10% of Taxes Go to Pensions in 5 CA Counties

by Ron DeLord | Mar 27, 2016 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

Santa Barbara County, Kern County, Fresno County, San Mateo County and Ventura County now spend about 10 percent or more of their total revenue on pension contributions, according to a new study. A new California Policy Center study surveyed 30 counties that account...

Politics and the City: Worcester mulls shifting pension assets to the state system

by Ron DeLord | Mar 27, 2016 | Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

Concerns have been raised about the state of Worcester’s public employee pension fund, prompting at least one city councilor to broach the idea of whether the retirement system’s assets should be transferred to the state. Now, that’s pretty serious...

Councilman urges mayor to freeze city workers’ pay

by Ron DeLord | Mar 13, 2016 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

A conservative city councilman called on Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson Thursday to freeze all city employees’ wages for three years if her income-tax hike request on Tuesday’s ballot is approved. “The city’s … general fund [salary cost has] increased $13.6 million...

Reduced overtime, possible furloughs suggested to balance city budget

by Ron DeLord | Mar 13, 2016 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

CANTON Curb overtime spending for police officers and firefighters. Lower safety staffing levels through attrition. Ask unionized employees to give back pay raises or take furlough days. Mayor Thomas M. Bernabei on Wednesday presented Canton City Council with his...

Act 10 Anniversary: A Look Back at How Gov. Walker Stripped Most Public Union Rights

by Ron DeLord | Mar 13, 2016 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

Gov. Scott Walker sparked outcry in a news conference February 11, 2011. That’s when he announced Act 10. It ended public union rights, except the ability to bargain for limited wage increases. Fire and police unions were spared. “We have to reform the...

Health care talks unlikely to cut costs for public workers

by Ron DeLord | Mar 13, 2016 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Health Insurance, Labor, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

Unions representing public workers in South Jersey will have more leeway to negotiate health-benefit contributions after a provision of Gov. Chris Christie’s “toolkit” health care reforms expired last year. But some municipalities don’t expect workers will pay less...