Unions

California Divide

Empower workers or government overreach? California’s fast food bill tests labor laws

As union representation has bottomed out in some of the country’s lowest-paid industries, a group of California lawmakers and labor leaders are pushing to test a version of sectoral bargaining, a labor strategy common in other high-income countries. Progressives are pushing for a state-appointed council for the fast food industry to set wages and work conditions, which have historically been negotiated privately between employers and worker unions.

By Jackie Botts and Jesse Bedayn • January 10, 2022

WhatMatters

Labor’s top ally resigns from Legislature

Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, a key union backer in the California Legislature, will step down to take over the California Labor Federation.

By Emily Hoeven • January 4, 2022

WhatMatters

Cal State and faculty union make a deal

California State University and its faculty union announce a tentative contract that includes raises and a COVID-19 bonus.

By Foon Rhee • December 21, 2021

CalMatters en Español

Pocos trabajadores de escasos recursos pueden votar sobre los sindicatos. ¿Puede California cambiar eso?

Frente a una asombrosa brecha económica, California sugiere aumentar la participación sindical entre los trabajadores con salarios bajos, y señala que una membresía sindical reduce la pobreza laboral mejor que un título universitario. Pero lograr que más trabajadores voten por los sindicatos requerirá que las empresas y los sindicatos se comprometan.

By Grace Gedye and Jesse Bedayn • October 27, 2021

California Divide

Few working poor get to vote on unions. Can California change that?

Facing a staggering wealth gap, California suggests increasing union participation among low-wage workers, noting that a union membership reduces working poverty better than a college degree. But getting more workers to vote on unions will require businesses and unions to compromise. Recent efforts have stalled but the stakes are higher than ever as a court overturns Prop. 22 and the Teamsters begin to campaign at Amazon warehouses across the state.

By Grace Gedye and Jesse Bedayn • October 27, 2021

Justice

Judge requires COVID vaccines for California prison guards

The politically powerful prison guards’ union and Gov. Gavin Newsom have resisted a COVID vaccine mandate, despite growing outbreaks.

By Byrhonda Lyons • September 28, 2021

WhatMatters

Newsom hands labor a win — and a defeat

When it comes to organized labor, Gov. Gavin Newsom giveth and Gov. Gavin Newsom taketh away. The governor on Wednesday signed into law one of the most controversial union-backed bills of the year, which takes aim at warehouse speed quotas that became infamous when reports surfaced of Amazon workers urinating in water bottles due to […]

By Emily Hoeven • September 23, 2021

California Divide

What’s the role of unions in the 21st century?

While California faces extreme labor stratification, unions represent just 16% of workers. Would more unions in the private-sector reduce inequality or raise costs?

By Grace Gedye, Jesse Bedayn, Melissa Montalvo, Jackie Botts, Nigel Duara, Erika Paz and Erica Yee • September 23, 2021

Commentary

Parents, not unions, know what’s best for their children

California’s homeschool charter schools put power and control in the hands of parents, so that they decide how best to improve the learning of their kids.

By Guest Commentary • August 10, 2021

Commentary

A union pot calls a union kettle black

A squabble between two blocs of politically influential California unions is an example of the pot calling the kettle black.

By Dan Walters • July 12, 2021