Christine Baker (California)
Christine Baker was the California director of industrial relations. Baker was formally the department's chief deputy director, but exercised the powers of the director since March 29, 2011, following the resignation of her predecessor, John Duncan.[1] Gov. Jerry Brown (D) appointed Baker to officially take over the position in December of 2011. She was confirmed by the Senate in May 2012.[1][2] Baker resigned on March 30, 2018.[3]
The Department of Industrial Relations is a subset of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. As head of the department, Baker was responsible for carrying out its mission to "improve working conditions for California's wage earners, and to advance opportunities for profitable employment in California."[4]
Baker's position as an executive officer in the California state government was not subject to period reappointment. She served at the governor's pleasure.
In March 2019, a report released by the California State Auditor found the head of a California agency committed gross misconduct, engaged in nepotism, and retaliated against whistleblowers.[5] The report did not directly name any of the individuals involved but according to CBS News, "If you look at key players: a female director of a state agency who abruptly retired last year with a daughter and brother who worked for her agency... all indications point to Christine Baker and the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)."[6] Soon after the report's release, Baker was quoted by the Sacramento Bee as stating, "I can’t wait for the truth to come out; really, I can’t. It has been very, very trying on me and my family."[7]
Biography
Baker was chief of the Division of Labor Statistics and Research the during the 1980s and became deputy director for the Division of Workers’ Compensation in 1990. She served as executive officer of the California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation from when it began in 1994 until April 2011.[8]
Baker obtained a master's degree from the University of California at Berkeley.
Education
- Master’s degree and Ph.D. candidacy, School of Education, University of California, Berkeley
Political career
Director of Industrial Relations (2011-2018)
Baker served as the director of the department of Industrial Relations from March 29, 2011, when she took over as interim, until her resignation on March 30, 2018. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) appointed her to the post in December 2011 and she was confirmed by the Senate in May 2012.[9][1][8]
Baker oversaw the Department of Industrial Relations. When she served as director, the department was responsible for enforcing the state's Labor Code and workers' compensation laws, operating apprenticeship programs, establishing workplace health and safety regulations, and mediating disputes between employers and labor unions. The director also oversaw the investigation of workplace discrimination and public works complaints. Besides its regulatory roles, the Department of Industrial Relations provided a number of educational resources for California job-hunters and published various statistics and research on the state's labor market.
Appointments
2011
Baker was officially appointed as California Director of Industrial Relations by Gov. Jerry Brown (D) in December 2011. She was confirmed by the Senate in May 2012.[10]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Christine Baker California Labor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Appeals Board Reporter, "CHRISTINE BAKER APPOINTED CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS," accessed June 30, 2011
- ↑ Insurance Journal, "Baker Appointed to Lead California Department of Industrial Relations," March 29, 2011
- ↑ Business Insurance, "California official who guided workers comp reforms retires," April 10, 2018
- ↑ California Department of Industrial Relations, "Home," accessed June 30, 2011
- ↑ CBS News, "Investigation Found Head Of CA Agency Practiced Nepotism, Retaliated Against Whistleblowers," March 26, 2019
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCBS - ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "Nepotism investigation expands at California agency: ‘I can’t wait for the truth to come out’," April 26, 2019
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 ' California Department of Industrial Relations, "Christine Baker," accessed February 6, 2013
- ↑ Insurance Journal, "Baker Appointed to Lead California Department of Industrial Relations," March 29, 2011
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedDIR
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| Preceded by John Duncan |
California Director of Industrial Relations 2011-2018 |
Succeeded by André Schoorl |
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