Newson Rejects Return-to-Work Bill
Apparently, California bill AB3216 didn’t add up for California Governor Gavin Newson.
And, as a result, another measure of hope for laid-off theme park, hospitality, and entertainment workers fell by the wayside.
AB3216 Vetoed By CA Gov. Newson
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Chase DiFeliciantonio posted:
[Newson] vetoed the bill Wednesday, saying the Legislature should “consider other approaches” to solving the problems of workers like Camacho.
The bill would have created “return to work” rights for some laid-off workers in industries hit hardest by the pandemic including hospitality, event centers, airports, building services and others.
MickeyBlog posted about AB3216; the bill on which so many workers had placed their hopes:
The Return-to-Work Bill Explained
The San Francisco Chronicle also explained the bill, posting:
As those businesses looked to rehire staff, they would have been required to start with rehiring those they laid off. If the firms hired a different worker for a restored role, they would have been obligated to provide the laid-off worker with the name of the person who filled their job and the reason for the hire. Newsom said in a letter to the Legislature rejecting the bill that latter requirement in particular risked “the sharing of too much personal information.”
Reaction to the Veto
Assemblymember Ash Kalra of San Jose told the media:
On a day when Disney announced that it would be laying off over 28,000 employees and when reports suggest that California’s economic recovery could take at least two years, this feels like a missed chance at a recovery for all… I know this is a fight that does not end today. I am committed to continue the march for dignity and job security for our workers and will not relent in the protection of our most vulnerable communities.
The California Chamber of Commerce retorted:
[The Bill] would have delayed the rehire of thousands of employees and slowed the economic recovery of many employers… We are grateful that the governor chose not to further burden these industries at a time when they can least afford it.