37 an hour.

RELATED STORY: Proposed Pay Hike For Hotel Workers Would Nearly Double Minimum Wage

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