ESSENTIAL LEGISLATION ENSURES WORKERS CAN ACCESS JUSTICE

Post

Sacramento, CA (September 30, 2020) — Today, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California applauded Governor Gavin Newsom for signing AB 1947 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) into law. AB 1947 was a piece of priority legislation for the union that will extend the time that workers have to file a claim with the California Labor Commissioner if their employer retaliates against them for exercising their workplace rights.

“California has been a leader on workers’ rights for decades, and Governor Newsom’s signature on AB 1947 creates a longer window of time for exploited workers to access justice,” said David Huerta, President of SEIU United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) and Executive Board Member of SEIU California. “AB 1947 will give workers the time they need to file a retaliation claim, recognizing that low-wage workers may need to find a new job, ensure their family is secure, access resources, and gather documents before filing a retaliation claim. We’re glad the Governor recognized that the workers most vulnerable to employer threats and retaliation are the workers who must be financially safe while they access justice.”

Under AB 1947, workers will have one year to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement if they have been discharged or discriminated against by an employer. The bill also allows workers to recover their attorneys’ fees specifically for whistleblower retaliation claims.