Category: Government & Politics

Civil rights agency contradicts itself to attack own workers WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — As the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission prepares to hold a public hearing this week on preventing harassment in the workplace, behind the scenes it is upending internal policies that safeguard its own employees from harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, says the…

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s plan to issue an executive order to end birthright citizenship: “If there is one thing President Trump has made clear throughout his time in office, it is his complete disregard for the U.S. Constitution. It should…

SAN FRANCISCO – The ACLU Foundation of Northern California today filed a discrimination complaint on behalf of Black students in the Visalia Unified School District who have faced ongoing racial hostility. The complaint, filed with the Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Education, charges the district with violating Title VI of the Civil…

BURLINGAME – Saying he is a “genuine leader” and the best candidate by far for students, educators and the future of our public schools, the five statewide 2018 California Teachers of the Year are endorsing Assembly Member Tony Thurmond for the state’s top education office – superintendent of public instruction. The five innovative K-12 educators…

Advancing Justice-LA urges the community to not be alarmed LOS ANGELES, CA — On Wednesday, October 10, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially posted proposed changes to public charge regulations in the Federal Register. These proposed changes are open for public comment for 60 days and are not final. The posted regulations change the…

Funding will create new recreational opportunities in underserved communities SACRAMENTO. – California State Parks this week released for public review the “Draft Application Guide” for a statewide program that offers $254.9 million to create new parks and recreational opportunities in underserved communities across California. Parks are unique places where children play, people exercise, families and…

Governor Brown has signed SB 1421 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley).  Brian Marvel, President of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), representing more than 70,000 public safety members, said “We are disappointed at what we perceive to be a reckless decision by the governor.” Marvel went on to say “PORAC has worked to…

Education  defies  FLRA  finding  to  push  anti-union  agenda  undermining  mission WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Three U.S. Senators are calling on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to stop denying workplace rights and protections to nearly 4,000 Department of Education employees who are represented by the American Federation of Government Employees. The union representing nearly 4,000…

SB 1041 Will Help To Promptly Diagnose & Treat Children SACRAMENTO – Legislation authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) to help ensure that children at risk of lead exposure receive blood lead screening tests was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. Earning bipartisan support in the Legislature prior to being signed into law,…

SB 1245 Allows Covered California to Promptly Respond to Federal Actions SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that will help Covered California continue to serve over 1.5 million California residents during this era of federal uncertainty. SB 1245 will allow Covered California to have emergency rulemaking authority…

‘We should not abandon our federal workers’ by denying them a ‘well-deserved pay increase,’ lawmakers say in letters to Congress, Trump WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The American Federation of Government Employees is echoing bipartisan calls from members of the U.S. House to overturn President Trump’s plan to freeze wages for more than 2…

Sacramento, CA – The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) is pleased to announce the election of Dr. Shirley N. Weber (AD 79) as the incoming Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.  Assemblymember Weber has been a champion for education and civil rights.  This year, Dr. Weber authored two Caucus priority bills Assembly Bill 2635…

ScholarShare 529 ranked #1 in the country for investment performance Sacramento –­­­To kick off National College Savings Month, California State Treasurer John Chiang and ScholarShare 529 are reminding California families to start saving for college early. “The cost of higher education may be going up, but that shouldn’t get parents down,” said Treasurer Chiang. “Saving…

AFGE applauds ruling that administration illegally gutted workers’ rights, violated labor contracts WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — In a landmark decision, a federal judge has ruled that President Trump violated the U.S. Constitution and laws providing checks and balances in the federal government by attempting to deny more than 2 million federal workers their…

Sacramento, CA – Allegations against members of the California Legislature for sexual and violent threats should be taken seriously and addressed promptly. The Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, Chris Holden, is calling for a full investigation into Senator Joel Anderson for his alleged threatening remarks towards Stephanie Roberson, a highly respected lobbyist for…

NEW YORK — Men and women incarcerated in prisons across the country declared a nationwide strike today to draw attention and demand changes to the conditions they face in the prison system. The Nationwide Prison Strike is scheduled to last from August 21 to September 9. The organizers of the strike have outlined 10 demands,…

OAKLAND, CA  (August 13, 2018) On July 24, the Oakland City Council voted unanimously to enthusiastically endorse Proposition 10. The statewide ballot measure will allow communities to urgently address California’s housing-affordability and homeless crises by limiting rent increases. Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan said, “Proposition 10 will bring much needed local control back to communities…

BURLINGAME – California Teachers Association President Eric C. Heins issued the following statement today about the support and resources that CTA is offering to educators who lost their homes or were evacuated due to the deadly wildfires raging in the state: “CTA and the entire education community offer our thoughts and support to the students,…

CAHU wants to make you aware of a recent California Supreme Court ruling, Dynamex Operations West Inc. v. Superior Court (Dynamex) that could require many 1099 independent contractors to become W-2 employees. This could directly impact you as an agent/broker and affect independent contractors you hire. Dynamex created a new worker classification standard referred to…

Decision to Strike Criminal History Question Opens Door for Tens of Thousands of Students Seeking Access to Higher Education Today, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee) announced an important victory in its work to remove the criminal history question from the standardized college application form used by more than 700 colleges…

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that he is creating an Action Team on Charter Schools to review laws governing California’s charter schools, and provide recommendations about any needed changes to the next State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Governor, State Board of Education, and State Legislature. The guiding law for charter schools—the…