Hot Labor Summer Results in Sweeping Victories in the Legislature for Working Californians

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Shubhangi Domokos, shubhangi@calaborfed.org / 916-934-6963

Hot Labor Summer Results in Sweeping Victories in the Legislature for Working Californians

SACRAMENTO – (Friday, September 15, 2023) – With the California Legislature having adjourned on Thursday, September 14, the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO had one of the most productive years in memory. Thirteen bills sponsored by the Federation were sent to the Governor’s Desk, including four bills the Chamber labeled so-called “job killers”. These bills support workers trying to organize and win better contracts in every industry. This successful legislative agenda reflects the growing power of working people in California, as the ongoing strike wave has drawn widespread public support.

“These victories were not won by lobbyists or politicians, they were won by courageous workers—actors and writers on the picket line to shape the future of their industry, Starbucks workers holding the company accountable for refusing to bargain, hotel workers on rotating strikes around Los Angeles, nurses demanding better patient care, autoworkers walking out until they get a fair contract,” said Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, leader of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. “Working people are fed up with wages that don’t keep up with the cost of living, with disrespect on the job, with growing corporate profits while families struggle to make ends meet. Hot union summer isn’t ending—it’s endless. This is a new era of workers demanding to get what we deserve and it’s why we’re calling on the Governor to sign these popular, pro-worker bills into law.”

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.

The California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO represents over 1,200 affiliated unions in California with over 2.2 million union members in trucking, retail, hospitality, janitorial, construction, health care, local and state government, education, arts and entertainment, warehousing and logistics, manufacturing, and a variety of other sectors.

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