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California Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, representing Inglewood and nearby areas in Los Angeles County, introduced Assembly Bill 288 (AB 288) to protect workers when federal labor laws fail. The bill addresses serious delays in the federal system, especially with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) — an independent federal agency created to “safeguard employees’ rights to organize” — which is underfunded, politically influenced and lacks strong enforcement tools. 

As a result, many workers wait months or years for justice in wage theft and labor violation cases. AB 288 provides a faster and more accessible way for California workers in the private sector to defend their rights when the federal system is too slow or broken. 

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees at private-sector workplaces the right to unionize and prevent unfair labor practices. The NLRB conducts workplace elections and investigates unfair labor practice charges. However, the federal agency has been understaffed for the last decade despite seeing an increase of 10 percent in cases related to union petitions and unfair practice charges during the fiscal year 2024. 

In addition, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — a new federal department established by President Trump to improve efficiency and save taxpayers’ dollars — terminated the NLRB’s regional office lease in Los Angeles, along with many other offices in many different states. 

On Jan. 27, 2025, President Trump fired Gwelyn Wilcox, then Chair of the Board, citing neglect. Wilcox filed a lawsuit against Trump’s decision. While the lower courts ruled against the firings, calling them “blatant and illegal,” the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of allowing the current federal administration to fire labor board members. The ruling essentially allows the Trump administration to fire independent federal agency employees at whim, only weakening agencies’ ability to function and do their duty.

In the Inland Empire, the proliferation of warehouses has contributed to increased traffic and air pollution, raising health concerns among residents. AB 288 would allow workers to petition the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB), a state agency that administers the “collective bargaining statutes covering employees” in different business sectors, for relief in cases where the NLRB has not provided a timely remedy. This would ensure that employees can exercise their rights to organize and bargain collectively without undue delay. 

Amazon’s work culture in the Inland Empire has been pointed out for being unsafe, stating, Amazon’s operating methods are creating hazardous work conditions and processes. Veronica Kern, an Amazon warehouse worker in Moreno Valley, described the environment as “stressful and intense,” noting that managers would publicly chastise workers for not meeting undisclosed productivity targets and even pressure them to hurry back from bathroom breaks. 

Focused on efficiency, which causes employees to face demanding productivity quotas enforced by sophisticated tracking systems, warehouse workers have little room for breaks or mistakes. Many employees report feeling like they are constantly under surveillance, with every movement monitored and measured against ever-increasing targets. This high-pressure workplace environment leads to increased records of workplace injuries regarding lower back injuries, high turnover rate and burnout issues that are especially concerning given Amazon’s dominant presence as one of the region’s largest employers.

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AB Bill 288 offers a much-needed solution for workers trapped in a slow and uncertain federal process. Right now, workers protected by the NLRA must file a complaint with the NLRB, which investigates the claim, may issue a formal complaint and then hold a hearing before an administrative judge, whose decision can be appealed to the full Board and even to federal court. This drawn-out process can take months or even years to resolve. 

In recent years, for example, the average time from charge to resolution has significantly increased due to understaffing and rising caseloads. For many Californians living paycheck to paycheck, delayed justice often means falling behind on rent, skipping meals or forgoing medical care while they wait for a resolution. 

By allowing workers to file complaints through California’s PERB, AB 288 would provide a faster and more accessible pathway to justice. This would ensure that vulnerable workers in industries like warehousing can advocate for their human rights without sacrificing their basic needs or livelihoods.

AB 288 provides extremely important worker protections for this critical moment in labor history, when multibillion-dollar corporations are infringing on workers’ rights. The bill addresses important issues regarding workplace protections that corporations are exploiting to commit workplace injustices. 

The federal labor laws currently do not protect workers and do not efficiently address the needs of working Americans, as employees wait multiple years without a timely response from the NLRB. Workers’ rights to organize are essential to their economic security and to maintaining standards of human dignity, especially when faced with corporations that prioritize profit over everything. 

The relationships between profits and power are more apparent than ever in light of the current administration’s actions, with Trump’s appointment of over a dozen billionaires into his second-term cabinet, and his close relationship with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. After a report that Amazon planned to display the cost of tariffs on products, Trump called Bezos to rectify what White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt deemed a “hostile and political act,” leading to a statement from Amazon denying the report.

Due to the shortcomings of federal laws and the willingness of the federal government to flout rules and regulations in favor of corporations and billionaires, the state must ensure that bureaucratic processes are not exploited and should provide protection for workers. Under the current Trump administration, AB 288 is more critical than ever to ensure workers’ rights are recognized and protected.

 

 

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