Creator: Patrick Connole
$22.50/Hour Is the New Minimum Wage for Minnesota CNAs
Minnesota nursing home workers have new wage floors, including $22.50/hour for CNAs, after a state labor board won approval for the changes.
$22.50/hour for CNAs, $23.50/hour for trained medication aides, $27/hour for licensed practical nurses, and $19/hour for all other nursing home workers.
These are the new hourly wages for Minnesota nursing home workers starting on Sept. 10. The hourly wages will increase another $1.50/hour across all job categories on Jan. 1, 2027.
The new wage levels for these job categories compare to the Minnesota state minimum wage for all other workers of $11.41/hour.
A report in the Minnesota Reformer details the changes, which are taking effect some three years after the state Legislature created a labor standards board to tackle the issues of wages. The feds approved the plan this week.
Union Applauds
Following the announcement of the new nursing home worker wage floors, the Service Employees International Union, which represents 50,000 Minnesota healthcare and long-term care workers, celebrated the news.
“These workers are a lifeline to our elders and most vulnerable residents, and they deserve financial peace of mind so they can provide the best care possible,” said Rasha Ahmad Sharif, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa.
Nursing Sector Sues
The nursing home sector on the other hand said it has filed a lawsuit in federal court to dissolve the labor standards board, arguing the unelected board has too much authority over labor standards and nursing homes could shut down as a result of the new wage structure.
LeadingAge Minnesota and Care Providers of Minnesota formed the Long-Term Care Imperative to fight the actions of the labor board. “We remain hopeful that meaningful reform at DHS will be a priority for Minnesota’s next governor,” the Long-Term Care Imperative said in a statement.
Comments? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.
