California has enacted a new law that allows the state to intervene in union elections and workplace disputes when federal regulators fail to act. Assembly Bill 288 gives the California Public Employment Relations Board authority to step in when the National Labor Relations Board lacks a quorum or delays action for over six months. Supporters say the measure protects workers’ rights amid federal dysfunction and sweeping staff cuts under the Trump administration. Business groups argue the law oversteps legal boundaries and could face constitutional challenges. The bill also establishes a state enforcement fund, supported by employer penalties, to finance the board’s expanded role.
See "Newsom signs bill expanding California labor board oversight of employer disputes, union elections", Suhauna Hussain and Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, October 1, 2025