HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB 339 (Ortega) - Local Public Employee Notice Requirements - City of SLO - Request to VETOCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114,
slocity.org
September 19, 2025
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor, State of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: AB 339 (Ortega): Local Public Employee Organizations: notice requirements
REQUEST FOR VETO
Dear Governor Newsom,
The City of San Luis Obispo respectfully requests your veto of AB 339 (Ortega). While we support fair
labor practices, this bill would impose significant costs on our city without improving outcomes. AB
339 continues to impose considerable costs to local agencies, including new notification
requirements, unclear language that will undoubtedly result in increased conflict and eventual
litigation with our labor partners, and significant delays in executing programs and delivering
services. AB 339 will make it harder to provide homeless outreach services, emergency medical care,
or conduct solid waste removal, to name just a few of the critical services on which our communities
rely.
AB 339 has an extremely broad reach and ignores existing employee protections. AB 339 applies to
nearly any contract (outside of the public works exemption) that is within the scope of work of any
job classification represented by a recognized employee organization; for local agencies with
represented workforces, this essentially means the vast majority of contracts would be subject to
notice. Under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA), public agencies are already required to provide
reasonable advance written notice to recognized employee organizations of proposed changes
directly affecting wages, hours, or other terms and conditions of employment, including the impacts
of contracting out bargaining-unit work. Additionally, an administrative remedy is already available
to recognized employee organizations when they believe that a local agency has neglected to meet
existing notification and meet and confer requirements regarding contracting. Failure to adhere to
existing requirements under the MMBA and related case law subjects a local agency to a potential
unfair labor practice charge at the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). AB 339’s redundant
and impractical approach will expose local agencies to additional costs that result from a new and
potentially significant workload increase.
Additionally, by failing to clearly define “emergency,” AB 339 undermines existing authority to act
quickly during disasters. Cities must retain flexibility to respond decisively when residents need us
most. At a time of constrained resources and reduced federal support, this bill would force the City
San Luis Obispo to divert funding and staff away from essential services our community depends on.
There is no evidence AB 339 will improve outcomes, efficiency, or quality of life. Instead, it creates
unfunded mandates, diverts resources, and delays service delivery. For these reasons, the City of San
Luis Obispo respectfully urges your veto of AB 339 (Ortega).
Sincerely,
Erica A. Stewart
Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
cc. Senator John Laird
Assemblymember Dawn Addis
Dave Mullinex, League of California Cities
Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org