The City Council has directed the city attorney to draft new ordinances requiring "right to recall" and labor peace agreements for businesses operating on city-owned properties, including the iconic Santa Monica Pier.
The council voted to approve the measure despite concerns from Mayor Lana Negrete about potential government overreach into small business hiring practices. The ordinances would protect workers on revenue-generating city properties while ensuring business continuity.
Worker Protections Proposed
The right to recall provision would require employers to prioritize rehiring qualified former employees based on seniority when positions become available. Workers must be employed for at least six months before gaining protection, and the policy would only apply to layoffs for non-disciplinary reasons such as economic downturns or seasonal fluctuations.
"It enables employers to actually prioritize rehiring of qualified former employees based on seniority if and when those folks are rehired," said Mayor Pro Tem Caroline Torosis, who sponsored the measure along with Council Members Ellis Raskin and Jesse Zwick.
When recalled, former employees would receive a 90-day probationary period before performance evaluations. Council Member Jesse Zwick clarified the ordinance "wouldn't infringe upon an employer's right to basically relieve someone of their employment if they're not performing their duties."
Labor peace agreements would minimize the risk of labor disruptions by allowing employees to organize "free from any sort of interference," according to Torosis. Council Member Dan Hall said labor peace "creates business continuity" while right to recall "creates workforce stability."
Council Debate and Concerns
Mayor Negrete expressed strong concerns about the city's role in private hiring decisions, calling it "a huge overreach" for the city to manage "how people hire back their employees." She questioned who would determine if workers are "qualified" and asked whether small businesses with fewer than five or 10 employees could be exempted.
"Who owns the business, the city or the person running the business?" Negrete asked, casting the lone dissenting vote.
Supporters argued the measures protect both workers and businesses. Council Member Hall emphasized that such policies are "both pro-worker and pro-business," noting the Pier's significant economic impact of $938 million in local spending in 2023, supporting thousands of jobs.
Following Regional Precedent
The proposed ordinances would follow models established by other regional jurisdictions. Los Angeles World Airports, the City of Long Beach, and Los Angeles County have implemented similar worker protection measures.
"Part of the direction is to look at existing ordinances that already do this, including the two that were signed were LA World Airports and the city of Long Beach," Council Member Raskin said.
Scope and Timeline
The ordinances would apply to all city-owned properties that generate revenue, including businesses operating on the Santa Monica Pier, at the airport, the Civic Center, and Bergamot Station.
"Although in some of our lease terms we have loose right to recall and labor peace protections, we actually don't have any of that codified in our city ordinance," Torosis explained. The goal is to create "a blanket ordinance that stays no matter what" rather than negotiating terms for individual leases.
The city attorney has been directed to return with draft ordinances within 120 days.
Economic Context
The Santa Monica Pier, one of the city's most valuable assets, welcomed 4.6 million visitors in 2023 and ranks as the second most Instagrammed location in California. The Pier is home to restaurants, retailers, amusement rides and entertainment venues that together form a vital economic engine for the city.
The council's action reflects a broader effort to formalize worker protections on public property while maintaining the Pier's role as both a cultural landmark and economic driver for the region.
