Ab 5

As California lawmakers return for a new year, Anthony Rendon (the Assembly leader, not the ball player) talks wildfires, housing, ballot measures, the gig economy, affirmative action, Gov. Gavin Newsom and supermajorities. And babies. And home runs.  

New laws in a minute, court challenges to AB 5, homelessness tops the agenda for 2020 in California, and a look back at the old year, via satellite.

New California laws explained in 60 seconds. Ring in 2020 by learning about California's new do's and don'ts, and how they will affect us all.

Starting Jan. 1, a new California law will require some businesses to re-classify independent contractors as employees — granting them benefits such as overtime pay and the right to join a union. Businesses and organized labor both heavily lobbied lawmakers over the bill, and while some industries won exemptions, others did not. The law is […]

Economists project massive labor upheaval but California is trying to roll with those disruptions while making sure jobs here continue to pay a living wage, offer worker protections and accommodate working families.

Politicians pile on PG&E over power shutdown. Race is on to implement privacy rules. Homeless courts proposal may be headed to ballot.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, a Democrat from San Diego, is among California’s more powerful state lawmakers and an ally of labor unions. This year, she led the fight to win new protections for gig workers, and won passage of a landmark workplace bill, AB 5. To launch our new video series of political profiles, “The Deciders,” […]

Turning paper victories into a meaningful labor movement with more private-sector members could take work, even in pro-labor California.

Tailpipe fight pits Trump against Newsom. Battle over gig workers bill is far from over. Newsom veto may exacerbate Delta water tensions.

AB 5 would upend longstanding employment practices that have seeped into the Democratic presidential debate about how workers should be treated, particularly in today’s gig economy.