Judge: California Initiative Capping Hospital Executive Pay Violates Deal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A Sacramento County judge has ruled that a proposed ballot initiative to limit hospital executives' pay violates a prior deal between the labor union that backs it and the California Hospital Association, which opposes it.

The judge ruled Friday in a case involving a proposed November initiative asking voters to limit any hospital executive's salary and expense allowance to that of the president of the United States.

The president's current pay is $450,000.

CHA sued, arguing that the initiative violated a previous settlement with United Healthcare Workers-West.

An arbitrator sided with the hospital group and ordered the union to withdraw the initiative.

The union argued that the initiative's two main proponents were not acting on behalf of the union. UHW did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.