LA County mandates full health benefits for contracted hospital service workers

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to require that all contracted security, janitorial, environmental and food service workers at county-run hospitals be provided with 100% employer-paid health care benefits.

The requirement will apply to contract employees who work at least 30 hours per week at hospitals operated by the county Department of Health Services.

Board of Supervisors

Chair Janice Hahn, who introduced the motion with Supervisor Hilda Solis, said the board had been working toward such a requirement for years. She noted in a statement after the meeting that while the county previously required contracted workers to be paid a living wage, it did not require contractors to provide the workers with health care.

"These workers keep our hospitals clean and keep our doctors, nurses, and patients fed," Hahn said. "But they cannot afford to go to the doctor because we don't require that their employers provide them the health insurance they need. This isn't right. The county shouldn't be cutting costs on the backs of these workers."