Unions ask California to play a more powerful role in labor disputes

From CalMatters Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang:

As businesses like SpaceX and Amazon seek to undo the National Labor Relations Board, California unions are trying a novel tactic to preserve labor organizing rights. 

They’ve introduced a bill that would give the state a new role in union disputes. Assembly Bill 288 by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor would give the state jurisdiction over union elections, accusations of employer retaliation and other cases between employers and unions — in the event the federal board doesn’t or can’t respond. 

The proposal by the Inglewood Democrat is likely to face pushback from businesses and legal challenges, primarily over the question of whether the bill would infringe on federal law. 

Experts say because the National Labor Relations Act already governs union organizing rights and the procedures for unionizing for most private-sector workers nationwide, state agencies can’t have jurisdiction.

But the California Labor Federation says the state must try to step in as the federal agency is increasingly in the crosshairs of prominent businesses, which have argued in federal court that the agency is unconstitutional, and the Trump administration. 

• Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Labor Federation: “We have to be prepared.”

The bill is worded to give the state’s Public Employment Relations Board the power to certify union elections and decide on complaints of unfair labor practices — including the ability to fine employers — only if workers have already filed their cases with the National Labor Relations Board, but didn’t receive “an effective response or remedy within the specified statutory timeframe.”

During the first weeks of his administration, President Donald Trump fired Democratic board member Gwynne Wilcox, depriving the board of a quorum and halting its ability to decide cases. Though hearings were still ongoing, any decisions by administrative law judges that were appealed to the full board were effectively frozen. Wilcox has since been reinstated at a judge’s order, a board spokesperson confirmed, but the administration is appealing that decision. 

The bill would give the state the power to step in if the board loses a quorum again. 

Over the last six weeks, CalFire has been rolling out updated fire hazard maps to help predict the likelihood of wildfires across the state. With the final batch released Monday, the maps underscore the heightened public anxiety over wildfire risk in the aftermath of the deadly Los Angeles County wildfires; California’s ongoing insurance market crisis; and the state’s housing approach in fire-prone areas, reports CalMatters’ Ben Christopher.

In total, the new maps classify more than 2.3 million acres of local land as facing “high” or “very high” levels of wildfire danger. That’s roughly double the size of Delaware and home to about 3.7 million people, according to a CalMatters analysis.

People in those areas — about 1-in-10 Californians — must be subjected to various building codes, defensible space and real estate disclosure rules. The rules could have a lasting influence on how communities are shaped and how the housing market functions in these regions.

For example, anyone hoping to sell a home in “high” and “very high” hazard zones will have to issue a disclosure form notifying potential buyers of the elevated wildfire risk. But California homes faced with this requirement sold for 4.3% less than nearby homes that did not, according to a 2023 study by the nonprofit research group Resources for the Future.

Read more here.

After a failed attempt earlier this year by some Congressmembers and advocates to renew funding, a century-old federal program that helps rural schools, including ones in California, is expected to issue its last payments to counties across the U.S. in April.

As CalMatters’ Carolyn Jones explains, The Secure Rural Schools Act serves as a “lifeline” for the state’s rural schools: California receives the most money, and would have received at least $33 million this year to 39 of its counties. (Last year the program provided $253 million nationwide, including nearly $40 million to California.)

Though the program makes up a miniscule amount in the overall federal budget, it is crucial for communities that receive the money. For many school districts, the loss will likely mean layoffs, bigger class sizes, delayed facility repairs and cuts to after-school programs. Public works projects, including roads, emergency services and wildfire safety, will also likely be affected.

The loss of funding comes during a time when Trump signed an executive order last week to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. 

Read more here.

As artificial intelligence and cloud computing expand, California’s data centers are driving up energy demand. CalMatters tech reporter Khari Johnson and video strategy director Robert Meeks have a video segment on proposed legislation that would prevent electricity customers from footing the bill as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here.

SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. weekdays on PBS SoCal.