Updates for Workers from the July 1, 2020 LA City Council Meeting

Posted on July 3, 2020January 28, 2021 by Marcos Holguin

SR Holguin, PC is a union-side labor and employment law firm with nearly four decades of experience representing private sector unions, public sector unions, and multi-employer trust funds. SR Holguin, PC is committed to providing full-service legal representation to each of our clients.

1. Workers Who Could Be Impacted: California Garment Workers

A Resolution was introduced by Councilmember Gil Cedillo (1st District) and Seconded by Council President Nury Martinez (6th District) to support Senate Bill 1399 (Durazo).

SB 1399 entitled “Employment: garment manufacturing” is a California State Senate Bill (SB) authored by Senator María Elena Durazo (24th Senate District- Los Angeles) and coauthored by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (80th Assembly District- San Diego).

According to Councilmember Cedillo’s Resolution, SB 1399 would “provide protections for garment workers including prohibiting the practice of piece-rate compensation and requiring garment manufacturers and contractors to jointly share legal responsibility for their workers.”

SB 1399 (Durazo) passed the California State Senate on June 25, 2020 after a 25-11 vote. After passing the Senate, it was ordered to the California State Assembly. The bill currently sits in the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment awaiting a future hearing.

Councilmember Cedillo’s Resolution was referred to the City Council’s Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. If it passes the committee, it will be voted on by the full City Council. If the City Council adopts the Resolution and the Mayor concurs, the official position of the City of Los Angeles will be to support SB 1199 (Durazo).

2. Workers Who Could Be Impacted: California Teachers and School Employees

A Resolution was introduced by Council Assistant President Po Tempore David Ryu (4th District) and Seconded by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield (3rd District) to support AB 3308 (Gabriel).

AB 3308 entitled “School districts: employee housing” is a California State Assembly Bill (AB) authored by Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel (45th Assembly District- Encino), Kevin Mullin (22nd Assembly District- South San Francisco), and Sharon Quirk-Silva (65^thAssembly District- Fullerton), and coauthored by Senate Majority Leader Robert Hertzberg (18th Senate District- Van Nuys).

According to Council Assistant President Po Tempore Ryu’s Resolution, AB 3308 would “create a State policy supporting housing for teachers and school employees, and permits school districts and developers that have received local or State funds, or tax credits designated for affordable rental housing, to restrict occupancy to teachers and school district employees on land owned by school districts.”

AB 3308 (Gabriel) passed the Assembly on June 8, 2020 after a 71-0 vote. After passing the Assembly, it was ordered to the California State Senate. The bill currently sits at the Senate Housing Committee where it awaits a future hearing.

Council Assistant President Po Tempore Ryu’s Resolution was referred to the City Council’s Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. If it passes the committee, it will be voted on by the full City Council. If the City Council adopts the Resolution and the Mayor concurs, the official position of the City of Los Angeles will be to support AB 3308 (Gabriel).

We hope these updates are helpful to you.

Fraternally,

SR Holguin, PC

Updates for Workers from the June 30, 2020 LA City Council Meeting

Posted on June 28, 2020January 28, 2021 by Marcos Holguin

One way in which SR Holguin, PC ensures our clients and their members stay informed is by keeping you updated on recent developments relating to workers’ rights. Today’s updates come following the release of the Los Angeles City Council agenda for the June 30, 2020 meeting. There is one item in particular that could impact you.

Workers Who Could Be Impacted: Out-of-Work Angelenos Interested in Becoming Community Health Workers and Contact Tracers

Agenda Item Number 19: “Continued Consideration Of Ad Hoc On COVID-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment Committee Report relative to a hiring plan for a Community Care Corps, to fill gaps in our health care system as well as provide meaningful employment to residents who need it.”

This agenda item dates back to a Motion made on June 9, 2020 by Councilmember Herb Wesson, Jr. (10th District) and Seconded by Council President Nury Martinez (6th District). The motion was referred to the Ad Hoc On COVID-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment Committee which held a Special Meeting on June 17, 2020 and moved to approve the Motion’s recommendations and forward to the City Council for its consideration.

Due to the economic impact of COVID-19 and pursuant to the Motion, the June 30, 2020 agenda item calls for the Council to “Instruct the Economic and Workforce Development Department and the Personnel Department with assistance from the City Administrative Officer and Chief Legislative Analyst, to work with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, to solicit input from community groups and non-profits and report back with a public/private, New Deal style hiring plan for a Community Care Corps, to fill gaps in our health care system as well as provide meaningful employment to residents who need it.”

We hope these updates are helpful to you.

Fraternally,

SR Holguin, PC

Updates for Workers from Juneteenth 2020

Posted on June 17, 2020January 28, 2021 by Marcos Holguin

One way in which SR Holguin, PC ensures our clients and their members stay informed is by keeping you updated on recent developments relating to workers’ rights. Today’s updates come on the heels of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Coast Longshore Division’s announcement that its members will stop work for eight hours on the first shift on Friday, June 19, 2020 in 29 West Coast ports in observance of Juneteenth.

Workers Who Could Be Impacted: ILWU Coast Longshore Division members

On Friday, June 19, 2020, the ILWU Coast Longshore Division will stop work for eight hours on the first shift in 29 West Coast ports from Bellingham, Washington to San Diego, California in observance of Juneteenth which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. 47 states and the District of Columbia “have passed legislation recognizing it as a holiday or observance.” The United States Senate also passed a resolution “designating June 19, 2020, as ‘Juneteenth Independence Day’ in recognition of June 19, 1865, the date on which news of the end of slavery reached the slaves in the Southwestern States.”

The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) released a bulletin explaining that ILWU Locals 13, 63, and 94 will stop work “on Friday, June 19, 2020, First Shift only, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. No longshore labor will be available for work from the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2020, except for passenger ships, essential military cargo, DST rail, and emergencies…Also, monitoring of reefers by Longshore Mechanics is allowed.”

The decision to stop work for eight hours on the first shift in 29 West Coast ports comes following the ILWU’s decision to “stop work for nine minutes on Tuesday morning, June 9th, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, to honor George Floyd.” The ILWU also sent a letter to the Governor of Minnesota to “demand that the Minneapolis Police Officers who brutally arrested and killed George Floyd be charged and tried for his murder.” ILWU members also attended Mr. Floyd’s funeral in Houston.

Other workers who will receive Juneteenth as a holiday include employees of Nike, the National Football League (NFL), Twitter, Square, Mastercard, Lyft, Postmates, and over 300 other companies.

For more articles on the ILWU and its Juneteenth commemoration, click:

Dockworkers to Shut Down West Coast Ports in Memory of George Floyd

One of America’s Most Powerful Unions Will Shut Down 29 Ports on Juneteenth

The Most Radical Union in the U.S. Is Shutting Down the Ports on Juneteenth

Protesters Call for a Black Workers’ Strike on Juneteenth

We hope these updates are helpful to you.

Fraternally,

SR Holguin, PC

SR Holguin, PC’s Dedication to the Community

Posted on June 17, 2020January 28, 2021 by Marcos Holguin

Brothers and Sisters:

At SR Holguin, PC we understand “The most important word in the language of the working class is ‘solidarity.’”- Harry Bridges. As such, we stand in solidarity with essential workers on the frontline of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

SR Holguin, PC is proud to partner with International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Local 94 and local restaurants, who have also suffered from the effects of COVID-19, to provide meals to frontline workers throughout Southern California. These meals are a way of thanking those who sacrifice so much so that the community may prosper.

Fraternally,

SR Holguin, PC

“There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.” -Walter Reuther

SR Holguin, PC’s Dedication to Unions

Posted on June 17, 2020January 28, 2021 by Marcos Holguin

Brothers and Sisters:

One way in which SR Holguin, PC ensures our clients and their members stay informed is by keeping you updated on recent developments relating to workers’ rights. As such, we have launched this site, a convenient way to pass on news and updates that have potential impacts on unions and their members.

We hope you find these updates helpful. Please check back regularly to stay up to date.

Fraternally,

SR Holguin, PC

“There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.” -Walter Reuther