Sacramento, CA – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council today released the following statement from Amber Baur, executive director, UFCW Western States Council, in response to the agreed upon California budget for 2022-2023:

 “The 180,000 UFCW members in California applaud Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature’s 2022-2023 budget that invests in the essential workers who power California’s economy and their families.

“The past few years have been incredibly difficult for frontline workers, demanding tremendous sacrifice by working people and their families. The Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended the federal tax deduction for union dues, putting working people at even more of a disadvantage. The budget approved today by Governor Newsom and the Legislature establishes a refundable tax credit for union dues, allowing workers to level the playing field that tries to keep them at the bottom. We’re glad our elected leaders saw the numerous benefits unions provide workers, like expanded access to healthcare and retirement, a narrowing of race and gender wage disparities and racial wealth gaps, and a path out of poverty through job security, and provided the funding for this important tax credit.

“The agreed upon budget also includes significant funding for pathways to quality jobs for essential workers. Lifting up low-wage workers like UFCW’s members in critical public-facing roles, most of whom are women and people of color, through workforce development dollars is an urgent need for our economy and will help move families into the middle class and begin to undo decades of systemic inequality. 

“The budget also supports the critical work of the University of California Labor Center, doubles the funding to increase retaliation complaint investigation staffing, continues California’s COVID-19 Workplace Outreach Project, and establishes an unpaid wages hardship fund. Funding these key worker protection and information projects will help keep workers safe on the job for years to come.

 “California’s licensed cannabis employers have been unable to maintain high worker wages, benefits, and career growth opportunities because of the high cost of taxes. We applaud the funding of $40 million in tax credit relief for social equity programs and high road cannabis retail operators that provide living wages and benefits, which will bring real relief for retailers and inspire consumers to purchase from legalized shops, not illicit businesses. 

 “We are glad Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature have committed to ensuring working people can fight growing costs of living in California and thrive. We will continue working with the Governor and the Administration to ensure California’s budget gives our members what they need throughout the rest of the budget process this summer.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 30, 2022

Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, [email protected]

Sacramento, CA – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council applauded the California State Senate for moving SB 1336 (Wiener) to the California Assembly for its  approval. SB 1336 will provide high road cannabis employers access to tax credits, combatting the growing illicit cannabis market. The following statement may be attributed to Matt Bell, Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW Local 324:

“California’s legal cannabis industry must be able to provide workers with high road jobs that pay workers living wages, provide good benefits and give workers an opportunity to save for their future. However, employers are being crushed by high tax rates and forced to lay off staff or close their business. We must give legal cannabis employers relief and the opportunity to invest in their workers while providing safety for both consumers and communities not found in the illicit market. SB 1336 is a clear way California can invest in the future of both workers and our cannabis businesses. We’re proud the Senate voted to support workers’ futures and struggling businesses.”

The legalized cannabis industry is currently facing an existential crisis as California battles a thriving illicit market that puts consumers at risk and undermines quality jobs by undercutting high-road employers on wages, benefits and career opportunities. SB 1336 provides targeted tax relief, in the form of a carryforward tax credit, for high road employers who provide living wages and benefits in the cannabis industry to better compete with the illicit cannabis market and to encourage more operators to enter the legal market.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 26, 2022

Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, [email protected]

Sacramento, CA – The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council and the California Labor Federation today applauded the California State Assembly’s approval of AB 2530 (Wood), which provides timely and affordable access to Covered California insurance for workers who lose health benefits due to a labor dispute.

“Unscrupulous employers will often weaponize workers’ benefits to force them to take less than fair deals on the job, knowing that workers and their families cannot live without healthcare,” said Joseph Bryant, President of SEIU Local 1021 and Executive Board Member of SEIU California. “Workers exercising their right to strike, or workers locked out of the job, shouldn’t live in fear of losing their family’s health insurance when they stand up for themselves and their coworkers during contract negotiations. AB 2530 will ensure workers trying to better their livelihoods through a strike won’t have to weigh keeping their family healthy with earning more on the job. We’re glad the Assembly supported this key public health and worker rights measure.”

“Employers maliciously hold health coverage and other benefits over the heads of workers exercising their labor rights, aiming for workers to take less than what they deserve so their families can get the medicine or care they need to stay healthy,” said Maribel McKinze, Recorder/Political & Organizing Director, UFCW Local 135. “Thousands of our members across the state voted to strike against their grocery store employers earlier this year because they knew they had to stand up for the contract they deserved. AB 2530 will give workers peace of mind and prevent employers from interfering with workers’ rights to strike and obtain the strongest contracts possible. We’re glad the Assembly voted to support this important bill and urge the Senate to do the same.”

“No worker should be denied affordable health care coverage,” said California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski. “By passing AB 2530 today, the Assembly moved a critical protection for striking workers forward. We urge the Senate to follow suit so that no worker on strike loses the health care her family relies upon.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 23, 2022

Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, [email protected]