Bipartisan Legislation Will Empower Workers to Hold Companies like Amazon Accountable

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) – Following a vote by the California Senate to pass Assembly Bill 288 (AB 288), Teamsters California and the California Federation of Labor Unions are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign the bill — the most significant labor legislation since the passage of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) in 1935.

The legislation authored by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) would enhance California’s ability to enforce workers’ rights to organize if the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is unable to do so, or if workers lose existing legal protections under the NLRA.

“The passage of AB 288 represents one of the most significant labor law reforms in history. Ninety years after the passage of the National Labor Relations Act, corporate lawbreaking and federal inaction have made it almost impossible for workers to exercise their constitutional right to form a union because corporations know there will be no consequences if they refuse to recognize or bargain with the union,” said Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Federation of Labor Unions. “With AB 288, California lawmakers have demonstrated that our state will not stand by while the wealthiest corporations in the world violate labor laws with impunity. Under AB 288, when the NLRB is unable or unwilling to act, the state will step in to enforce the law and ensure that workers who want a union actually get a union. We owe it to every worker who courageously stands up to build a better life for themself and their family to make sure labor laws are vigorously enforced and the right to organize is fully respected.”

“AB 288 is a game-changer for workers in California, and it’s incumbent on Gavin Newsom to sign it into law as quickly as possible,” said Peter Finn, Co-Chair of Teamsters California. “More than 70 percent of workers want to be in a union, but Big Tech corporatists like Jeff Bezos are flouting federal law and trampling workers’ organizing rights. With the right to organize guaranteed under state law, we can show the nation that a strong economy is built through solidarity, not CEOs’ arrogance.” 

The push for AB288 comes amid an attempt by Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Howard Schultz, and other billionaires to undermine federal law by having the NLRB declared unconstitutional.

“Amazon respects neither its employees nor federal law and that’s all the proof we need that it’s more urgent than ever to pass AB 288,” said Vanessa Valdez, an Amazon Teamster at DAX5 in the City of Industry, Calif. “The only way this greedy company will negotiate a fair contract with workers like me is if it’s forced to.”

“Gigantic multinational corporations routinely retaliate against workers for exercising their federal rights. Even when the labor board issues a favorable decision, it can take years before it’s even issued,” said Chris Griswold, Co-Chair of Teamsters California. “Lawmakers have a responsibility to protect working people whenever their rights are violated. AB 288 ensures those protections are enforceable.”

AB 288 will now go back to the State Assembly for concurrence before heading to the governor’s desk.

Teamsters California is the united voice of 250,000 workers across dozens of industries who power the state’s economy and communities every single day. For more information, go to teamstersca.org.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share via email