By Steve Smith The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act passed in the House this week with a 225-206 margin, sending this historic legislation to the US Senate. This bill is the most significant labor law reform legislation since 1935. All California Democrats in Congress voted YES, hearing the voices of workers who demand […]
Read MoreFive Labor Priorities for the Biden Administration
President Biden, who has a stronger union background than any incoming president for decades, has promised to adopt a strong pro-worker agenda, and he has already assembled a labor-focused economic team. Senior advisors, Jared Bernstein and Heather Boushey, Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellin, and head of the Council of Economic Advisors, Cecilia Rouse, are leading experts on […]
Read MoreWorkers’ Bill of Rights During COVID-19 Crisis
The COVID-19 crisis is devastating workers in every industry. This crisis is also exposing the gaping holes in our social safety net and laying bare just how rigged this economy is against workers and our families and how tilted it is to the wealthy and powerful. It’s time for decision-makers to hear from us about […]
Read MoreLabor Department Releases New Q&A on Landmark Law, AB 5
One of the most important laws to go into effect in California on Jan. 1, 2020 is AB 5, which codified the Dynamex California Supreme Court case to clarify who is considered an independent contractor under state law. This bill addresses one of the biggest problems existing in today’s economy: the rampant misclassification of workers […]
Read MoreCalifornia Unions Vow to Defeat Gig Corporations’ Measure to Strip Workers of Fundamental Protections
Instead of providing drivers with a real living wage and job protections that all workers deserve, massive gig corporations plan to spend more than $100 million to avoid complying with the law. This measure is another brazen attempt by some of the richest corporations in California to avoid playing by the same rules as all […]
Read MoreCalifornia’s Unions Lead to Pass New Pro-Worker Laws for 2020
California’s unions led the way in passing a host of new pro-worker bills that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. These new laws, signed by Gov. Newsom, cement California’s status as the nation’s leader on workers’ rights. As with every year, many of the bills unions fought to pass directly support all working people, […]
Read MoreIn Monumental Victory for Workers, Gov. Newsom Signs AB 5 into Law
Today’s signing of AB 5 is one of the most significant victories for workers in a generation. For far too long, big corporations skirted their responsibility to provide basic protections to workers by calling them independent contractors instead of recognizing them as employees. With his signature on AB 5, Gov. Newsom sends a clear message […]
Read MoreAB 5 Approval a Historic Win for California Workers
By approving AB 5, the California legislature solidified our state’s position as the national leader on workplace rights, setting the standard for the rest of the country to follow. The misclassification of workers creates a corrosive effect that ripples through our entire economy, undermining our laws to protect and support working people. AB 5 is […]
Read MoreCalifornia Unions Vow to Defeat Gig Company Ballot Measure That Would Strip Workers of Basic Protections and Wages
Instead of improving working conditions and paying drivers a living wage, Uber and Lyft announced they will spend tens of millions of dollars to lead a political campaign to undermine the Dynamex decision and strip those same drivers of basic protections on the job. This announcement lays bare the real motivation of multi-billion dollar gig companies. They […]
Read MoreCan Gig Workers Have Flexibility and Protections Afforded to Employees in AB 5? Absolutely
Gig companies like Uber, Lyft and Doordash, desperate to avoid providing basic protections and decent pay to drivers, are engaged in an all-out disinformation campaign to defend their illegal business models and kill legislation that would protect workers. We can’t possibly provide flexibility AND treat our workers with dignity and respect, they say. Nonsense. The […]
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