Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) introduced her resignation from the Assembly on Monday to develop into the following chief of the California Labor Federation, one of many largest and most influential union teams in California, later this 12 months.
Gonzalez, a graduate of Stanford University, Georgetown University, and UCLA, received her begin in politics within the early 2000’s as a senior advisor to then-Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante. However, her background as a neighborhood activist and organizer received her affect amongst these in labor, in addition to a failed run for San Diego City Council towards future Mayor Kevin Faulconer in 2005, culminated together with her changing into the CEO and Secretary-Treasurer of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO in 2008.
After 5 years as one of the highly effective labor leaders within the state, Gonzalez was elected to the Assembly in 2013, the place she shortly turned one of many prime union and employee advocates in Sacramento. Among a few of her extra notable payments had been AB 1522, a 2014 bill-turned-law that granted sick days to part-time staff, and AB 480, a 2017 handed invoice that added youngster care product subsidies for dad and mom getting into the workforce whereas coming off of welfare.
However, by far her largest and most controversial laws was AB 5, the 2019 legislation that drastically altered the contractor employee panorama within the state by having most contractor staff be reclassified as staff. While the goal was to have extra staff supplied labor protections and extra advantages corresponding to well being protection, the legislation as an alternative harm many unbiased contractors, induced many firms to rent fewer individuals due to the elevated prices, and proved to be so inconsistent that the legislation has been persistently been altered – even earlier than coming into legislation in 2020.
While AB 5 has been considerably weakened since changing into legislation, with many industries corresponding to rideshare firms and trucking teams combating to stay exempt by means of authorized motion and voter propositions, it nonetheless stands in California as of January 2022 and stays a serious victory for the labor motion in California.
Due to her labor background and work as an architect of a number of pro-labor items of laws up to now, she had been touted s a alternative for longtime CLF Executive-Secretary Art Pulaski for a while. In November, the CLF was assured sufficient in Gonzalez that they voted to suggest her as their subsequent chief.
The query of her acceding Pulaski was nonetheless open till late December when redistricting of Assembly districts pushed Gonzalez into the identical district as Assemblywoman Akilah Weber (D-San Diego). Facing a possible polarizing main election this June, in addition to having to get better from a latest bout of most cancers and the invitation of main the CLF nonetheless open, Gonzalez agreed to the place on Monday.
Gonzalez out within the Assembly
Speaking from the opening of the January session on Monday, Gonzalez gave her farewell to the Assembly.
“An opportunity to serve in this capacity doesn’t come up but every few decades, and as I think you all know, serving working Californians is my singular priority,” stated Gonzalez. “I’m very excited about this opportunity.”
“We expanded workplace rights for grocery workers, hotel workers, warehouse workers, janitors and home healthcare workers, paramedics, nail technicians, construction workers, clerical staff, delivery drivers, gig workers, garment workers, disabled workers and more. First in the nation’ described countless laws we wrote pertaining to worker rights and more. We did a lot. But the only way to truly change the lives of working Californians is to empower them at work. No law is ever as powerful as a union contract. So, now, I will simply continue my service by singularly focusing on strengthening the labor movement.”
I simply introduced my resignation from the State Assembly in order that I can settle for a job with the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO in preparation for changing into its chief in July. This transfer will permit me to proceed my life’s dedication to serve & empower working Californians.
— Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (@LorenaSGonzalez) January 3, 2022
Pulaski, who has led the CLF since 1996, accredited Gonzalez as his possible successor on Monday.
“I couldn’t think of a more qualified, passionate and committed leader to continue the critical advocacy of working people at the nation’s largest state federation of unions,” added Pulaski. “Assemblymember Gonzalez lives and breathes union values every day.”
While Gonzalez acquired many different goodbye praises on Monday, others famous that her leaving could be optimistic for the Assembly.
“Labor just lost its strongest ally in the Assembly,” stated “Dana,” a Capitol staffer to the Globe. “We’ve gotten a bunch of calls about this from worried union people. They’re happy she’ll be the head of the [CLF], but they are terrified as this could mean that AB 5 will be left more undefended and that other labor bills won’t have quite as big a supporter. Of course, many others like this and hope that her vacancy is otherwise filled with someone not as strong in labor.”
“Honestly, about as many are cheering her going out of the Assembly as being saddened by it. She’s still in a powerful position and can easily go back into politics from where she is at. But she’s out now.”
Gonzalez may have a as-of-yet unknown position inside the CLF till July, when an election for union management is to be held after Pulaski’s stepping down. A particular election is anticipated to happen someday this 12 months to fill her now vacant Assembly seat.