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Senate committee advances bill requiring earlier notice to unions before local agencies contract out work
Summary
AB 339 would require local governments to notify unions 60 days before starting an RFP/RFQ to contract out bargaining‑unit work (with broad exemptions for emergencies); the Labor Committee passed the bill as amended despite opposition from counties and nonprofit service providers who warned of delays to essential services.
The Senate Labor Committee on Monday voted to pass AB 339, a bill that would require local governments to provide employee organizations 60 days’ notice before initiating a procurement process (RFP/RFQ) to contract out work currently performed by bargaining‑unit employees.
Supporters said the measure simply preserves collective bargaining rights and gives unions time to propose in‑house alternatives or negotiate impacts before agencies contract out. William Huff, president of AFSCME Local 2428 at East Bay Regional Park District, told the committee his local union repeatedly learned about contracting after the contracts were already in place, and that more transparency would protect jobs and encourage collaborative solutions.
Opponents — including the Urban Counties of California, CalNonprofits, city and county associations, and multiple public agencies — warned that the measure would slow procurement and create administrative burdens that could delay services, especially from nonprofit providers who deliver time‑sensitive help to vulnerable populations. Witnesses said existing remedies such as filing unfair‑labor‑practice charges at PERB already address failures to meet notice and meet‑and‑confer obligations.
Amendments added broad exceptions for emergencies and emphasized that the requirement applies only to existing bargaining‑unit work; disputes about whether work is bargaining‑unit work would continue to be resolved by PERB. The committee moved the bill to Appropriations on a recorded vote; senators debated the balance between protecting public‑sector jobs and ensuring timely delivery of contracted services to communities.
The sponsor said she would continue to work with county and nonprofit stakeholders to resolve implementation concerns.
