After previously indicating he might veto the measure, Gov. Gavin Newson signed a new law Wednesday that will make it easier for agricultural laborers to join unions, a hard-fought win for the United Farm Workers.
The official signature came after union members and their supporters made a 335-mile pilgrimage from Delano to Sacramento and then camped out in front of the State Capital for weeks as dignitaries visited — a vivid and theatrical display of political heft.
Adding to the pressure, President Biden took the unusual step of inserting himself into state politics, releasing a statement over Labor Day Weekend urging Newsom to enact the law, known as Assembly Bill 2183. Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also joined the chorus.