A hot labor summer could have a chilling effect on city services

Labor stoppages across California have dominated headlines this summer, including at the Capitol where multiple state worker unions authorized possible strikes. Unsurprisingly — and keeping in trend with last year — lawmakers are considering changes to the state’s labor laws. The League of California Cities opposes a trio of labor bills that would hurt cities’ ability to deliver key services.

Perhaps the most sweeping measure is AB 1484 (Zbur), which would limit the ability of cities to staff up for temporary or seasonal needs. The bill would require cities to include temporary employees in the same bargaining unit as permanent employees upon request of the union. This would create inconsistencies in the bargaining process. Permanent employee contacts are often based on certain benefits that temporary employees are ineligible to receive.

The bill would also increase hiring costs, effectively void probationary period policies, and require cities to inform temporary employees about their anticipated length of employment.

The last requirement would be difficult, if not impossible, for cities to meet. Temporary employees are often hired to fulfill an immediate need of uncertain duration. Identifying an end date in those cases is pure speculation, which would serve no purpose and may lead to unnecessary disputes.

Another measure, AB 504 (Reyes), would make sympathy striking and honoring the picket line a human right. This change would also upend the bargaining process and undermine the ability of cities to provide certain services during a strike. Many local labor agreements have no-strike provisions in their contracts due to the vital nature of their jobs, which this bill would void in contracts going forward.

In areas where government services are co-located, employees from a non-struck agency could refuse to work at the shared location if employees from a different agency are on strike. Cities that bargained in good faith and have approved agreements should not be penalized for sharing a business space with another government employer.

Then this morning, Sen. Anthony Portantino put an end to the rumors and introduced SB 799. The measure would allow striking workers to draw unemployment benefits after two weeks of strike action. Legislators put forward a similar proposal in 2019 but it failed to get the votes needed to pass out of the Senate.

The combined impact of all three measures would likely create longer, more frequent strikes and leave cities with few ways to provide the services residents expect during said strikes.

For more information about these bills, please contact Legislative Affairs Lobbyist Johnnie Pina.