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.

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 September 1, 2020 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agenda. There are two items in particular that could impact you.

1. Workers Who Could Be Impacted: Workers throughout Los Angeles County

Agenda Item Number 18: “Expanding Worker Protections in Los Angeles County.”

A Motion will be introduced by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas (2nd District) and Supervisor Sheila Kuehl (3rd District). The motion states “[t]hese are uneasy times for workers…total unemployment claims in the State of California since March 8, 2020 has surpassed 7.1 million. For those who are continuing to work, many are being forced to make the difficult decision to choose between their financial well-being and their health at high-exposure jobs…workplace transmissions account for almost half (47.7%) of COVID-19 cases, and these impacts are particularly felt among the Latinx and Black workers that represent a disproportionately large part of the essential workforce…

As the economy adapts to, and ultimately transcends, the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not only a moral responsibility, but an economic necessity, that efforts are taken to strengthen and expand the protection of the County’s workforce, particularly for those in low-wage and vulnerable jobs. Studies…have shown that strong worker protections that drive down job vulnerability, such as investments in training, benefits, and predictable scheduling, decrease turnover and increase productivity, preserve employer-employee relations, and attract economically complex industries that accelerate regional economic growth. 

Accordingly, the County should explore opportunities to streamline and expand the resources available for employees and employers to create healthier work environments. This should include the potential creation of a single office that would centralize the County’s various worker protection efforts, including the minimum wage and Fair Chance Ordinance enforcement, dispute resolution, and other related initiatives. Such an office would also develop and promote policies and standards that support the County’s workforce, particularly for those that are more vulnerable to substandard work environments.”

As such, the Motion would direct County departments “in consultation with relevant stakeholders, to report back to the Board of Supervisors in writing within 60 days on how the County of Los Angeles…can improve and centralize efforts related to protecting and enforcing workers’ rights, including, but not limited to, the following: 1. Establishment of an Office of Labor Equity, which would promote and enforce the County’s labor laws, as well as lead labor policy research and development with a focus on racial, health and economic equity, including potential funding and implementation plans to enable adequate enforcement authority; and 2. Centralizing, under the Office of Labor Equity, various worker protection initiatives including wage enforcement, dispute resolution, outreach, and other relevant programs and educational information currently offered by various County Departments.”

2. Workers Who Could Be Impacted: Los Angeles County Employees

Agenda Item Number 27 entitled “Medical, Dental, Life Insurance and Disability Plans for 2021.”

As an administrative matter requiring 3 votes to pass, and pursuant to a Board Letter, the County’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Fesia Davenport recommends that the Board “[a]pprove the proposed premium rates for County-sponsored medical and dental plans for represented and non-represented employees for the period of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021; basic life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance rates for represented and non-represented employees and, for represented employees only, optional group term life and dependent term life insurance rates for the period of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022; Optional Group Variable Universal Life and dependent term life insurance and Survivor Income Benefit rates for non-represented employees for the period of January 1, 2021 through December 31 2021; and rates for Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability (LTD) and LTD Health Insurance plans; and take the following related actions: Instruct County Counsel to review and approve as to form the appropriate agreements and/or amendments with various insurance carriers for the period of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 and with SafeGuard Health Plans, Inc. and Life Insurance of North America, or their successors or affiliates, as necessary for the period of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022; and Instruct the Chair to sign the agreements and/or amendments; Approve the proposed premium rates for the health plans sponsored by the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, Inc. and the Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014, and proposed premium rates for the California Association of Professional Employees for the period of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021; and Instruct the Auditor-Controller to make all payroll system changes necessary to implement the recommended changes to ensure that all changes in premium rates are first reflected on pay warrants issued on January 15, 2021.”

We hope these updates are helpful to you.

Fraternally,

SR Holguin, PC