by rondelord | Apr 1, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions
HARRISBURG — With billions of dollars at stake in upcoming state union negotiations, key lawmakers say they will look closely at legislation that would require public-sector union negotiating sessions to be open to taxpayers. “Secrecy breeds distrust,” said Sen. Ryan...
by rondelord | Apr 1, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Unions
The city of San Bernardino’s bankruptcy process remains far from being resolved, an unfortunate reality given that the beleaguered municipality has already struggled for more than two years. This is in some part due to the stubbornness of the city’s public safety...
by rondelord | Mar 21, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions
In recent weeks, Gov. Bruce Rauner of Illinois has traveled the state promoting his proposal for more than $2 billion in cuts to pensions for public employees. All public employees, that is, except police officers and firefighters. “Those who put their lives on the...
by rondelord | Mar 21, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions
A bill filed by Texas State Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston) could prove to be the financial death penalty for many public-sector labor unions across the state. The bill, SB 1968, was filed at the very end of the bill filing period for this Legislative Session last...
by rondelord | Mar 21, 2015 | Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Unions
The Tucson City Council has chosen a three-year phase-in plan to pay off its growing public safety pension costs. Tuesday’s decision to cover an $18 million pension obligation in three annual installments of between $6 million and $7 million, rather than in one year,...
by rondelord | Mar 21, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Unions
Last July more than half of Memphis’ police officers took sick days off to protest the reductions in the city’s contributions to their pension plan and increases in their contributions to the city’s health benefits plan. The national media was sympathetic with cases...
