Big Victories for California's Working Families
“Labor led the way this year in bringing real equality and progress to working people in California,” said Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation. “We reformed tax breaks that cost jobs, we won rights for domestic workers and car wash workers, we brought greater equality to hard-working immigrants and we began the essential work of rebuilding the state’s middle class. With these new laws, there’s no question that California is the national leader in supporting workers and their families.”
- A.B. 10: Increased the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10 per hour by January 2016.
- A.B. 60: Expanded access to driver's licenses to all Californians, including immigrant drivers.
- A.B. 93: Reformed wasteful Enterprise Zone corporate tax breaks to reward employers who create good jobs.
- A.B. 218: Banned "the box" on employment applications that asked if prospective employees have a criminal record, making it easier for people who have made a mistake to work their way back into society after they have paid their debts, while still allowing for background checks later in the hiring process if they are needed for worker and public safety.
- A.B. 241: Granted daily and weekly overtime protection to domestic workers who have been excluded from most labor laws.
- A.B. 263/A.B. 524/S.B. 666: Enacted the strongest protections for immigrant workers in the country to stop retaliation when workers speak out about unfair wages or working conditions.
- A.B. 537: Improved the process for public-sector bargaining to resolve disputes more effectively.
- A.B. 1387: Protected car wash workers by preserving the car wash registry and increasing the bond to crack down on the underground economy.
- S.B. 7: Raised wages for construction workers by increasing incentives for employers to comply with prevailing wage laws.
- S.B. 168: Helped protect workers working for farm labor contractors to ensure wages are paid if ownership changes.
- S.B. 400: Helped domestic violence survivors keep their jobs and promoted a safer workplace by asking employers to work with survivors to identify and minimize the risk of workplace violence.
- S.B. 770: Expanded paid family leave to include time providing care for parents-in-law, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren.
- The Trust Act: California takes the lead in addressing the impact of immigration enforcement on workers and families by limiting the state's cooperation with a federal program, Secure Communities.
