California unions would get more details on job applicants under proposed law

The state of California would be required to provide more information to unions each time it fills a job under a new proposed law.

Under the proposal, Assembly Bill 3349, union representatives could request information on “how many people have applied, been interviewed, and have been hired or rejected for any state job,” according to bill language.

California’s century-old civil service laws aim to ensure the state government hires based on merit rather than family relationships, friendships or other factors.

The law requires the state’s Department of Human Resources to create ranked lists of qualified candidates including their scores on hiring exams. The proposal would allow union representatives to review those lists.

Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, introduced the proposal. A spokesman said Tuesday that details of the proposal are still being worked out.

Cooper, a former Sacramento sheriff’s captain, has passed a number of bills related to pay, benefits and union representation.

In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill from Cooper that requires CalHR to explain more fully the benefits and salary ranges to applicants for state jobs.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill from Cooper in 2017 that allowed women in public employment to pursue wage discrimination claims. Brown vetoed a Cooper proposal aimed at closing a pay disparity affecting women in state government.

Cooper introduced a proposal in 2016 to guarantee unions a place at new employee orientations in 2016. The proposal ended up getting passed into law as part of the state budget process in 2017.

This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 6:00 AM.