Worksafe is tracking a number of strong pro-worker bills in Sacramento as the legislative session enters its final weeks. We are very excited about the prospects for reshaping worker power in the fast food industry with the FAST Act, AB 257. This bill would create a first-in-the-nation Fast Food Sector Council, including representatives of state agencies, workers and employers, to set and review minimum health, safety and employment standards in the industry. It will hold franchisors responsible for ensuring that their franchisees actually comply with labor standards, including anti-retaliation provisions and more. If you missed our action alert on the FAST Act, please click here today.

 

Our close involvement in legislation to protect CalWorks and CalFresh benefits for those facing workers’ rights violations (AB2300) is described in Karín’s update elsewhere in this newsletter. And there are other strong proposals pending final approval, including:

 

SB 951: Increasing Wage Replacement Rates for PFL + SDI - aims to fix a gender and racial justice issue, increasing wage replacement rates for paid family leave (PFL) and State Disability Insurance (SDI) so that lower income workers get 90% of their income when they cannot work because they are caring for a seriously ill family member, a new baby, or their own serious health condition. The rate will apply to workers making 70% or less of the state average weekly wage (for 2022, that would be about $57,000/year). To pay for these improvements -- which will largely benefit women born outside of the United States, and/or workers woo identify as Black or Latine -- SB 951 would delete a provision of the law that exempts high-wage earners from having to pay into the programs the same percentage of their income as low-wage workers do. SB 951 has passed through Senate Appropriations and is off to the Senate floor for a vote.

 

We are also excited about the Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act (SB 1162) which is currently making its way through the Assembly chamber.  Unfortunately it only emerged out of the Appropriations Committee after removal of the requirement for the public disclosure of company pay data reports. While this setback is disappointing, other provisions of the bill will still be important victories for workers. Most importantly, the data will still have to be reported to the state of California. This op-ed in CalMatters helps to tell the story about why SB 1162 is a huge deal for workers—particularly contract workers—and for the labor movement as a whole.

 

Safety Net 4 All’s AB 2847 would build a more equitable and resilient California by removing a longstanding racist exclusion that has had a devastating impact on our economy and communities. It would provide unemployment benefits for excluded immigrant workers - $300 weekly for up to 20 weeks. The bill moved out of Senate Appropriations and is off to the Senate floor. AB 2847 should be signed into law because it is key to providing those who are left out, a part of the state’s safety net and creating a strong and resilient economy.