On June 27, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 119 into law. The signing of this new bill – popularly called the New Employee Orientation Law, opens up broad space for public sector unions in California to more fully represent and organize our members.
Under the new law, labor unions and worker associations are empowered to access new employee orientations. We now have the legal right to attend and present a union message for a portion of any activity that can be construed to be some form of new employee orientation. The law also states that information on what, when, and how the union have access to employees during orientation be subject to bargaining.
Local 21 is currently consulting with lawyers and reviewing best practices on how to most effectively use this new tool, and plans to use the new law to help us organize members more effectively.
