Larry Klein
Mayor
Omar Din
Vice Mayor
Russ Melton
Councilmember
Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember
Richard Mehlinger
Councilmember
Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember
Linda Sell
Councilmember
September 27, 2023
T
he Honorable Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, California 95814
V
IA Email: [email protected]
R
E: AB 1484 (Zbur): Temporary public employees – REQUEST FOR VETO D
ear Governor Newsom,
O
n behalf of the City of Sunnyvale, we strongly request your veto on AB 1484 (Zbur) regarding representation for temporary employees. As written, AB 1484 includes requirements that will be difficult for public employers to fulfill.
A
B 1484 would negatively impact public services. "Extra help" employees are often retained for seasonal, or “surge” needs by public agencies, or to backfill permanent employees who are on leave or temporarily reassigned. On an annual basis, the City of Sunnyvale hires/employs approximately 927 regular full time and part time employees and approximately 250 temporary/casual employees. During the summer season surge, the City employs approximately 350 temporary/casual employees. Temporary employees provide assistance with short-term projects and special events, provide temporary or seasonal city services including summer recreation programs and park maintenance, temporarily fill vacant positions, and strengthen the City’s regular workforce.
T
he current use of casual and temporary employees allows the City of Sunnyvale to maximize responsiveness to customers through Council Policy 7.3.6 Service Delivery Options. This bill would significantly increase the costs to hire such employees, thereby reducing levels of service to residents. This bill would discourage such hiring, leaving positions unfilled and the public unserved.
A
dditionally, temporary employees may include retired annuitants whose terms and conditions of employment are strictly controlled by state law under the California Attachment 1
T he Honorable Governor Gavin Newsom
September 27, 2023
Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), in ways that would severely impair any meaningful bargaining.
AB
1484 would require public agencies to inform temporary employees and the employee organization of the anticipated length of employment and end date. However, temporary employees are often hired to fulfill an immediate need of uncertain duration, as was the case during the COVID-19 emergency. In these cases, the agency will not be able to identify an end date that is anything more than speculation, which will serve no useful purpose and may lead to unnecessary disputes. Sunnyvale Council Policy
7.0.B.3 (Long Term Advocacy Positions – Planning and Management) states that the City of Sunnyvale will “oppose any legislation that reduces or erodes local revenues or local control.”
I
n conclusion, temporary employees are hired for a temporary and urgent need.
Temporary employment provides opportunities for those looking for limited hours, additional income, students who are interested in paid internships with local government, individuals who are interested in local government and would like to work temporarily, and those between jobs who have valuable skills and knowledge. The provisions of this bill severely limit local agencies’ ability to utilize this workforce, which ultimately impacts our ability to provide services.
F
or these reasons, we respectfully request your veto of AB 1484 (Zbur). Thank you for your consideration of our position. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Tina Murphy, Director of Human Resources at 408-730-3001 or
[email protected], if you have any questions.
S
incerely,
L
arry Klein
Mayor
cc:
The Honorable Rick Chavez Zbur, State Assembly
The Honorable Evan Low, State Assembly
The Honorable Aisha Wahab, State Senate
Attachment 1
T he Honorable Governor Gavin Newsom
September 27, 2023
The Honorable Josh Becker, State Senate
City Council
Kent Steffens, City Manager
Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Tina Murphy, Director of Human Resources
Seth Miller, League of California Cities, Regional Division Public Affairs Manager, [email protected]
League of California Cities, [email protected]
Attachment 1