Oakland City Council considers law requiring some laid-off workers get first choice of jobs

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Newsom: All California counties must shutter certain indoor activities

Faced with rising coronavirus numbers, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday said that all counties in the state must shutter a host of indoor activities including restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, zoos, museums, bars and cardrooms.

Laid off employees in the hospitality, restaurant, stadium and travel-related industries will get first dibs at jobs at their former employer when that employer reopens if Oakland city councilmembers approve an ordinance to be considered Tuesday.

Councilmembers will consider the ordinance at the virtual City Council meeting that starts at 1:30 p.m. Employers do not need to hire back any more employees than they need but must offer laid off workers their jobs based on seniority, according to a report given to councilmembers.

The ordinance is meant to protect older workers who employers might replace with younger workers and it is meant to protect workers who have stood up for themselves or coworkers.

After a rehire offer is made, workers will have 10 days to decide whether they want to go back to work for the employer who laid them off.