Legislation is critical to protecting workers’ free speech and keeping California’s streets safe

SACRAMENTO, California., 16 August 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Three Teamsters-sponsored bills that would guarantee Californians greater freedom of speech and safety have passed procedural votes in the Assembly and Senate Budget Committees and their chambers of origin and will now move to a vote in the full House. The bills include safety requirements for autonomous vehicles in House Bills 3061 (AB 3061) and 2286 (AB 2286), which will move to a vote in the Senate, and House Bill 399 (SB 399), which includes protections for captive bystanders and will move to a vote in the full House.

“Working people are the backbone Californiaand it’s high time they had equal rights while these greedy corporations try to silence them. Whether it’s the big tech companies trying to put 80,000-pound autonomous trucks on our streets without a trained driver at the wheel, or union-busting employers trying to keep workers from organizing through captive audience meetings, the Teamsters will continue to fight for California Workers,” said Lindsay DoughertyVice President of the Teamsters Western Region International and Director of the Teamsters Motion Picture and Theatrical Trade Division. “We welcome the passage of AB 3061, AB 2286 and SB 399 by the Budget Committee and urge all California’s elected politicians to ensure that this law comes into force.”

AB 3061, introduced by a Congressman Matt Haney (D-17) would require AV companies to publicly report all vehicle collisions, traffic violations, evasive maneuvers, attacks, or harassment involving their vehicles to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The bill is critical to ensure public transparency and accountability, especially since AV companies do not publicly report major incidents on California’s roadways. The California DMV has not collected data on fault in collisions involving AVs for several years.

AB 2286, introduced by a Congressman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-4) would require a trained human driver at the wheel of self-driving trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds and force companies to California to publicly report to the DMV all vehicle collisions, traffic violations, escape attempts, attacks or harassment involving their vehicles.

The third bill, SB 399, would protect California Workers will not face any repercussions for refusing to attend the employer’s meetings, a tactic companies often use to break unions and discourage workers from forming a union. The bill does not prevent employers from holding such meetings, but prohibits them from requiring employees to attend these meetings as a condition of their employment. Connecticut, Oregon, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Washington, HawaiiAnd new York have already passed similar laws.

“Companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year on scare tactics like captive audience meetings to dissuade workers from joining a union. SB 399 is critical to fixing this backwards system and protecting workers in their fight for a voice in the workplace,” said Chris GriswoldVice President of Teamsters International and President of Teamsters Joint Council 42. “Gavin Newsom must follow the example of governors who have already signed similar legislation. Stand up to big business, stand with working people, sign the bill.”

Teamsters-backed autonomous vehicle safety legislation continues to gain support amid widespread safety incidents involving autonomous vehicles, including a collision between robot taxis and school crossing guards in San Franciscoand no significant safety measures implemented by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the DMV. Despite the lack of safety protocols, Waymo will begin testing driverless robotaxis San Francisco highways this week.

“While the CPUC and DMV continue to favor Big Tech over the California public by giving the green light to the proliferation of AVs on our roads, our elected officials have made one thing clear: We need more safety regulations for AVs. The Teamsters applaud the Assembly for passing AB 3061 and AB 2286 and for prioritizing public safety over dangerous technology,” said Peter FinnVice President of Teamsters Western Region International and President of Teamsters Joint Council 7. “This is common sense legislation that the Teamsters will continue to fight for until workers and their families are protected and our streets are safe.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hard-working people in the United States. CanadaAnd Puerto Rico. For more information, visit Teamster.org, follow us on Twitter at @Teamsters, and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:
Zoe PiSierra(603) 339-0042
(email protected)
Matt McQuaid(202) 624-6877
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SOURCE: International Brotherhood of Teamsters