Press Releases

Teamsters Condemn Gavin Newsom’s Anti-Worker, Anti-Progress Veto Spree

Gavin Newsom Uber Alles

California Governor Spends Legislative Session Obstructing Worker Empowerment

Press Contact: Matt McQuaid Phone: (617) 894-0669 Email: mmcquaid@teamster.org

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) – Following a legislative session where he vetoed a multitude of bills that would have improved worker’s rights, occupational safety, and financial security for the middle class, the Teamsters are condemning California Gov. Gavin Newsom for making life harder for working families in the nation’s most populous state.

“The way Gavin Newsom reacted to a vast majority of the pro-labor bills that came before him this year is something that we would expect to see from a governor who got elected with support from the Koch brothers – not someone who received support from organized labor,” said Jason Rabinowitz, President of Teamsters Joint Council 7. “Being a pro-union governor doesn’t mean you stand with us when it’s convenient. It means you stand with organized labor when it counts, which is when it’s time to sign pro-union legislation.”

The worst veto for good-paying careers in transportation was AB 316 — legislation that would have required a human operator in any vehicle over 10,000 pounds. In addition to being a priority for the Teamsters, the bill was incredibly popular. Over 90 percent of the state legislature voted in favor of it, and public polling shows that nearly three-fourths of Californians across party lines, gender, geography, and all other demographics support AB 316 — unsurprising data given that collisions and accidents with self-driving vehicles continue to occur

In addition to AB 316, other pro-worker legislation that Newsom vetoed includes:

“Gavin Newsom wants to act like he’s both an ally of labor and an ally of Big Business,” said Chris Griswold, Teamsters International Vice President At-Large and President of Teamsters Joint Council 42. “The last thing America needs right now is more politicians who are friendly with Big Business. What we need is something that’s in short supply: elected officials who are going to stand up for workers.”

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org to learn more and follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.