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Labor and community groups call for expanded worker supports, safe staffing and local fiscal protections

California State Senate Environmental Quality Committee · February 18, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Labor and community witnesses told the committee that unplanned refinery closures create extended unemployment, unsafe understaffing during pre‑closure periods, and large local revenue losses; they recommended expanding displaced worker funds, tax‑stabilization mechanisms, safe‑staffing rules, and local planning supports.

Union and community witnesses told the Senate panel that refinery closures extend far beyond environmental cleanup: they reshape local economies, public services and household finances.

Josh Sonnenfeld (UC Berkeley Labor Center) summarized the Contra Costa Refinery Transition Partnership’s three‑year study and said the group anticipates steep reductions in local refining capacity and substantial job losses without policy interventions. He…

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