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.
Unions
California Divide
Supreme Court limits California union recruiting in favor of property rights
Commercial growers celebrated the Supreme Court's decision in Cedar Point Nursery v Hassid, but farmworker unions say this will make it harder for them to access workers and advocate for their rights.
College Beat
Graduate student researchers at University of California seek union representation
Across the University of California, teaching assistants and tutors are unionized, but graduate student researchers are not. That could soon change, after organizers filed more than 10,000 signed union authorization cards with the California Public Employment Relations Board last month.
Housing
Is union labor requirement in the way of easing California’s affordable housing crisis?
What is a skilled and trained workforce, and what could the labor requirement do to California affordable housing bills in the Legislature?
Commentary
California’s ‘tort wars’ flaring up again
"Tort wars" over the rules governing personal injury lawsuits in California are heating up again in the Capitol.
Reader Reactions
Want to help independent contractors? Mandate standard worker benefits
The spectacle of unions and legislatures drawing up rules for independent contractors fills me with anger and dismay.
WhatMatters
Governor’s panel: State should help workers unionize, raise wages
California should push for a federal jobs guarantee, raise wages, double the amount of workers who have access to benefits, and help workers form unions. Those were among the recommendations in a report released Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Future of Work Commission, which outlines steps the Golden State should take in order to achieve […]
Coronavirus
Burgeoning child care union secures COVID-19 relief funding approval
The state Senate budget committee approved disbursement of $144 million in federal funds to give child care providers some financial relief in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. If approved by the Legislature, it will be a major win for Child Care Providers United, which is still negotiating a master contract with California.
Health
Who’s next? Counties lobbied over vaccine priority list
Once the state issues its recommendations, California’s 58 counties will have some flexibility on who’s next to receive vaccinations. That discretion has sparked lobbying by unions, businesses and other interest groups trying to push their workers ahead in the line.
Commentary
Instead of laying off employees, UC should use assets to give them security
The University of California is laying off hundreds of workers in the midst of a pandemic, pushing employees onto the unemployment system.