Public pension data belongs to the public

By Private: Gloria Romero
07/31/2013
What goes up must come down. That’s precisely what happened – in record-setting time – when the California Public Employees Retirement System, the state employees’ pension agency, attempted to provide to the public information about its retirees’ pensions and making it accessible to the public on the CalPERS’ website. The need for pension reform has...

TAGS: California Public Records Act, CalPERS, Detroit bankruptcy

Union Watch Highlights

By Editor
07/30/2013
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. Senate ready to confirm new NLRB members By Alan Fram, July 30, 2013, Fresno Bee The Senate on Tuesday moved a step closer to approving...

After 33 Years, San Diego Submits to State Prevailing Wage Law

By Kevin Dayton
07/30/2013
This afternoon (Tuesday, July 30, 2013), the San Diego City Council voted 5-4 to cease taking advantage of its constitutional right to establish its own policies concerning government-mandated wage rates for construction contracts. It adopted a proposal from Mayor Bob Filner to submit to state law and require its construction contractors to pay “prevailing wage”...

TAGS: California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, City of San Diego, Lorena Gonzalez, State Building and Construction Trades Council v. City of Vista

“I’m Randi Weingarten and Now, the Fake News.”

By Larry Sand
07/30/2013
Teachers union makes news with meaningless words and a misleading poll. Norm MacDonald is famous for opening the comedic news segment on Saturday Night Live by introducing himself and telling the audience that it’s time for the “fake news.” I thought of this when, at the recent American Federation of Teachers convention, President Randi Weingarten...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Cato Institute, EAG, Jason Bedrick, Larry Sand, Lindsey Burke, Michelle Rhee, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, Randi Weingarten, Stephen Sawchuk, teachers union, The Heritage Foundation, Valerie Strauss

CPC Study Provides Tools to Estimate Pension Liabilities and Contributions Using Various Assumptions

By California Policy Center
07/29/2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sacramento, California, July 29, 2013 Contact:  press@calpolicycenter.org With the recent announcement that Detroit has declared bankruptcy, many wonder how their city, county, school district, or other government organization is doing. To help keep elected officials accountable, the California Policy Center has released a simple spreadsheet and tutorial that estimates the unfunded liabilities and...

Detroit Bankruptcy Protection Affirmed by Judge

By Mike Shedlock
07/26/2013
As hoped and expected Detroit Bankruptcy Protections Affirmed, Snyder Shielded.  Detroit can enjoy the protections of bankruptcy, including immunity from lawsuits related to the case, a federal judge ruled, extending that shield to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steeven Rhodes in Detroit today blocked lawsuits by public employee groups and pension funds who alleged...

TAGS: AFL-CIO, Detroit bankruptcy

New Labor Rules Attack Small Businesses

By Joe Trauger
07/24/2013
In June 2011, the Department of Labor proposed sweeping changes to the rules that administer the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. The changes, which could take effect as early as May 2013, seek to drastically re-interpret longstanding requirements on how employers can work with legal counsel to comply with labor laws. ► Current law requires...

TAGS: U.S. Department of Labor

A Method to Estimate the Pension Contribution and Pension Liability for Your City or County

By Edward Ring
07/24/2013
July 24, 2013 Summary: With last week’s announcement that Detroit has declared bankruptcy, many wonder how their city, county, school district, or other government organization is doing. Citizens want their elected officials to behave responsibly so that what happened to Detroit won’t happen to them. But elected officials are not always cooperative when it comes...

Union Watch Highlights

By Editor
07/23/2013
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. Detroit bankruptcy case heads to Wednesday hearing on labor union pension challenges By Bernie Woodall, July 23, 2013, Reuters Labor unions trying to stop Detroit...

TAGS: Detroit bankruptcy