As the Oct. 1 deadline nears for Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign or veto bills in this election year, small businesses are hoping for relief amid record inflation, labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions.
Newsom’s signing of AB 257, creating an unelected fast-food council to decide industry policy, has prompted concerns of its domino effect in and beyond the restaurant sector, John Kabateck, California state director with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), told the Northern California Record.
“By creating a panel that allows non-elected bureaucrats and political appointees on the left to decide wages, benefits and other aspects of work agreements, it completely eviscerates the entrepreneurial dream of the private sector and Main Street as we know it,” Kabateck said.
The law, which was proposed but failed to pass last year, could still go before voters as a ballot measure.
“Make no mistake, this policy – if it is not overturned by the voters – the ripple effect will have devastating and negative consequences for countless other industries beyond fast food enterprises,” Kabateck said. “We are fearful this is just another attempt by Labor to try and unionize the private sector, and we believe this is a level of payback from the governor to big Labor for providing him the muscle of support during the recall election and a commitment to help him in his reelection and any other future aspirations that he may have on a larger level.”
While Gov. Newsom still has many bills on his desk, he was briefly sidetracked last week, challenging Florida’s Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis, to a debate on border security. Both governors are viewed as possible presidential contenders.
Meanwhile, Newsom, whose winery just purchased a $14 million Napa vineyard, may be conflicted on an agricultural union bill that he didn’t sign last year but has been proposed again this session.
“It is truly union democracy at its worst, by giving union bosses and their management the freedom and ability to strongarm workers," Kabateck said. “We are opposed to unions that are controlled by leaders that have political agendas and try to control the very workers in those unions, even mandating that they join them or face retribution. AB 2183 is just another step in severely altering the secret balloting process that they rely on to make decisions.”
Another bill raising grave concerns is SB 1044, Kabateck said, adding that the intent should be workplace emergency procedures, but the language essentially gives people carte blanche to leave whenever they want.
“This language is so broad-based, it makes it difficult; if the language were more detailed it would have helped,” Kabateck said. “It opens the door to significant abuse and we’re very hopeful the governor would veto that.”
Kabateck noted that while NFIB has helped secure victories for small business this year, rising prices and other difficulties remain.
“Small business owners in California and nationally don’t feel like they are out of the COVID-19 woods,” Kabateck said. “Uncertainty still reigns in being able to find skilled workers – to come back to work or start work. They’re concerned about state and federal laws and supply chain disruptions still making it hard for them to put products on the shelf. All of that combined should be a clarion call to policymakers – and now the governor – to help pave and not block the way for our small businesses to not only rebound but to grow again and create jobs and support our local services.”
It's important for lawmakers to be reminded of that, Kabateck said.
“And for voters to be reminded of that – as they see bills, good or bad, that are signed. And when they go to the ballot box, if they are pleased with the results of what they see coming out of Sacramento – if they believe it is helping small businesses, and jobs, and working families get back on track – then all the power to them.
“But if they feel they have been ignored and abused by the very people that were elected to serve them, November is a chance for them to make real change.”