SB 1010: Shining a Light on Drug Prices

By Senator Ed Hernandez, O.D. (D-West Covina)

New and innovative drugs have brought about life-saving medications that have revolutionized the treatment of many diseases. Unfortunately, more and more often these treatments more and more come with budget-busting price tags. The Hepatitis C drug Sovaldi, priced at $84,000 for a regular course of treatment, is one of those examples.

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AB 2395: A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

by Robert Longer, Legislative-Political Director, CWA Local 9421

Today 50+ members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), District 9, packed the California Assembly Committee on Appropriations hearing room, complete with bright orange t-shirts and CWA logos. What was normally a boring committee meeting turned into quite a show of unity, and certainly caught the attention of lawmakers. Why such a big turnout? CWA members were present to oppose Assembly Bill 2395.

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Boosting Workers is a Big Boost for the Economy

by Steve Smith

The “chicken little” crowd of corporate CEOs and their lobbyists keeps saying anything California does to boost working people is a “job killer.” Unfortunately for them, the facts tell a very different story. Look no further than the latest unemployment figures, showing yet another drop to 5.3 percent, the lowest level since 2007.

California is the most pro-worker state in the country. We just raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour. We’re combatting against wage theft. We support stronger unions. We tackle retirement security head on. We protect immigrant workers from exploitation. The Chamber of Commerce’s nightmare is for everyone else the California Dream.

 

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Janette Reid just received a layoff notice from UC Berkeley after dedicating 30 years to the UC

By Rachel Warino

Imagine dedicating 30 years of your life to one employer, then one year away from retirement getting handed a layoff notice. It feels so wrong on such a visceral level but it just happened to Janette Reid.  Janette had worked for the University of California Berkeley Molecular & Cell Biology Department and was the first administrative support worker to receive a layoff notice.

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