October Newsletter 2024
Coalition Priority Legislation Passed This Year and New Laws Will Go into Effect in 2025!
We are excited to share that several bills that California Work & Family Coalition members and partners worked hard to pass have been signed into law and are going into effect in 2025.
SB 1090 (Durazo), a top Coalition priority, was signed into law. SB 1090 will allow Californians to apply for PFL and SDI up to 30 days prior to their anticipated leave. AB 2123 (Papan) removes the employer's ability to require workers to use up to two weeks of accrued vacation before applying for PFL and AB 2499 (Schiavo) strengthens existing protections for survivors of violence and ensures that family members can take time to support them.
These laws will improve access to Paid Family Leave and Disability Insurance and protections for survivors of violence. SB 951(Durazo), a CAWFC top priority signed in 2022 is also going into effect in 2025!
You can read more about these important changes here.
Join the SB 951 Paid Leave Education Campaign!
On January 1, 2025, Coalition 2022 priority bill, SB 951 (Durazo), which raises the wage replacement for Paid Family Leave (PFL) and State Disability Insurance (SDI), will come into effect. This means more California workers will be able to afford to take leave to bond with a new child, care for themselves or a seriously ill family member, or take paid leave when a family member is being called on active military duty.
PFL and SDI Increased Benefits:
90% of regular income for low to middle-income workers (up from 60 or 70%), benefiting those earning approximately $60,000 annually or less.
Higher wage workers will receive 70% of their normal income up to a cap.
PFL and SDI programs are designed to ensure that Californians are able to care for themselves and their loved ones without losing their entire income when a employee is unable to work:
PFL provides up to 8 weeks of income when they are caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a new child, or for certain needs when a family member is deployed.
SDI provides up to 52 weeks of income due to an injury or illness, including pregnancy related conditions.
The California Work & Family Coalition members and partners are launching a statewide education and outreach campaign to ensure that workers across the state know about this change. Please join us and sign up here to share this vital information with your communities and organizations! We'll share a toolkit with background information, basic talking points and sample email, newsletter, and social media posts before January 1st, 2025. We will be holding a short launch/rally at the end of the Annual Statewide Meeting on Friday, November 8th at 3:00.
If you have any questions about the rally or signing up to share information, please reach out to Coalition staff at info@workfamilyca.org
Californians Hiring Caregivers: Please Take Part in the Hand in Hand Survey
Coalition partner, Hand in Hand, is conducting a survey for individuals in California who privately hire, or are considering hiring, homecare workers (non-IHSS) for themselves or someone else. This survey will help Hand in Hand members, staff, and partners understand the challenges and opportunities for organizing private pay employers and improving support for more homecare workers in California.
The survey deadline is November 15, 2024. It will take no more than 10 minutes and participants can choose to enter a drawing for one of three $100 gift cards! Fill out the survey here and feel free to share it with others who are hiring homecare workers.
For more information, contact Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson, Brittanie@DomesticEmployers.org.
Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8ZRP93W
Our Annual Statewide Meeting is next week!
The California Work & Family Coalition is holding its Annual Statewide Meeting on Friday, November 8th 10am - 3pm in downtown Oakland. The Statewide Meeting is where Coalition members and allies join together to review our work in the prior year and set our direction for the year ahead. It’s a great opportunity for both long-term and new members to connect, learn about the Coalition, and have an impact on the work moving forward.
This year, we are excited to be finalizing a long-term policy platform and launching a communications and education campaign around the 2025 implementation of SB 951! Starting January 1st, Paid Family Leave and State Disability Insurance will be more affordable for California workers due to the hard work of Coalition members and allies. Join us for a short rally to launch the statewide campaign to raise awareness at the end of the Statewide Meeting in Oakland’s Preservation Park!
If you are interested in attending the Annual Statewide Meeting and would like information on how to register, please contact us at info@workfamilyca.org
Coalition in the News!
Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bills expanding paid leave for California workers
On Tuesday, October 29th, Coalition Political Organizing Director, Katie Duberg, joined Los Angeles CBS morning news to speak about the Coalition priority bills going into effect in 2025. Katie spoke about the importance of coalition work and engaging constituents to educate their lawmakers in order to pass bills that make a difference. See the clip here.
Gov. Newsom signs bills to advance workers’ rights
by Ruth Silver Taube, San José Spolight - Ruth Silver Taube, Coalition member, wrote about the Coalition priority bills that Governor Newsom signed into law that will improve California workers' lives.
