(Sacramento)—Assembly Labor & Employment Committee Chair Sandré R. Swanson (D-Oakland) spoke at a press conference convened by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) to denounce Assembly Republican efforts to extract concessions on non-budgetary issues in exchange for their vote on the State budget.

“The real issue before this Legislature is the serious and unprecedented budget crisis in this state. I find it appalling that Assembly Republicans, who have failed to offer a concrete proposal on the budget, have picked this time to discuss rolling back worker’s rights,”  Assemblymember Swanson stated.

Labor-related demands Assembly Republicans are making include:

• Repealing 8-hour work day protections, including overtime pay.
• Eliminating employees’ right to meal periods.
• Undermining the State’s prevailing wage laws.

“These demands are the same ones Republican members bring up every year, regardless of the economic environment,” Assemblymember Swanson stated, adding, “California’s working families are struggling to keep their jobs, keep their homes, put gas in their cars,  and put their children through school.  We need to solve our budget crisis in a way that reflects these priorities.  Are we expected to believe that the 8-hour day is what’s causing our budget woes, and that if we eliminate it, our fiscal problems will be magically solved?  That is a foolish notion.”

In addition to labor related demands, Assembly Republicans have also proposed policies to weaken State environmental policies, including emissions controls and curbs on greenhouse gasses.

Closing out the press conference, Assemblymember Swanson stated, “First and foremost in this budget crisis is ensuring that we do not balance this budget on the backs of our children and the most vulnerable in our society.”