The Next Phase of the Koch Brothers’ War on Unions

by rondelord | Dec 24, 2014 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

And now, the plan is not only to decimate public-sector unions, but all unions—to deplete the money they can spend on politics. Christmas came early for the less than a quarter of 1 percent of Americans who donate to political campaigns or committees. In a rare...

Baltimore County officers upset over 911 center employee’s ‘anti-police’ Facebook post

by rondelord | Dec 24, 2014 | Fire, Labor, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

TOWSON, Md. – Members of the Baltimore County police department have expressed anger over comments posted on the social media page of an employee of the county’s 911 center. On the personal Facebook page of the employee, Kelli Murray, the post shared a tone of...

Police unions, organized labor have rarely seen eye to eye

by rondelord | Dec 24, 2014 | Fire, Labor, Police, Politics, Unions

Police unions and the broader labor movement are marching in opposite directions. While many of America’s biggest labor organizations support the recent protests against policing practices, unions representing law enforcement officers have largely closed ranks,...

Phone message suggests chamber involved in push poll, with Sculley’s blessing

by rondelord | Dec 21, 2014 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Health Insurance, Labor, Police, Politics, Unions

When news broke over the past week that someone was conducting a local push poll about public-safety benefits costs, representatives for both the city and the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce were quick to say they had no involvement with the poll and knew...

San Jose Police, Fire Unions Say City Manager’s ‘Forced Resignation’ Has ‘Squashed’ Hope For Better Relations

by rondelord | Dec 21, 2014 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Pensions, Police, Politics, Unions

SAN JOSE (CBS SF) — San Jose City Manager Ed Shikada, acknowledging the City Council wanted new management, Wednesday announced his resignation as of Jan. 1, the day Mayor-elect Sam Liccardo takes office, according the city officials. Shikada, who become city manager...

Redondo Beach restores employee wage concessions, gives increase plus bonus

by rondelord | Dec 21, 2014 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

Redondo Beach city employees are finally getting their pay back. The City Council on Tuesday night agreed to fully restore the wage concessions accepted by employees during the recession, a move that kept the city afloat as it faced multimillion-dollar budget...