Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This historic moment is a significant milestone in the struggle for freedom and equality in the United States.
When is Juneteenth? Do California state workers get a day off? Here’s what the law says.
On Saturday, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed June 15 as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A Day of Observance.”
“California is proud to recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday, honoring the centuries of struggles and triumphs that have brought us to this moment,” Newsom said in a news release.
So, does this mean that state workers in California get Juneteenth off as a paid vacation day?
Despite President Joe Biden signing a bill in 2021 that established Juneteenth as a national holiday, it remains an unpaid state holiday for California state employees. Our team at How To California—a new community-driven series designed to help readers navigate life in the Golden State—set out to clarify this point. Here’s what we found:
- While Juneteenth is recognized officially, it does not automatically translate to a paid day off for state workers in California.
- State employees may observe the day, but it is not a mandated paid holiday within the state’s employment policies.
Understanding the significance of Juneteenth helps us appreciate the journey towards freedom and equality. Although California state employees do not get a paid day off, the recognition of this day is an important step in honoring the history and progress made.
The labor union for state employees, SEIU Local 1000, has been actively advocating for Juneteenth to become a state-paid holiday. Irene Green, the vice president of bargaining and chief negotiator for SEIU Local 1000, shared insights with The Sacramento Bee last year about the union’s ongoing contract negotiations with the state.
Union’s Push for Juneteenth as a Paid Holiday
Green emphasized that making Juneteenth a recognized holiday is one of the union’s key issues. “As part of this negotiation process, where we bargain on working conditions, pay, and health and welfare, I have submitted a proposal to the state to make Juneteenth a state-paid holiday without state workers having to request the day and use leave credits,” Green explained.
Current Status of Juneteenth Recognition
In 2022, Governor Newsom officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday. However, the current arrangement allows state workers to take the day off in lieu of a personal day. This means that unless they choose to use their accrued leave to observe Juneteenth, state employees are still scheduled to work on this day.
Key Points
- SEIU Local 1000 is pushing for Juneteenth to be a state-paid holiday.
- Irene Green, SEIU Local 1000’s vice president of bargaining, is leading the negotiations.
- The proposal aims for state workers to observe Juneteenth without using leave credits.
- Governor Newsom recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2022.
- Currently, state employees must use personal leave to take Juneteenth off.
As the negotiations continue, the efforts of SEIU Local 1000 reflect a broader movement to honor and recognize the significance of Juneteenth, ensuring that it is observed with the respect and recognition it deserves.
As part of a statewide initiative to encourage California cities to recognize Juneteenth as an official public holiday, the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation-California is working tirelessly to expand the celebration of this significant federal holiday across all 58 counties.
Understanding the Importance of Juneteenth
“Juneteenth is not just a Black-only holiday. This is a federal holiday,” Michael Harris, a member of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation-California, previously told The Bee. “To have a law that’s quasi-optional makes no sense. This is the only federal holiday that’s treated this way.”
Efforts to Make Juneteenth Mandatory
As of Monday, June 17, Juneteenth is still not recognized as a mandatory paid state holiday for state workers in California. This has sparked discussions and efforts to change this status and ensure that the holiday is given the recognition it deserves.
Which California Employees Get Juneteenth Off?
Although Juneteenth is acknowledged as a federal and state holiday, California law does not obligate employers to provide a day off for this occasion. This means that the observance of Juneteenth as a paid holiday is at the discretion of individual employers.
The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation-California continues to advocate for the formal recognition and mandatory observance of Juneteenth, aiming to ensure that this historic day is celebrated by all Californians.
Stay informed and support the movement to make Juneteenth a universally recognized holiday in California!
