In the News

Sac Bee: Gavin Newsom just approved more sick days for California workers. What does it mean for you?

October 05, 2023

BY MAYA MILLER

Some California workers are in line to earn more sick days starting in January, as Gov. Gavin Newsom handed labor advocates another victory. 
 
The governor on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 616 from state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach. The new law requires employers to allow their workers to accrue five days of sick leave each year, up from the current statewide minimum of three days. Workers can start accruing those extra days beginning Jan. 1, 2024. 
 
Gonzalez said she authored the bill out of concern that workers would not have enough sick days if they or a child fell ill with COVID-19. 
 
“This reinforces our state’s values and commitment to protecting the health and well-being of our workers,” Gonzalez said in a statement Tuesday.

AP News: California workers will get five sick days instead of three under law signed by Gov. Newsom

October 04, 2023

BY SOPHIE AUSTIN AND TRÂN NGUYỄN

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Workers in California will soon receive a minimum of five days of paid sick leave annually, instead of three, under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Wednesday.

LA Times: California moves one step closer to five paid sick days, with unions banking on COVID lessons

September 13, 2023

BY MACKENZIE MAYSSTAFF WRITER 

Gonzalez said the pandemic acted as a good test case for extended sick leave, and the temporary policies are proof that they can succeed without decimating businesses.
 
“The economy wasn’t falling apart. The state still remained healthy,” Gonzalez said. “And fortunately, more importantly, the workforce felt supported.”

SD Union Tribune: California could add more paid sick days for workers. Here’s how much time they would get

September 13, 2023

BY CATHIE ANDERSON | THE SACRAMENTO BEE | TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

COVID-19 left people unable to work for significant periods, Gonzalez said, and federal and state laws ensured they got the supplemental recovery time and sick pay to avoid infecting co-workers and suffering financial setbacks. Even now, it can take five days or longer for COVID-19 to clear the body, supporters say.

“Families no longer have the temporary protections afforded by COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave, which ended last year,” Gonzalez said. “This back-to-school season, let’s commit to ensuring that parents can take the sick leave they need to take care of their health and the health of their children.”

Common Dreams: 'Powerful Example': California Now Largest Economy to Back Fossil Fuel Nonproliferation Treaty

September 01, 2023

By JESSICA CORBETT

California Senate Majority Whip Lena Gonzalez (D-33), who spearheaded SJR 2, declared Friday that "it is essential that we commit once and for all to ending our reliance on fossil fuels. People around the world, especially low-income people of color, are suffering the adverse health impacts of fossil fuel pollution, from asthma to cancer. The recent devastating fires and hurricanes emphasize the urgency of taking action, to prevent further extreme weather changes."

KPBS: Proposed California law would increase minimum paid sick days from 3 to 7 per year

August 23, 2023
By Katie Hyson / Racial Justice and Social Equity Reporter
Contributors: Bennett Lacy / Producer
 
It’s a common dilemma. Nearly two-thirds of Californians live paycheck to paycheck. Missing a day of work without pay can mean not putting food on the table or making rent.
 
Barlage, who also leads the Fair Workweek LA Coalition, is one of many labor advocates pushing California lawmakers to increase the minimum paid sick days from three to seven per year.
 
“Companies aren’t going to give it to us,” Barlage said. “It’s going to be our politicians who recognize workers as the strong build of this community.”
 
State Senator Lena Gonzalez, (D-Long Beach), who sponsored SB 616, also argued three days is not enough time for survivors of sexual assault to recover before returning to work. A 2022 report said one in seven adults in California had experienced sexual violence in the past year.
 
 

La Opinion: Luchan por medida que reduce disparidades de salud de latinos e indígenas

August 22, 2023

Por: Araceli Martínez Ortega 

La suerte de un proyecto de ley que busca reducir las disparidades de salud entre los latinos e indígenas mesoamericanos en California será definida la próxima semana, cuando los miembros del Comité de Apropiaciones de la Asamblea voten a favor o en contra de que siga adelante en el proceso legislativo.

“Necesitamos abrir nuestros ojos a las diversas necesidades de salud de los grupos latinos en nuestro estado”, dijo la senadora de Long Beach, Lena González, autora de la medida.

Long Beach Pride photos: Thousands turn out for 40th annual parade

August 06, 2023

By Cheantay Jensen

The sweltering August heat didn’t deter the thousands of jubilant parade-goers that blanketed Ocean Boulevard for the 40th annual Long Beach Pride Parade in Downtown on Sunday.

Clad in rainbows, glitter, and tulle skirts while waving rainbow flags and fans, members of the crowd cheered and waved at the procession of floats, marching bands, color guards, council members and community groups.

Senator Lena Gonzalez waves at parade-goers during the 2023 Long Beach Pride Parade, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Photo by Sarahi Apaez.

The Hollywood Times: Dozens of Los Angeles Workers and Caregivers Unite to Demand for More Paid Sick Leave in California

July 27, 2023

By The Hollywood Times

SB 616, introduced by Senator Lena Gonzalez (District 33), would safeguard public health by ensuring that California workers do not have to choose between their health or their loved ones’ health and paying the bills. During the rally, Sen. Gonzalez said the COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave made it clear California can make more paid sick days work.

“All workers in our state deserve to take the time off they need to recover and take care of themselves and their families when they get sick,” said Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). “During the pandemic we saw the immensely positive outcomes of having COVID-related sick leave, preventing more outbreaks in workplaces, averting prolonged illness amongst employees, and maintaining workplace productivity. We all made it work out with ten days of paid sick leave then, so we can do it now too, we can absolutely do it. Ensuring the health and safety of workers should be just as important now as it was when we were at the height of the pandemic. Three days of sick leave is just not enough.”

CalMatters: CA health care: Premiums rising

July 26, 2023

By Lynn La

Advocates for another health-related proposal — extending  paid sick leave from three days to seven days — rallied on Tuesday in Los Angeles, reports CalMatters’ politics and California Divide intern Rya Jetha.

“Seven days is fair, and we’re going to continue to push for even more than seven days later, after this,” said Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Long Beach Democrat and author of Senate Bill 616.