Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  •  

Is It Finally Time To Allow California Legislative Staff To Unionize?

  •  Ben Adler 
Monday, January 8, 2018 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez (left) embraces Asm. Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) after the Assembly approved her AB 1066 on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016.

Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

The latest proposal from a California lawmaker in response to the #MeToo and We Said Enough movements strikes at one of the Legislature's most sacred cows: the “at-will” employment of its staff.

In fact, Asm. Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher wants to give the Legislature’s more than 2,000 employees the right to unionize.

Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) says the California Legislature is a workplace like no other.

“This is the strangest employment situation that I’ve been in,“ she says. “Oh my gosh, I can’t imagine if the Capitol is the only place you’ve worked, and then you go out in the real world and try to understand — but this is weird!”

Legislative employees are “at-will:” no job protection. And that’s drawn particular scrutiny in recent months amid allegations of pervasive sexual harassment in and around the state Capitol.

Gonzalez Fletcher says a closely watched bill to give legislative staff whistleblower protections misses the bigger picture:

“Whistleblower protections can’t protect people who are at-will employees,“ she says. “I mean, it can help – you can’t be fired for whistleblowing, but you can come into work and be fired for wearing yellow.”

Gonzalez Fletcher’s bill would only allow legislative staff to unionize – not require them to do so.

Previous efforts to unionize legislative employees have been rare – and almost never advanced to even a committee hearing. But Gonzalez Fletcher says she hopes the sexual harassment allegations at the state Capitol will give it a chance of success.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

Ben Adler

Director of Programming and Audience Development

Director of Programming and Audience Development Ben Adler first became a public radio listener in the car on his way to preschool — though not necessarily by choice.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

AP Photo/Allen Breed, File

Bill to extend time to investigate scams against older Californians advances

March 28, 2023

Most Viewed

A plumber crawled under a house in Los Angeles to do a job and then went missing

State may scale down its new home loan program designed to assist first-time homebuyers

California coronavirus updates: Counties with universities saw population increases after students returned from pandemic closures

California coronavirus updates: The FDA may soon authorize another round of boosters for some individuals

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

A plumber crawled under a house in Los Angeles to do a job and then went missing

State may scale down its new home loan program designed to assist first-time homebuyers

California coronavirus updates: Counties with universities saw population increases after students returned from pandemic closures

California coronavirus updates: The FDA may soon authorize another round of boosters for some individuals

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.