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APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NIKKI FORTUNATO BAS AND
COUNCILMEMBER NOEL GALLO
ADOPT A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY
BILL 616 (STONE) THAT WOULD AMEND THE AGRICULTURAL
LABOR RELATIONS ACT TO FACILITATE THE ABILITY OF
FARMWORKERS TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST UNIONIZATION
WHEREAS, in 1975, farm workers won the right form and join la bor organizations and to engage in collective bargaining under California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Act; and
WHEREAS, under the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, farm worker representation elections are conducted by secret ballot at a polling place designated by the Agricultural Labor Relations Board; and
WHEREAS, since then, the state has expanded the options for Californians voting in local, state and federal elections by, among other things, making it easier to register to vote, increasing the amount of time to vote, allowing ballots to be dropped off in multiple locations, and allowing someone else to deliver their ballot, and
WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 616 the Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act, would similarly expand voting options for farm workers exercising their existing right to vote for union representation; and
WHEREAS, California law was also changed to allow all state and local public workers - including teachers, firefighters, nurses, and staff - to vote to have a union by simply signing a union representation card; and
WHEREAS, following the 2020 general elections, Governor Gavin Newsom said, “Making voting easier, providing more choice, more opportunity…is fabulous” and signed into law ways to make it easier for Californians to vote; and
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WHEREAS, the Agricultural Labor Relat ions Voting Choice Act would afford farm workers similar opportunities in union representation elections by helping to facilitate farm workers’ longstanding right to vote, free from any form of vote suppression; and
WHEREAS, under the Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act, ballots will continue to remain secret, and farm workers will have a choice to vote at a “polling place” as they do now, or to receive assistance in filling out and returning their “representation ballot card” as long as the person who assists them co -signs the representation ballot card and returns it to the state agency overseeing farm worker union elections, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, in a sealed and signed envelope; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: that the Oakland City Council expresses its support for Assembly Bill 616 (Stone), and urges the California Legislature to pass and Governor Gavin Newsom to sign the bill into law; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: that the City Council directs the City Clerk to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Office of Assemblymember Stone.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, KALB, KAPLAN, REID, TAYLOR, THAO AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California