How one legislator reshaped California's labor laws and worker protections
In short: From fighting for a $15 minimum wage to reclassifying independent contractors, Lorena Gonzalez has been a central figure in California's legislative landscape. Her work has touched everything from school drinking water safety to the fundamental rights of part-time employees and farmworkers.
Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, a Democratic politician, has left a significant mark on California's labor and social policies. During her tenure in the California State Assembly from 2013 to 2022, she focused heavily on worker protections and healthcare access. One of her most notable legislative achievements was the implementation of a $15 per hour minimum wage, which was scheduled to increase by $1 each year until its full implementation in 2022. She also championed legislation to ensure that individuals receive fair civil compensation for injuries regardless of their immigration status. Furthermore, she worked to expand access to Medi-Cal for affiliate primary care clinics.
Assembly Bill 5 was brought forward by Gonzalez in September 2019, mandating that numerous workers be categorised as employees instead of independent contractors. This shift was designed to provide workers with essential protections under labor and minimum wage laws, including benefits like sick leave. Her influence also touched public health via AB 746; signed by Governor Brown in 2017, this law compels public schools to check drinking water for lead. Additionally, she authored a bill to help promote more low-cost lodging options along the California coast. She also introduced measures to allow residents to implement drought-tolerant landscaping without facing penalties from homeowners associations.
Beyond labor, Gonzalez's work addressed various social and civil issues. She successfully sponsored legislation to protect janitorial workers from sexual harassment and passed a bill in 2018 that banned the San Diego Police Department from taking DNA samples from minors without parental permission, a warrant, or a conviction. In early 2022, she resigned from the Assembly to become the president of the California Labor Federation, a position she has held since 2022. Her legislative efforts also included streamlining the state's voter-registration process. Additionally, she sponsored a law requiring school children to receive vaccinations unless they possess a medical exemption.
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