California Legislative Staffers Can Now Unionize Under New Law

“Our staff aren’t looking for special treatment. They are looking for the same dignity and respect afforded to all workers,” the bill author said.

The California State Capitol building in Sacramento, Calif., on April 18, 2022. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Employees working for lawmakers in the California Legislature will have the right to negotiate terms and conditions of employment through a collective bargaining process established with a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom Oct. 7.

Assembly Bill 1—introduced by Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) and eight other members, in addition to a long list of bipartisan co-authors representing both chambers—allows staffers to form a union for the purpose of negotiating wages, benefits, and working conditions, with such impacting nearly 2,000 legislative and district staff members, effective July 1, 2026.