Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/17/2013 07:41:52 PM PDT
Updated: 05/17/2013 07:42:00 PM PDT
ONTARIO — Attorneys representing several cities and San Bernardino County opposed to a plan to modernize Los Angeles International Airport say they are in the process of filing a lawsuit against the agency that oversees LAX.
May 14, 2013; 06:39 PM
A former Riverside Sheriff’s Association official who won a whistle-blower lawsuit against the law enforcement union is seeking more than $1.99 million in back wages, attorney fees and other costs — and wants to be reinstated.
To read story by Richard K. De Atley in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Chris Megerian
May 13, 2013, 7:11 p.m.
California unions are increasing their opposition to any sale of the Los Angeles Times and other Tribune Co. newspapers to the Koch brothers, urging the City Council to oppose such a deal and planning a protest for Tuesday.
May 10, 2013; 04:19 PM
A critical billboard targeting five San Bernardino city officials that had already generated controversy over its message has now led to accusations of censorship and political pressure.
To read column by Imran Ghori and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Patrick McGreevy and Chris Megerian
May 8, 2013, 8:21 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — California legislative leaders and 10 public employee unions announced opposition Wednesday to any sale of the Los Angeles Times and other Tribune Co. newspapers to a pair of wealthy brothers who fund conservative causes throughout the country.
May 03, 2013; 07:40 PM
A former Riverside Sheriff’s Association official dismissed in 2005 after complaining about legal fees spent to defend a deputy accused of vandalism has won his federal whistleblower lawsuit.
To read story by Richard K. De Atley in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, May. 2, 2013 – 4:58 pm
Last Modified: Thursday, May. 2, 2013 – 8:34 pm
The powerful Service Employees International Union said today it defeated a challenge from the upstart National Union of Healthcare Workers and will continue to represent 45,000 Kaiser Permanente workers.
May 01, 2013; 06:35 PM
SACRAMENTO — A pair of influential Riverside County tribes with casinos are trying to scuttle a gaming compact between the state and a Central Valley tribe that could come up for an Assembly ratification vote as early as today.
To read story by Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/30/2013 06:15:26 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO — The police union has put up a billboard at a busy intersection congratulating Mayor Pat Morris and four council members, but those elected officials don’t take it as a compliment – or the truth.
The State Worker
Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers
By Jon Ortiz
April 19, 2013
After fighting and twice losing in court, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association is poised to pay off a $5 million federal defamation judgment.
By Joe Nelson
joe.nelson@ inlandnewspapers.com @SBCountyNow on Twitter
Posted: 04/18/2013 07:35:56 PM PDT
The president of the union representing San Bernardino County’s prosecutors, deputy public defenders and child support attorneys has threatened a strike if the county continues imposing concessions he said are not on par with other counties.
By Ed Mendel
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
A CalPERS committee yesterday approved raising employer rates roughly 50 percent over the next seven years, replacing actuarial methods that kept rates low during the recession with a new goal of full funding in 30 years.
Sunday, April 14, 2013 – 11:45 a.m.
After a protracted negotiations period, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is set to impose a one-year contract on the union representing the positions of Deputy District Attorney, Deputy Public Defender and Child Support Attorney, effective immediately.
A contract that will deal a serious blow to take-home pay.
By Ryan Hagen
ryan.hagen@ inlandnewspapers.com @sbcitynow on Twitter
Posted: 04/04/2013 08:22:48 PM PDT
Special Section: San Bernardino
RIVERSIDE — Three labor unions’ attempt to sue San Bernardino over pay-cutting contracts the city imposed on them made little progress in bankruptcy court Thursday, but a judge seemed inclined to side mostly with the city on related procedural steps.
March 20, 2013; 04:47 PM
Redlands employees staged a demonstration on Tuesday, March 19, over what they said is a 7 percent pay cut and 3 percent cut in benefits proposed by the city.
To read story by Erin Waldner in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Ed Mendel
Monday, March 18, 2013
Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, an upset victor last fall in a new election process, has introduced a bill containing Gov. Brown’s stalled proposal to restructure the CalPERS board, adding financial expertise and loosening labor control.
The State Worker
Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers
By Jon Ortiz
March 14, 2013
California paid more than a quarter-billion dollars to cash out state employee leave last year, according to a new state report, in part because furloughed state workers haven’t been taking as much paid time off.
By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times
March 8, 2013, 8:06 p.m.
SACRAMENTO—California unions, accustomed to getting their way in the Capitol, lost some ground last year when Gov. Jerry Brown pushed through the Legislature a series of public-pension cuts that affect their members.
The State Worker
Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers
March 1, 2013
After years of court fighting and a failed appeal, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association is negotiating details to pay nearly $5 million to a former business associate defamed, a federal jury said, by union officials.
By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times
February 17, 2013, 7:01 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — When Gov. Jerry Brown needed help pushing his tax plan last year, public-worker unions rallied to his side with millions of dollars and thousands of campaign foot soldiers.
By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 – 7:33 am
Before they sought to persuade voters last year to raise taxes, Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders agreed on sweeping changes in pension law they said would save California government significant money over time.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/12/2013 06:20:54 PM PST
The San Bernardino police union will ask U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Riverside to lift a stay and allow them to sue the city because it believes the way the city imposed a contract on the union violated state laws, the union’s lawyer said in court Tuesday.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/11/2013 09:27:43 PM PST
Updated: 02/11/2013 09:28:17 PM PST
UPLAND – The City Council on Monday approved new employment contracts that include concessions offered by employees to help alleviate pressure on the city’s budget.
By Steven Harmon
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 02/01/2013 10:15:07 AM PST
Updated: 02/01/2013 05:04:51 PM PST
SACRAMENTO — Labor’s heavy lift on two campaigns paid big dividends last fall.
While the wealthy Munger siblings famously poured a combined $83 million into losing causes, labor unions flexed their financial muscle to capture two campaigns with about the same amount — $85 million, according to the final round of the 2012 campaign finance reports, which were released late Thursday.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/29/2013 07:39:24 PM PST
Special Section: San Bernardino
SAN BERNARDINO – Relations between the city and its employees are strained, most of those involved in Monday’s decision to impose cuts on several unions said Tuesday, but they see no viable choice.
Police, fire departments included in decision
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/28/2013 07:09:41 PM PST
Special Section: San Bernardino
SAN BERNARDINO – Contract negotiations with seven city employee groups ended Monday as the City Council voted to accept new contracts that cut nearly $26million in pay and benefits, in some cases without agreement from those unions.
By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 – 6:58 am
Three months after lawmakers enacted public pension rollbacks, a new measure has surfaced that would exempt thousands of public transportation workers from the law.
By Paul Pringle and Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times
January 28, 2013, 10:33 p.m.
A onetime rising star in national labor circles who headed California’s biggest union local was convicted Monday on federal charges that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from his low-income members.
Staff
Posted: 01/24/2013 06:36:23 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – Mediation between the city and its police and fire unions broke down after only one meeting, leading the City Council to call a special meeting for Monday.
Jan 23, 12:17 PM EST
By SAM HANANEL
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s labor unions suffered sharp declines in membership last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday, led by losses in the public sector as cash-strapped state and local governments laid off workers and – in some cases – limited collective bargaining rights.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/20/2013 05:32:15 PM PST
The unions representing San Bernardino’s police and firefighters have agreed to nonbinding mediation with the city as part of its bankruptcy process, after months of stalled contract negotiations.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/15/2013 06:36:00 PM PST
Updated: 01/15/2013 11:05:43 PM PST
UPLAND – City Manager Stephen Dunn has placed his recommendation on outsourcing public safety on hold pending the outcome of labor negotiations.
Dunn said during the City Council meeting Monday that all seven of the employee groups have offered to pay their portion of their pension.
By Daniel Borenstein, staff columnist
Posted: 01/11/2013 02:00:00 PM PST
Updated: 01/12/2013 05:17:14 PM PST
By administrative fiat, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System has undermined a key anti-spiking provision of the new state pension law that Gov. Jerry Brown signed last summer.
Sunday, January 6, 2013 – 07:00 p.m.
Hockey fans, including myself, are very pleased this evening.
Joe Garofoli
Published 11:09 pm, Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Leaders of the California unions that spent $75 million to defeat Proposition 32′s union-busting campaign in November discovered something during the bruising battle: 40 percent of likely voters were not watching any Prop. 32-related TV commercials, even though the spots droned on nonstop throughout the fall.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Dec. 17, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Sometime before Christmas, Gov. Jerry Brown will close the books on a proposed 2013-14 budget.
A few weeks after that, Brown will deliver that budget to the Legislature and we’ll learn whether voter approval of Proposition 30, Brown’s sales and income tax increase, will make a big difference in the state’s finances.
By Ricardo Lopez, Ronald D. White and Stuart Pfeifer, Los Angeles Times
December 5, 2012, 12:38 a.m.
Clerical workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will return to work Wednesday, ending a strike that crippled America’s busiest shipping hub for more than a week.
By Brian Sumers, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/30/2012 07:11:40 PM PST
In an era in which overall union membership has been steadily dropping, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union remains nearly as powerful as ever.
Special Report
Tim Reid, Cezary Podkul and Ryan McNeill, Reuters
Posted: 11/25/2012 04:49:36 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – In 2009, police patrol Lt. Richard Taack retired at age 59 after 37 years of service.
He took home $389,727 that year, including $194,820 in unused sick time and $33,721 for unused vacation time, according to city payroll records.
Friday, November 23, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.
Here’s some news of interest flowing across the transom this Friday morning.
Union forces Hostess Brands into liquidation
The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union had the final say at the end of this sad chapter at Hostess Brands.
By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
After California voters embraced Gov. Jerry Brown’s Proposition 30 tax hike, this column received a half-dozen phone calls from state workers asking essentially the same question: “What are the odds I’ll get a raise?”
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/16/2012 08:07:08 PM PST
Special Section: San Bernardino
SAN BERNARDINO – After months of pressure from skeptical creditors and residents, city officials have prepared a budget plan that could erase a $45.8 million deficit.
Beau Yarbrough, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/16/2012 10:56:40 AM PST
After 82 years, Hostess Brands has filled its last Twinkie with cream, the company announced Friday, costing an estimated 1,850 Californians their jobs.
Sunday, November 11, 2012 – 09:00 p.m.
Last modified: Monday, November 12, 2012 – 10:40 a.m.
San Bernardino County pension pressures have worsened once again.
The latest actuarial report studying the performance of the county pension fund and its solvency for the latest fiscal year ending June 30, 2012 is full of not so good news for county supervisors, as well as the plans participants.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/11/2012 07:32:30 PM PST
Updated: 11/11/2012 07:35:01 PM PST
UPLAND – An auditor hired by the Upland Firefighters Association mixed compliments with criticisms in his review of the city’s finances.
Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross, Chronicle Columnists
Updated 8:06 p.m., Saturday, November 10, 2012
Labor leaders and advocates for social services that have borne the brunt of recent state budget cuts are ripped over legislative leaders Darrell Steinberg and John Pérez’s out-the-gate pledge not to raise taxes, even though it looks like the Democrats will have supermajorities in both houses.
No one will talk on the record, but the feeling is, “We finally get the power, and you guys already give it up?”
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 – 09:45 a.m.
The showdown between the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and two of its employee unions, via measures Q and R, was settled by voters Tuesday night.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/02/2012 12:21:25 PM PDT
A law enforcement labor union’s political mailer featuring the mugshot of Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum, a defendant in a sweeping county corruption scandal, could taint the jury pool, Burum’s attorney told a San Bernardino Superior Court judge on Friday.
Published: 02 November 2012 – 05:15 PM
The Colonies corruption case is moving forward again after an appeals court ruling earlier this week that dismissed some charges and reinstated others.
To read story by Imran Ghori in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
November 1, 2012
An Arizona nonprofit that spent $11 million last month on two high-profile California initiative battles appealed an unfavorable trial court decision today, for now blocking the state from obtaining transaction records as requested.
The State Worker
Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers
October 29, 2012
With just over a week before Election Day, the interests backing Proposition 32 and fighting Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, Proposition 30, have raised $58 million, including a recent six-figure donation from a Texas oil man.
Meanwhile, the union-backed No on 32 side has raised $66 million.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
October 25, 2012
Wealthy heir Charles Munger Jr. has ponied up another $13 million to kill off Gov. Jerry Brown’s Proposition 30 tax increase and to pass the anti-union Proposition 32, according to new campaign finance reports.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/24/2012 08:23:54 PM PDT
Document: San Bernardino Public Employee Association’s Objection (.pdf file)
The city of San Bernardino is not eligible for bankruptcy protection, argue court papers filed Wednesday by CalPERS and other creditors.
Published: 21 October 2012 – 07:28 PM
The two main proponents of a measure to reduce the salaries of San Bernardino County supervisors spent $100,000 to qualify the initiative earlier this year, but now that it’s on the Nov. 6 ballot, they’re saving their cash.
To read column by Imran Ghori, Ben Goad and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/21/2012 07:07:05 AM PDT
Updated: 10/21/2012 10:23:42 PM PDT
UPLAND – The city’s non-safety employees are willing to discuss potential concessions as long as upper level management is willing to take a hit as well, according to a representative for the employees.
Election 2012
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/21/2012 07:07:04 AM PDT
Updated: 10/21/2012 05:37:38 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – If there is any question how contentious the City Council race has become, just look to the campaign being run by the city’s police and fire unions in an effort to unseat the incumbents.
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/21/2012 12:48:03 PM PDT
Updated: 10/21/2012 05:36:37 PM PDT
MONTCLAIR – The committee for City council candidate Richard Beltran and the city’s two public safety associations have been accused by a resident of running a coordinated campaign.
Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross, Chronicle Columnists
Published 8:55 p.m., Sunday, October 21, 2012
Thanks to Proposition 32 – the measure that would bar unions from automatically deducting members’ dues for political purposes – the role of special-interest money is a front-and-center issue in the current campaign.
Published: 17 October 2012 – 06:19 PM
San Bernardino County voters will face two competing measures Nov. 6 that will decide how much supervisors should be paid.
To read story by Imran Ghori in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Kevin Yamamura
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 – 7:06 am
In California’s ever-expensive ballot wars, voters typically know who funds advertisements that hold great sway with the electorate.
But that may be changing.
By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times
October 17, 2012, 3:32 a.m.
SACRAMENTO — Labor unions are unloading tens of millions of dollars against a ballot measure that could limit their political clout in California, but the spending could come at a cost for one of their biggest allies: Gov. Jerry Brown.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Two years ago, Democratic politicians and their union allies placed a measure on the ballot to eliminate California’s requirement of a two-thirds legislative vote for state budgets – but that’s not what they told voters.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
October 12, 2012
Molly Munger, who has spent nearly $36 million on tax initiative Proposition 38, said she believed her brother was not financing the campaign against a rival tax increase measure, Gov. Jerry Brown’s Proposition 30.
By Anthony York, Los Angeles Times
October 9, 2012, 10:42 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — It was starting to look as though there would be no serious campaign against Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax plan until two groups lobbed direct hits at the measure in recent days with millions of dollars’ worth of television ads.
By Steven Harmon
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 10/09/2012 04:56:27 PM PDT
Updated: 10/10/2012 05:18:09 AM PDT
SACRAMENTO — The main premise of Proposition 32 is that it would stamp out the influence of special interest groups, equally condemning corporations and unions to irrelevancy at the Capitol while ushering in a new day for regular folks.
The State Worker
Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers
Posted by Jon Ortiz
October 5, 2012
Charles Munger Jr. has now given a nearly $23 million to an independent committee fighting for a measure that would curtail union political fundraising abilities while opposing Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax proposal.
Both initiatives, Proposition 32 and Proposition 30, respectively, go to a statewide vote on Nov. 6.
The State Worker
Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers
Posted by: Jon Ortiz
October 3, 2012
Charles Munger Jr. has given another $9.9 million to a committee with a dual mission: defeat Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax measure, Proposition 30, and support a measure that is anathema to unions, Proposition 32.
Published: Oct. 2, 2012 Updated: 5:24 p.m.
By RONALD CAMPBELL / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The November election will bring a third attempt to curb the political power of unions in California.
Proposition 32 would ban the use of payroll deductions for political purposes in state campaigns, eliminating a tool that has made organized labor a major donor to Democrats for decades.
By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 – 7:42 am
Gov. Jerry Brown is proving not to be a yes man – even to unions that spent millions to elect him.
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: October 1, 2012
LOS ANGELES — The battle to curb labor’s political clout has moved from Wisconsin to California, where wealthy conservatives are championing a ballot measure that would bar unions from donating to candidates. Labor leaders describe it as the starkest threat they have faced in a year of nationwide challenges to diminish their once-formidable power.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
September 27, 2012 | 4:18 pm
A coalition of community groups is launching a grassroots effort to support Proposition 30 in hopes that voter turnout among young and minority voters will be a decisive factor in the November election.
The State Worker
Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers
By Jon Ortiz
September 24, 2012
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees contributed $1.5 million to defeat Proposition 32, part of $3.48 million given by labor unions and politicians within the last week.
By Ed Mendel
Monday, September 24, 2012
Bond insurers arguing that Stockton is ineligible for bankruptcy because it did not attempt to negotiate a pension debt reduction with CalPERS, among other failings, may get their day in court in January.
By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Sep. 23, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Sunday, Sep. 23, 2012 – 8:15 am
Proposition 32 has drawn fire for a provision to ban payroll-deducted money from being used for political purposes. The measure would apply the prohibition to both unions and corporations, which often vie for influence in Sacramento. It also would ban direct contributions from either group to candidates, but allow both to continue spending unlimited sums on independent expenditure campaigns. So-called “IEs” are considered constitutionally protected free speech.
BY CASSIE MACDUFF
STAFF WRITER
cmacduff@pe.com
Published: 20 September 2012 06:58 PM
A Text Size
A San Bernardino city labor union filed a complaint with the state Public Employment Relations Board accusing City Attorney James Penman of threatening to contract out the Refuse Department because the union didn’t contribute to his re-election campaign.
To read story by Cassie MacDuff in The Press Enterprise, click here.
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