More than 30 California cities are likely to defy top union officials by asking their citizens in 2014 to vote on enacting a “home rule” charter for local control. Cities want to free their purely municipal affairs from costly union-backed state mandates, for reasons revealed in these recent articles: Unions Rise to Defense of “Prevailing Wage” Rates Jeopardizing...

Inquiring minds are watching an excellent video on The Kudlow Report between Larry Kudlow and David Harkin. Harkin is the author of a study on US infrastructure and a professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Partial Transcript Kudlow: President Obama wants to spend another $50 billion on repairs to our infrastructure. Do we...

Here are links to the top stories available online over the past week reporting on union activity including legislation, financial impact, reform activism, etc., from California and across the USA. End City Hall’s ‘Pay to Play’ Kleptocracy By Jack Humphreville, February 26, 2013, CityWatch LA There is a raging torrent of cash totaling $20 million...

Los Angeles teachers union continues its tradition of  accommodating  and supporting political extremists.  As a teacher and longtime member of the United Teachers of Los Angeles, I got sick and tired of the union taking my dues money and using it to support candidates and causes that I found offensive and resigned from the union...

Unmistakable signs of trouble existed in Santa Ana Unified School District’s food-service program long before they were cited. According to the state Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes, district officials had been warned – in writing and in person. The warnings were simply ignored, and had been for years. Now, SAUSD has been ordered to...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sacramento, California, February 25, 2013 Contact:  press@calpolicycenter.org California’s state and local government pension plan problems are going to get a lot bigger in 2014 under new criteria proposed to be implemented by credit reporting leader Moody’s.  That’s the conclusion of a new study published by the California Policy Center, which concludes that...

The Michigan Education Association had its apple cart turned upside down when the Wolverine State went “right-to-work” in December. This means that, unlike California and 25 other states, a worker doesn’t have to pay union dues as a condition of employment. My introduction to union coercion came in 2005, when, as a middle school teacher...

“Here’s the plan: pretend that unions aren’t exploiting the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a tool to obtain labor agreements. Maybe no one will notice.” Supporters and opponents of CEQA reform are straining to avoid this uncomfortable subject as influential Democrats in the California State Senate prepare to introduce an alleged reform of CEQA...