California Divide

Members and supporters of the United Farm Workers march through Fresno during day 10 of their 24-day march on Aug. 12, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

California Divide

Newsom relents, signs farmworker union bill after pressure from Biden and labor

Two days before deadline, after vetoing a similar bill last year and resisting months of marches, vigils and posturing, including a note from President Biden, Newsom changed his mind on a farmworker labor bill.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• September 28, 2022

Los Angeles resident Walter Forster attends a California Reparations Task Force meeting held at the California Science Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2022. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

California Divide

Reparations task force: State could owe Black Californians hundreds of thousands of dollars

Black Californians could be due hundreds of thousands of dollars for housing discrimination, incarceration, and health disparities alone, consultants said at reparations task force hearings.

By

Levi Kalish

• September 26, 2022

Manuel Chavez, who is involved in a protracted wage theft case that has been appealed multiple times, stands for a portrait in Downey on Sept. 4, 2022. “I worked hard hours, and sometimes all night long,” Chavez said, in regards to working as a hotel employee. “The pay always seemed to come up short for the amount of work I did.” Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

California Divide

Wage theft whack-a-mole: California workers win judgments against bosses but still don’t get paid

Five years after workers win wage theft claims, state records show only 1 in 7 were paid their judgments in full. Some companies appealed or ignored court judgments.

By

Jeanne Kuang

and

Alejandro Lazo

• September 15, 2022

A person holds their mobile phone in San Francisco on July 16, 2019. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

California Divide

State may permanently shrink internet and cell phone discounts for low-income Californians

Companies and consumers aren’t happy, but consumer advocates say the proposed rule could be a more efficient use of the public’s money.

By

Levi Kalish

• September 8, 2022

Fast-food workers and other SEIU members marched to the Capitol to deliver postcards and petitions in support of AB257 to the Governor's Office on May 31, 2022. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

California Divide

Newsom signs bill to regulate wages for fast food workers

The governor announced his decision on Labor Day. Supporters swayed moderate Democrats by removing a provision that would have put fast food corporations on the hook for labor violations at franchise locations.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• August 30, 2022

Rodrigo Hernandez, 50, finishes up a car after washing it outside of the CLEAN Carwash Worker Center, in Los Angeles on July 21, 2022. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

California Divide

Wage Theft: Car wash workers in $2.3 million case await pay 3 years later

The state said the case against Playa Vista would be the largest wage theft payout by a California car wash. Years later Antonio Dominguez and dozens of other car washers have yet to see any of their unpaid wages.

By

Alejandro Lazo

and

Levi Kalish

• August 25, 2022

Fast food workers from across California rallied at the state Capitol in Sacramento, urging lawmakers to pass AB 257. Aug. 16, 2022, Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

California Divide

California’s fast food bill could link chains to wage theft and other workplace violations

Proponents say AB 257 could curb wage theft, but restaurateurs say it could raise costs and prices and fundamentally change relationships with fast food chains.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• August 17, 2022

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

California Divide

When employers steal wages from workers

Wage theft takes hundreds of millions of dollars from the pockets of thousands of California's lowest paid workers.

By

,

,

and

• July 25, 2022

California Divide

California counties siphon Social Security benefits from some foster kids

California counties regularly take the Social Security benefits of foster youth who are disabled or whose parents have died. Advocates say it amounts to children paying for their own foster care.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• July 22, 2022

Martin (left) and Miranda Basulto pose for a photo in front of their home in Coalinga on June 28, 2022. Miranda is eligible for a state bond given to kids who lost a caregiver (or both) because of COVID. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

California Divide

Some COVID orphans in California will get financial help

In California, 32,000 children under 18 have experienced the death of a parent or primary caregiver from COVID-19. The state has set aside $100 million for trust funds for children who are in low-income families to access when they turn 18 for school, housing or other expenses.

By

Elizabeth Aguilera

• July 22, 2022

California Divide

Covering income inequality across the state