Climate change is stopping California lawyers from going back to work
It is bad enough that California’s stringent environmental laws have driven up the cost of energy, food, and housing. Now, public-sector unions are weaponizing the state’s most powerful environmental statute to avoid showing up for work.
TL;DR
- California public-sector unions are using the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to avoid returning to the office.
- The state's lawyers argue that a four-day return-to-office mandate will increase commutes and air pollution.
- CEQA allows lawsuits to block government actions with potential environmental consequences, often leading to lengthy legal battles.
- Governor Gavin Newsom's efforts to increase in-office workdays have faced opposition and delays from unions.
- Critics argue that the legislature should exempt labor decisions from CEQA, similar to exemptions made for other projects.
- The situation highlights how broad environmental laws can be "weaponized" to obstruct government mandates.