The best way to make your voice heard is to be involved in local government. As a citizen of California, and a member of Communication Workers of America, you have the chance to make an impact on laws that will be beneficial to the labor movement and you as an individual.
Bills awaiting action by the Governor include:
- Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers (SB 799): Allows striking workers to qualify for Unemployment Benefits after two weeks.
- Paid Sick Days (SB 616): Grants all workers five paid sick days.
- Stop Driverless Big Rigs (AB 316):Requires that automated big rigs have a human driver.
- Enhanced Labor Law Enforcement (AB 594): Expands authority of local city attorneys and district attorneys to enforce labor laws, seek injunctive relief, and bypass arbitration.
- Legislative Staff Right to Unionize (AB 1): Grants employees of the Legislature the right to organize a union and bargain collectively.
- Workers Rights Training in High School (AB 800): Requires that high schools provide students information about their rights on the jobs as part of a “Workplace Readiness Week”.
- Worker Freedom from Funding Corporate Lobbying (SB 476): Prohibits the restaurant association from making workers pay them to provide mandated training.
- Hotel Workers Recall Rights (SB 723):Extend recall rights through December 2025 and create a presumption that layoffs are COVID-related.
- Transfer Rights for Displaced Workers (SB 627): Allows workers at a chain store that closes to transfer into vacant positions at stores within 25 miles.
- Public Sector Sympathy Rights (AB 504):Prohibits public employers from banning sympathy strikes.
- Expanded Layoff Protection for Contract Workers (AB 1356): Gives all workers 15 additional days of layoff notice and includes contract workers in layoff protections.
- Temporary Worker Protections (AB 1484): Allows unions to represent temporary workers in public sector.
- Union Voice in Public Transit Automation (AB 96): Makes automation a mandatory subject of collective bargaining.
October 14 Is the deadline for the Governor to sign legislation.
If you have any questions regarding the legislation or wish to arrange for an interview with Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, please contact Shubhangi Domokos at shubhangi@calaborfed.org.
