Archive for the ‘ Unions ’ Category

The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Unions spending big to beat Bob Buster

Riverside County Supervisor Bob Buster

BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 17 May 2012 08:27 PM

It’s easy to see who Riverside County’s public employee unions want for First District county supervisor.

They’re knocking on doors, offering endorsements and spending thousands of dollars to help Mike Soubirous oust incumbent Bob Buster in the June 5 primary. Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, is the third candidate, setting the stage for a possible two-man runoff in November.

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Calpensions: CalPERS ignores Brown, delays pension payment

By Ed Mendel
Thursday, May 17, 2012

The CalPERS board yesterday raised the annual state payment for state worker pensions $213 million to a total of $3.7 billion, rejecting Gov. Brown’s request for a bigger increase to avoid a “loan” costing “$145.9 million over the next 20 years.”

Unions asked the board to spread out higher pension costs mainly caused by a lower investment earnings forecast. Paying part of the new rate over two decades, instead of the full amount now, makes an extra $149 million available for worker pay and other programs next fiscal year.

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Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
May 16, 2012

A political committee that Service Employees International Union California created to support moderate Republican candidates for the Legislature reported its first expenditure of the 2012 election Wednesday, dropping more than $15,000 on mail pieces opposing Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly’s bid for re-election.

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By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, May. 16, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Wednesday, May. 16, 2012 – 6:26 am

One day after Gov. Jerry Brown proposed sweeping changes to state government work schedules, many employees were still deciphering what it means for them.

Brown wants to move most of California’s 214,000 workers to four-day workweeks and 9.5-hour shifts starting July 1. The change would reduce state workers’ hours and pay by 5 percent each month and cut state payroll by about $839 million, $401 million of it from the deficit-ridden general fund. Many departments would be closed on Fridays, some on Mondays.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Tentative deal reached with sheriff’s union

BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 11 May 2012 12:18 PM

Riverside County and the sheriff’s deputies’ union tentatively agreed Friday on a four-year contract, nearly a year after county supervisors angered the union by imposing pay cuts and pension changes on deputies.

Agreed to early Friday morning, the proposed pact with the Riverside Sheriff’s Association would also scuttle litigation the association filed against the county over alleged unfair labor practices and a pension-related ballot measure, a county news release read.

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The State Worker
Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers
May 11, 2012

Government accountability advocate Common Cause is against the a measure aimed at restricting union political fund-raising that goes before California voters in November.

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DailyBulletin: Claremont police, city approve three-year contract

Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 05/09/2012 06:31:07 PM PDT

CLAREMONT – A three-year salary and benefits agreement has been approved between the city and the Claremont Police Officers Association.

The new contract ends months of contentiousness. The city declared negotiations to be at an impasse in late August, and union members on April 11 turned down by a single vote an earlier agreement, forcing additional negotiations.

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By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, May. 10, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Thursday, May. 10, 2012 – 7:29 am

State workers’ pay is back on the budget chopping block.

Officials representing Gov. Jerry Brown met with state employee union leaders last week and delivered the news: A budget revision he’ll release Monday includes a new proposal to cut payroll costs in the upcoming fiscal year.

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VVDailyPress: Candidates speak out on ‘Part-time Supervisor’ initiative

April 14, 2012 12:00 PM

Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Writer

Just as seven candidates campaign for San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor, union groups are lobbying for a ballot measure that would slash the pay, perks and staffing budgets of the county’s five supervisors.

The San Bernardino County Elected Officials Pay Reduction Act, dubbed the “Part-time Supervisor” initiative, is a proposed charter amendment that would reduce compensation for supervisors from an average of $271,000 to $60,000 annually, and cut their budgets from a total of $6 million to $250,000 per office. Wrightwood resident Kieran “Red” Brennan, a former grand jury member, authored the measure and San Bernardino County Safety Employees Benefit Association President Laren Leichliter spearheaded its petition drive.

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DailyBulletin: Claremont police union rejects tentative agreement with the city

Wes Woods II
Created: 04/11/2012 06:08:51 PM PDT

CLAREMONT – The police union has rejected a three-year contract offer that had been agreed upon by its leadership and the city.

Detective Rick Varney, the Claremont Police Officers Association president, said he was sorry about the failed agreement.

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Calpensions: Legislative panel working on ‘hybrid’ pension

By Ed Mendel
Monday, April 9, 2012

SANTA ROSA — A two-house legislative committee is working with Gov. Brown’s Department of Finance on a ‘hybrid’ retirement plan for new state and local government hires, a committee member told a forum here last week.

Assemblyman Michael Allen, D-Santa Rosa, twice referred to a “cash balance” plan while talking about a cost-cutting hybrid, proposed by Brown, that combines a lower pension with a 401(k)-style individual investment plan.

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LATimes: Official says L.A. risks insolvency without new taxes

L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in
April 6, 2012 | 4:18 pm

Los Angeles’ top budget official raised the specter of bankruptcy on Friday in a sweeping report in which he called for new taxes, major pension reform and possibly layoffs.

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DailyBulletin: Claremont police, city agree to three-year contract

Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Created: 03/30/2012 06:07:44 PM PDT

CLAREMONT – After months of rancor, lawsuits and even some threats, the City Council and the Claremont Police Officers Association have reached a tentative agreement on a 3-year labor contract.

The council is due to vote on the contract at its April 10 meeting, city officials said. The CPOA will present the agreement to its members on Monday.

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SacBee: California Teachers Association gives $1.5 million to tax effort

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
March 28, 2012

The influential California Teachers Association reported giving $1.5 million today to Gov. Jerry Brown’s effort to raise taxes.

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SacBee: Dan Walters: Big pension conflicts ahead in California

Dan Walters

By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Mar. 26, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Monday, Mar. 26, 2012 – 6:33 am

California’s great public pension battles are heating up, and may be headed for some kind of political explosion.

The Legislature’s Democratic majority appears to be doing its best to ignore significant pension reform, even though Gov. Jerry Brown says the current system is “unsustainable” and an overhaul is needed to persuade voters to raise taxes this year.

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InlandPolitics: S.B. County loses appeal of case it brought against union

Sunday, March 25, 2012 – 11:50 a.m.

Over a year ago San Bernardino County sued the San Bernardino County Public Attorneys Association over the union using Deputy District Attorneys to represent Deputy Public Defenders in low level grievance and disciplinary matters.

A practice former Public Defender Doreen Boxer didn’t care for.

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InlandPolitics: S.B. County: Supervisor pay initiative headed to ballot

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 – 09:45 a.m.

An initiative to amend the San Bernardino County charter to reduce the pay, status and staffs of county supervisors is headed to the ballot.

The “Part-Time Pay for Part-Time Work” initiative, a measure backed by county unions, has officially qualified to go before county voters.

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Monday, March 19, 2012 – 10:00 a.m.

San Bernardino County’s public employee unions, locked in heated collective bargaining battles, continued building their political war chests during the second half of 2011.

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SFChronicle: Gov. Brown, millionaires-tax backers join forces

Wyatt Buchanan,Marisa Lagos
Thursday, March 15, 2012

Sacramento –Gov. Jerry Brown said Wednesday he had struck a deal with supporters of a rival tax initiative to unite behind a new ballot measure that combines elements of both proposals to increase the state sales tax and raise income taxes on the wealthiest Californians.

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InlandPolitics: San Bernardino Police Officer’s endorse Derry

Monday, March 12, 102 – 12:50 p.m.

The San Bernardino Police Officers Association today announced its endorsement of 3rd District County Supervisor Neil Derry.

“Police Officers commend Supervisor Neil Derry for his dedicated and effective leadership in the fight against crime. Supervisor Derry’s support for tougher measures to combat gangs and parolees has helped local Law Enforcement to significantly reduce violent crime,” said Association President Steve Turner.

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Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/07/2012 04:53:53 PM PST

More than 73,000 signatures were submitted to the Registrar of Voters on Wednesday to qualify the “Part-Time Pay for Part-Time Work” initiative, which would establish a part-time Board of Supervisors, for the November ballot.

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The Sun: Supervisor pay-cut initiative amasses 50,000 signatures

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/24/2012 08:38:13 PM PST

A petition to slash San Bernardino County supervisors’ jobs to part-time status has roughly 50,000 signatures, and the labor unions pushing the proposal hope to gather 15,000 more before the March 6 filing deadline.

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InlandPolitics: Derry receives S.B. County, City Firefighter endorsements

Derry

Thursday, February 23, 2012 – 09:30 a.m.

Firefighter groups representing San Bernardino County and City firefighters have awarded their endorsements to San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor Neil Derry.

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InlandPolitics: Henry throws hat into First District race

Henry

Saturday, February, 18, 2012 – 06:00 p.m.

Another name has entered the already crowded field competing to replace San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, who is running in the newly created 8th Congressional District.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Federal judge rules against SEIU

BY DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITER
dgang@pe.com

Published: 15 February 2012 05:59 PM

A federal judge this week ruled against the Service Employees International Union in a lawsuit that claimed the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department retaliated against the union’s chief labor negotiator for her involvement in the organization.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: New police contract projected to save millions

BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 13 February 2012 07:01 AM

Riverside officials have hammered out a new contract with the city’s police union, the last major employee group to agree to money-saving pension changes.

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By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 1A

Contract talks kicking off this month between the state and four employee unions present Gov. Jerry Brown with a political dilemma: How does he deal fairly with his key labor constituency without exposing himself to charges he’s kowtowing to them?

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The PE: LIBERTY QUARRY: Supervisors face political backlash

Riverside County supervisors John Benoit, at left, and Marion Ashley go over their notes during the Jan. 30 hearing on Liberty Quarry in the Riverside Convention Center.(KURT MILLER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

BY DUANE W. GANG AND JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITERS
dgang@pe.com | jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 11 February 2012 04:03 PM

A political rock-and-a-hard-place scenario faces Riverside County supervisors as they decide the fate of a proposed Temecula-area quarry.

Approve Liberty Quarry, and the five supervisors will anger a wide range of opponents, including a politically active Indian tribe. Deny the open-pit mine, and they risk the wrath of business groups and union members desperate for jobs.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: County, SEIU reach deal

BY DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITER
dgang@pe.com

Published: 10 February 2012 05:38 PM

Riverside County has reached a tentative deal with its second-largest union, less than two weeks after Service Employees International Union Local 721 held a one-day strike to push the county back to the bargaining table.

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LATimes: Labor groups blast Brown’s fundraising from the ‘1%’

PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
February 3, 2012 | 11:28 am

Gov. Jerry Brown has courted a coalition of business and labor groups to back his November initiative that would raise taxes on sales and upper incomes. Now, some on the left are lashing out at the governor’s plan, and his early donors, reaffirming their intent to place a competing tax measure on the ballot this fall.

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SacBee: ‘Millionaires tax’ plan to hit streets with nurses union’s support

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
February 2, 2012

A “millionaires tax” initiative spearheaded by the California Federation of Teachers and the Courage Campaign received petition language today, as well as backing from the powerful California Nurses Association.

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By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Gov. Jerry Brown laid out a detailed plan to alter California’s state and local public retirement systems on Thursday – and immediately drew fire from his core labor constituency.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/01/2012 02:01:30 PM PST

The labor union representing roughly 11,000 San Bernardino County employees announced Wednesday it will support another union’s effort to reduce county supervisors’ jobs to part-time.

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The PE: S.B. COUNTY: Union PAC has deep pockets, report shows

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 31 January 2012 11:22 PM

An influential union that is backing a proposed ballot measure to reduce San Bernardino County supervisors’ positions to part-time has more than a half-million dollars in its political action committee fund, according to campaign finance reports released this week.

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Supervisors’ second-largest union argues it was asked to give up too much before terms were imposed; terms reached with biggest union

BY DUANE W. GANG AND DUG BEGLEY
STAFF WRITERS
dgang@pe.com | dbegley@pe.com

Published: 31 January 2012 09:15 AM

More than 1,000 Riverside County workers took to the streets Tuesday protesting benefit reductions and warning that additional strikes could be on the way if county officials don’t reopen contract negotiations.

The 24-hour work stoppage was expected to last until 6:59 a.m. today and marks the latest escalation between county management and the Service Employees International Union Local 721, the county’s second-largest employee group.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE: Court bans most challenged workers from strike

Riverside County officials have gone to court in an effort to stop a one-day strike by health care professionals.

BY RICHARD K. De ATLEY
STAFF WRITER
rdeatley@pe.com

Published: 30 January 2012 11:33 AM

A judge Monday barred 248 health-care workers from joining a one-day strike by members of Riverside County’s second-largest union.

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DailyBulletin OpEd: Ratcheting up a contract tussle

Executive Editor Frank Pine
Created: 01/28/2012 06:06:04 AM PST

San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors asked county lawyers last week to draft language for a ballot measure that would give voters the final say on increases to pension benefits for public employees.

Supervisors Janice Rutherford, Gary Ovitt and Josie Gonzales voted yea with supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt and Neil Derry voting nay.

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By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Would it be churlish to say that the much-ballyhooed Think Long Committee for California fell short on fortitude?

Or merely accurate?

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SacBee: California Teachers Association backs Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax plan

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
January 29, 2012

The California Teachers Association officially agreed Sunday to back Gov. Jerry Brown’s multibillion-dollar tax plan, which should provide the governor hefty financial support for his fall campaign.

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By Steven Harmon
Bay Area News Group

Posted: 01/29/2012 06:59:19 PM PST
Updated: 01/30/2012 03:20:06 AM PST

SACRAMENTO — The raging battle over the political and economic clout of labor unions is headed west to California.

The state’s powerful labor groups have anxiously witnessed union rights and benefits being gutted in Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. Now, unions in California are girding for an all-out war over a ballot initiative that would curb their ability to raise political cash.

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The Sun: Ratcheting up a contract tussle

Executive Editor Frank Pine
Posted: 01/28/2012 05:38:39 PM PST

San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors asked county lawyers last week to draft language for a ballot measure that would give voters the final say on increases to pension benefits for public employees.

Supervisors Janice Rutherford, Gary Ovitt and Josie Gonzales voted yea with supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt and Neil Derry voting nay.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Union, county prepare for strike

BY DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITER
dgang@pe.com

Published: 27 January 2012 08:34 PM

Riverside County will go to court Monday seeking to keep nearly 300 nurses and other health professionals from taking part in a day-long strike planned by the county’s second-largest union.

County officials this week appealed to a state labor relations board for help after the Service Employees International Union Local 721 informed officials at Riverside County Regional Medical Center that nurses planned to participate in the strike Tuesday.

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InlandPolitics: S.B. County: Board chair admits she’s in it for the cash

Friday, January 27, 2012 – 09:45 a.m.

Well we finally have it.

San Bernardino  County Board of Supervisors Chair Josie Gonzales admits she’s in it for the dough.

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San Bernardino County supervisors have too much to do, the chairwoman says after a union backs the idea

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 26 January 2012 09:27 PM

A proposal to reduce San Bernardino County supervisors’ positions to part-time status would leave little time for them to meet and respond to constituents’ needs, board Chairwoman Josie Gonzales said Thursday.

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The Sun: San Bernardino County supervisor says part-time status would be disastrous

San Bernardino County supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt, First District; Janice Rutherford, Second District; Neil Derry, Third District; Gary Ovitt, Fourth District; and Josie Gonzales, Fifth District (File photos)

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/25/2012 04:21:42 PM PST

A proposed initiative to make county supervisors’ jobs part-time would spell doom for residents desiring a stronger presence of government in their communities, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Josie Gonzales said Wednesday.

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VVDailyPress: Supervisors eye pension ballot measure

Safety union announces push for part-time supervisors
January 25, 2012 10:31 AM
Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO • On a split vote Tuesday morning, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors directed staff to draft a ballot measure that would require voter approval for any future pension increases for county employees.

A few hours later, the county Safety Employees’ Benefit Association announced it was funding an effort to reduce the Board of Supervisors to part-time status.

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The Sun: San Bernardino County pension reform measure moves forward

San Bernardino County supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt, First District; Janice Rutherford, Second District; Neil Derry, Third District; Gary Ovitt, Fourth District; and Josie Gonzales, Fifth District (File photos)

Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 01/23/2012 03:05:32 PM PST

The president of San Bernardino County’s most powerful labor union announced Tuesday it is bankrolling an initiative to reduce county supervisors’ jobs to part-time status.

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Supervisor Josie Gonzales

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 24 January 2012 07:08 PM

San Bernardino County supervisors moved forward Tuesday with a proposal to require voter approval of future pension increases but face opposition from employee unions who quickly announced plans for a competing measure aimed at supervisors.

The board agreed to have county staff draft a ballot measure requiring voter approval before retirement benefits for county employees, legislative officers and elected officials could be increased. But final approval is not assured with supervisors split 3-2 on whether to consider the proposal.

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VVDailyPress: VVUHSD, teachers union strike tentative deal

Agreement delays decisions on furlough days, benefits cuts
January 24, 2012 3:29 PM
Natasha Lindstrom, Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE • Three months after declaring an impasse, the Victor Valley Union High School District and its teachers union have struck a tentative agreement. (Click here to read the agreemment.)

But rather than resolve contentious compensation issues, the proposed deal essentially delays the hard decisions until negotiations resume in March for the 2012-13 school year.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Union plans one-day strike

BY DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITER
dgang@pe.com

Published: 23 January 2012 10:39 PM

Riverside County’s second-largest union is planning a one-day general strike next week to protest the pension and benefit changes imposed on employees last year.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/23/2012 03:37:18 PM PST

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is poised to direct county administrators to draft a ballot measure that would require voter approval for any proposed increases to county employee retirement benefits.

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SacBee: Dan Walters: California civil service unions in denial on pension costs

Dan Walters

Published: Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Whenever someone suggests that California’s public employee pension systems need reform, civil service unions react dismissively, often with attacks on the credentials or even the morals of critics.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wes Woods II, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Created: 01/09/2012 03:03:05 PM PST

View Document: Lawsuit filed by Claremont police union vs. city and chamber

CLAREMONT – The Claremont Police Officers Association has filed a lawsuit against the Claremont Chamber of Commerce and the city alleging its right to freedom of expression, association and assembly were violated at the Village Venture event in October.

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The PE: POLITICAL EMPIRE: Donnelly’s gun blows up Twitter

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks.

THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Published: 08 January 2012 07:02 PM

Last week started badly for Inland Assemblyman Tim Donnelly and only got worse.

The Twitter-verse erupted Tuesday after security officers found a loaded handgun in Donnelly’s carry-on luggage at Ontario International Airport. Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, said he forgot he had put the gun in his briefcase and believed he was carrying his laptop computer.

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Public Money

BY: Girard Miller | January 5, 2012

One of my pet peeves in the ongoing debates over public pension reform is the way partisans on each side try to pitch half-truths and myths to support their arguments. The other side seldom believes any of these, but they help rally the allies on the speaker’s side. Sometimes the press naively re-circulates these fallacies, which leaves the general public even more confused about what to believe. There’s an old saying in politics that if you tell the same lie long enough, the public will eventually believe it — and that apparently is the mentality of lobbyists on both sides. In an effort to start the new year with a clean slate for public debate, I’d like to set the record straight on a dozen of the most glaring fallacies and silly slogans.

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The PE: S.B. COUNTY: Defense attorneys in Colonies case seek union records

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 06 January 2012 11:19 AM

Defense attorneys in the Colonies corruption case announced in court Friday morning they are seeking records from an influential union representing public safety employees.

Attorneys are also seeking additional records from the county flood control district concerning its four-year legal battle with Colonies Partners.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson and Mike Cruz, Staff Writers
Posted: 01/06/2012 01:08:11 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – Defense attorneys in a San Bernardino County corruption case are requesting documents from a public safety labor union they believe will help refute allegations of blackmail against a Rancho Cucamonga developer and the union’s former president.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Nurses set for raise

Supervisors will take up an agreement Tuesday to provide raises to nurses at the Riverside County Regional Medical Center in Moreno Valley.(FILE PHOTO/2008)

BY DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITER
dgang@pe.com

Published: 06 January 2012 06:01 PM

In an effort to make Riverside County Regional Medical Center nursing pay more competitive, supervisors Tuesday will take up a deal to provide the hospital’s nurses with significant raises.

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The PE: INLAND: Public pensions likely hot issue in 2012

BY DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITER
dgang@pe.com

Published: 31 December 2011 05:04 PM

Changes in public employee retirement were a hot-button issue in 2011 and will likely continue this year as a dominant policy debate at the state and local levels.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Pension changes imposed on largest union

BY DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITER
dgang@pe.com

Published: 29 December 2011 07:21 PM

Riverside County imposed pension changes on its largest union Thursday afternoon, a move that means 7,000 employees will begin paying more toward their own retirements starting next month.

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The Sun: Imposing labor terms a game changer in San Bernardino County-union relations

Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 12/24/2011 06:11:58 AM PST

San Bernardino County’s imposition of labor terms on a law enforcement union could have longstanding ramifications on its relationship with the bargaining group.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jannise Johnson, Staff Writer
Created: 12/22/2011 05:33:53 PM PST

MONTCLAIR – The Montclair City Council decided 3 to 1 Wednesday night to require members of the Montclair Fire Fighters Association to continue their 6 percent individual contribution toward their retirement fund.

Negotiators for the city and the association (MFFA) had been at an impasse since February.

Read the rest of this entry »

DailyBulletin: Public safety unit accepts arbitrator’s labor terms

Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Created: 12/21/2011 10:31:20 AM PST

A union representing San Bernardino County public- safety employees has agreed to labor terms proposed by an arbitrator in June that averts 14 percent pay and benefits cuts to certain employees, the county announced Wednesday.

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InlandPolitics: A tale of two counties

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 – 11:00 a.m.

A stark contrast has emerged between San Bernardino County and neighboring Riverside this week.

A contrast in how each county deals with collective bargaining and budgeting.

Read the rest of this entry »

BY DUG BEGLEY
STAFF WRITER
dbegley@pe.com

Published: 20 December 2011 08:50 PM

Riverside County supervisors on Tuesday warily approved a four-year deal with a union covering various lawyers, setting the stage for a larger face-off with the county’s largest union next year.

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InlandPolitics Commentary: Union should take deal

Sunday, December 18, 2011 – 10:50 a.m.

The San Bernardino County Safety Employees’ Benefit Association (SEBA) should reconsider and accept a contract offer from county supervisors.

A contract affecting the union’s Specialized Peace Officer Unit representing Probation Corrections Officers, and Welfare Fraud and Coroner Investigators.

Why?

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Daniel Borenstein

By Daniel Borenstein
Staff columnist

California taxpayers should ask themselves, in the words of Clint Eastwood’s famous movie character, “Do I feel lucky?”

We’re not staring down the barrel of “Dirty Harry” Callahan’s gun wondering whether there’s a bullet in the chamber. Instead, we’re gambling our financial future on whether public pension fund investments will surpass reasonable expectations.

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The PE: S.B. COUNTY: Union seeks re-vote

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 16 December 2011 09:49 PM

A union representing San Bernardino County public safety employees will vote again on a previously rejected contract as it faces a possible 14 percent pay and benefit cut.

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The PE: S.B. COUNTY: Cuts imposed on safety employees union

S.B. County supervisors vote to impose reductions on the 380 members of the Specialized Peace Officer unit

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 14 December 2011 06:19 PM

San Bernardino County is planning to impose a 14 percent pay and benefit cut on some public safety employees if they don’t agree to a proposal the union had previously rejected.

Read the rest of this entry »

DailyBulletin: Colton teachers accept new contracts

By Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Created: 12/12/2011 04:41:50 PM PST

COLTON – Months of uncertainty and disagreement ended Monday, after the teachers union voted overwhelmingly to accept a new contract.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Sun: San Bernardino County public safety employees face cuts

By Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/13/2011 06:59:46 PM PST

A group of San Bernardino County public safety employees, including probation officers and district attorney’s investigators, face a 14 percent cut in pay and benefits unless they agree to a previous proposal by the county.

Read the rest of this entry »

InlandPolitics: S.B. County: Mitzelfelt advances budget changes, contract imposed

Devereaux

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 – 12:01 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 – 01:45 p.m.

You gotta hand it to those crack San Bernardino County lawyers.

Based upon recommendations from CEO Greg Devereaux and, according to him, county attorneys, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to impose a 14% pay cut to Probation Corrections Officers, Coroner Investigators and Welfare Fraud Investigators.

The classifications make up the Specialized Peace Officer Unit represented by the San Bernardino County Safety Employees Benefit Association (SEBA).

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InlandPolitics: S.B. County ignores contract provision

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 – 09:25 a.m.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors appear to be on collision course with the San Bernardino County Safety Employees Benefit Association (SEBA).

On Tuesday, a majority of county supervisors intend to reject the advisory award by a neutral arbitrator and impose a one-year contract on Probation Corrections Officer, Coroner Investigator and Welfare Fraud Investigator members in the Specialized Peace Officer Unit represented by SEBA.

An illegal act under the expired agreement.

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By Josh Dulaney, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 12/12/2011 06:05:49 PM PST

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors today will consider cutting salary and benefits for a group of probation correction officers, a move officials say will result in $3.6million savings annually.

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The PE: RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Differences in county, SEIU contract offers

BY DUANE W. GANG
STAFF WRITER
dgang@pe.com

Published: 08 December 2011 03:17 PM

The Service Employees International Union Local 721 has been vocal in its opposition to pay and benefit cuts imposed on members by Riverside County supervisors.

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