CalMatters’ salaries thefts helps to inspire legislation

By a Calfatters Capitol reporter Jean Quang:

After a A series of 2022 Calmatters Documenting long waiting and low payments for workers who claim that their employers have cut them for salaries, California’s legislators have already offered bills to try to relieve the lag.

A measure, Senate Bill 310 from San Francisco Democratic Seni. WienerIt would allow workers to recover more money through private lawsuits instead of filing claims through a highly delayed system at the Labor Commission office.

Calmatters reported this Between 2017 and 2021, it was necessary for the position of the position of 505 days to decide on the requests for theft of the salaries of the workers – far longer than 135 days required by the state legislation. This waiting time has since grown to more than 850 days, Found state audit published last yearS

• Eric MebustWiener spokesman: “We were truly struck by some of the reporting on how long people have been waiting and how broken workers are to receive compensation. When the defenders came to us, referring to (Calmatters’) reporting, it was a very compelling terrain. “

Workers who claim that salary theft can file private suits; Join the colleagues to judge the business on behalf of the state; Or file an individual claim to the service of the Labor Commissioner, which decides the claims in administrative hearing.

The last two options are insufficient, Mebust said: While the group’s court cases lead to faster resolutions than administrative claims, which usually lead to lower payments. The bill will allow workers who file individual private cases to request not only their lost salaries but also civil penalties.

The proposal is likely to receive discounts from business groups. The California Chamber of Commerce wrote in a blog publication 2023 that the state should process wage claims more quickly, but should not. “shift more application“To private lawyers. A group spokesman did not respond to a request for a comment on the bill.

Another bill, from FreMont’s democratic senses. Aisha WahabIt aims to encourage employers to pay more quickly after the workers have won their claims. Sb 261 Will require the service of the Labor Commissioner to publicly publish all his decisions against employers who have not yet paid claims. This will also allow the office to look for more fines against employers who do not pay within six months.

Calmatters found in the 2022 series that even after workers have earned their claims, only about one in seven court decisions are paid.

The Californians voted against a proposal 6 in November, which would limit the use of forced prison work as a form of punishment. Now the supporters of the measure introduce it for 2026, Attracting the lessons they learned from last yearwrites Calmatters’ Joe GarciaS

One of the focus on supporting 6 supporters who include California’s legislative black croak and the special reparation group is the clearing of the language: forced prison work is considered one of the last remnants of legal slavery, but prop. 6’s Voting language I did not mention the term. This time his new version will point out: “Slavery in all forms is forbidden.”

Assembly Lori WilsonThe Democrat of the city of Suisun, who wrote the bill behind proportion. 6, also stated that voters were confused by the vote, stating that this prohibits state prisons “from discipling people who refuse to work.”

• Wilson: “It was a suspension for many voters who supported the concept, but were concerned about this language that they could not be disciplined and what it means?”

Beyond the messages, Prop supporters. Deprived firefighters Who helped fight the wild fires of Los Angeles County – can help the cause.

Read more here

Match Group, the company behind Tinder, Hinge and more than a dozen dating apps, has known for years about violent users on its platform, but leaves its users in the dark. This is the result of An 18-month investigation According to the Dating Application Project, a cooperation that includes marking, which is now part of Calmatters.

Reporters Emily Elena Dougdale and Hanisha Harjani have raised hundreds of pages of documents of the internal company, together with thousands of pages of court records and securities documents. They found that women who reported they were raped were not grip as the accused rapes continue to move – and attack.

Our independent tests of their products led by CalMatters/Statistical Journalist of the marking Natasha UzcateGui-Liggett They found that despite the company’s promises, the ban on Tinder users – including those reported for sexual assault – could easily join or move to another match app for matching, while maintaining key personal information exactly the same.

Read more hereS

On Tuesday, the Fremont Municipal Council voted for a controversial measure that the defenders of homelessness claim to be used to direct activists and help workers. Find out What is the ordinance and what the City Council decided by the CalMatters Hourlyness reporter Marisa KendallS