With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Some Laid-Off Workers In LA Will Be First In Line For Their Old Jobs
Some Los Angeles workers who were laid off as businesses were closed during the coronavirus pandemic will get first dibs on getting their jobs back when the city reopens.
The L.A. City Council has passed a worker recall ordinance that covers businesses like hotels, airports and performance venues and aims to help workers like maids, janitors and security guards.
Reopened businesses must give laid-off workers the opportunity to return to their jobs. If an employee doesn't respond or claim their jobs, then businesses can hire new workers.
Council Member Paul Koretz says this rule is needed to protect experienced workers.
"In some cases, without that, a company will decide that this is a great opportunity for them to bust their union, basically leave everybody fired from their current workforce and hire all new employees."
Koretz said the council tried to balance the needs of both businesses and workers, and that this could simplify the rehiring process for businesses when they reopen.
"Everybody's harmed in this pandemic, so we try to help as much as we can without overdoing it, and I think in this case it does exactly that. I don't believe this ordinance will do any harm to employers, but it helps guarantee that longtime, loyal employees get hired back."
MORE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Santa Monica Task Force Will Try To Get City Back On Its Feet ASAP
- Long Beach Wants Residents To Weigh In On How To Reopen Businesses
- Coronavirus Is Pushing LA County And City Budgets Off A Fiscal Cliff
- Even Harder Than Shutting Down: How Does Newsom Reopen California?
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.