Scott Walker says union reform law that brought massive protests has saved taxpayers $3 billion

by rondelord | Aug 22, 2014 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

Scott Walker’s signature accomplishment as governor, the Act 10 collective bargaining reform law, curtailed the powers of public employee unions, reduced the take-home pay of most public workers and caused months of protests in Madison. In a July 21, 2014 article in...

Mayor, city attorney propose new firefighter pension plan

by rondelord | Aug 22, 2014 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Politics, Unions

HOUSTON – Mayor Annise Parker and City Attorney David Feldman revealed details of a proposed new Houston firefighter pension plan. Feldman briefed the council budget committee on the new pension plan Thursday afternoon. It includes changes to retirement...

Gov. Jerry Brown blasts CalPERS board for authorizing pay enhancement for pension purposes

by rondelord | Aug 22, 2014 | Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

A divided CalPERS board approved a regulation Wednesday that will allow nearly 100 different types of supplemental pay to count toward pension calculations for state and local government employees. The 7-5 vote drew a swift rebuke from Gov. Jerry Brown, who signed...

Gordner, Masser support ‘hybrid’ pension reform plan

by rondelord | Aug 22, 2014 | Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

COAL TOWNSHIP, PA – Amid the “challenging times” in Harrisburg, there is one issue that stands above all others in terms of its statewide impact. “The biggest issue is pensions. Period,” state Sen. John Gordner (R-27) said Tuesday in...

City Council delays vote on pension

by rondelord | Aug 14, 2014 | Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Unions

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville city council member is calling some of his colleagues “spineless” and says they backed down from an important vote related to pension reform because the room was filled with cops. The council decided to delay a...

Florida Groups Form Pension Reform Coalition

by rondelord | Aug 14, 2014 | Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

Florida’s influential business advocates and policy groups have formed Taxpayers for Sustainable Pensions, a coalition dedicated to achieving municipal pension reform. The groups convened in Tallahassee to announce their commitment to reforming taxpayer-funded...