Gov. Dannel Malloy signed a law today that will provide wage increases for workers who care for people with intellectual disabilities at group homes and day programs.

The new law provides a $14.75 minimum wage and a 5 percent raise for workers above that salary. It will cover 18,000 union and non-union workers. 

“We are grateful to the hardworking human services employees who provide care to our most vulnerable neighbors and for too long have been underpaid, especially considering the critical work they deliver,” Gov. Malloy said in a statement.

Group home workers across the state had threatened a strike if the bill wasn't passed.