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Mayor—s Job-Impact Charter Amendment Draws Strong Labor Opposition; Committee Accepts Amendments and Continues Hearing
Summary
A mayoral charter amendment to require stakeholder hearings for legislation that would cause net job loss drew sustained opposition from labor and worker-advocacy groups, who called it unnecessary and one-sided; the committee accepted edits, asked for a trailing ordinance, and continued the item to Feb. 2.
The Rules Committee considered a mayoral-sponsored charter amendment on Jan. 26 that would require a formal stakeholder hearing process for proposed city legislation expected to cause a net loss of jobs in San Francisco. Jason Elliott of the mayor—s office presented an amended draft that broadened potential referral bodies beyond the Small Business Commission and removed detailed procedural triggers so that a trailing ordinance would define implementation.
"This Charter Amendment would ensure that legislation that ... would result in a net job loss would result in people losing their jobs," Elliott said, characterizing the proposal as a way to add a formal venue for affected stakeholders to provide input. Elliott emphasized the amendment would not prevent the Board of Supervisors from adopting any ordinance and that matters already put before voters would be explicitly excluded from the process.
The hearing drew sustained opposition from labor councils, unions and worker-rights organizations, which argued the measure would add an imbalanced procedural hurdle favoring business interests and could impede progressive worker protections such as paid sick leave or minimum-compensation measures. Mike Casey of the San Francisco Labor Council called the proposal "unnecessary, imbalanced and divisive," and the Labor Council—s executive and delegate bodies voted unanimously in opposition.
Supporters of the idea, including members of the Small Business Commission and some small-business merchant associations, said the amendment would provide small businesses a predictable avenue for input and a neutral controller analysis on job impacts. The Small Business Commission—s outgoing president said the commission provides a balanced forum for discussion and urged the measure reach the full Board.
After extended testimony, the committee accepted substantive amendments proposed by the mayor—s office (broadening referral options beyond a single commission and simplifying charter language) and set a deadline in the draft for a trailing ordinance to be adopted by Nov. 1, 2012. The committee voted to continue the item to the Feb. 2 Rules Committee meeting so members and stakeholders could consider additional refinements.
Next steps: The item was continued for further amendments and public comment; a trailing ordinance will be drafted to clarify procedural details if the charter change moves forward.
