Uncategorized | California Policy Center

California SEIU Members Score Multiple Victories Over “SEIU 1%”

Last week was a bad week for the SEIU Big Labor Bosses (or as Mariam the Mighty refers to them, the “SEIU 1%”). Mariam, whose fight against SEIU intimidation and misuse of membership dues is chronicled in <a href=”http://www.devilatourdoorstep.com/”>The Devil at Our Doorstep</a>, has firsthand knowledge of SEIU abuses. Mariam works for the...

By Dave Bego

Union Watch Highlights

Here Is What’s So Super About Super PACs By Chip Mellor, June 26, 2012, Forbes Media coverage of the 2012 election is dominated by talk about so-called “super PACs.” And, overwhelmingly, that coverage is negative. A Lexis search shows that The New York Times (both print and online) has mentioned super PACs more than 850...

By Jack Dean

California’s Public Sector Unions Spend Over $750 Million Per Year

Earlier this week the California Public Policy Center (CPPC) released a study entitled “Understanding the Financial Disclosure Requirements of Public Sector Unions.” The study found that the financial reporting requirements of state and local public sector unions are far less extensive than federal worker unions or private sector unions, and not remotely on par with...

By Editor

Indiana and California’s State Budgets – A Per Capita Comparison

Editor’s Note: The following analysis comparing per capita state government expenses between California and Indiana offers keen insights into what has gone wrong in California, and if anything grossly understates the financial challenges facing Californians. Had the author consolidated local tax revenue by source and expenditures by function – adding these figures to the state...

By Maryann Keating

Union Watch Highlights

California Public Unions Win Budget Concessions By Michael B. Marois and James Nash on June 18, 2012 The budget California’s Democratic- controlled Legislature sent to Governor Jerry Brown last week granted concessions to public employee unions even as talks continue on cutting programs for the poor. Democrats removed language that would have authorized the governor...

By Jack Dean

The Seismic Shift in Voter Sentiment Against Government Unions Has Begun

In the aftermath of the June 5th elections, a dramatic round that included the unsuccessful Governor Scott Walker recall in Wisconsin, and the landslide victories for pension reform in San Jose and San Diego, California, countless pundits have weighed in with their own versions of what it all means. Earlier this week, a heavier than...

By Editor

The (Union) Empire Strikes Back

Following big victories for public-pension reform in California, the union empire takes to the courts. The nation’s public-sector unions have become so emboldened by years of political victories, and so insulated from voter concerns, that they apparently never considered the possibility that voters, given a clear choice, would turn against them. Last Tuesday was as...

By Steven Greenhut

Lessons From Wisconsin

Big Labor took a roundhouse to the chin despite the millions of dollars in member dues spent in an attempt to recall Governor Walker. Conservatives and practical-minded Americans, however, cannot become complacent with this victory. Big Labor showed how desperate it was in orchestrating the offensive recall. Big Labor thumbed its nose at the citizens...

By Dave Bego

“Taxpayer Organizations” That Are Fronts For Unions

In November 2000, California voters approved Proposition 39, which allows school districts to seek voter approval for school construction bonds at a 55% threshold instead of a two-thirds threshold. One of the conditions in Proposition 39 required of school districts seeking the 55% threshold for passage is to establish a Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, with the requirement that “One member shall...

By Kevin Dayton

Union Watch Highlights

Business groups ask senators to overturn NLRB’s ‘micro-union’ decision By Kevin Bogardus, June 12, 2012, The Hill More than a half-dozen business groups are asking Senate appropriators to roll back a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision that allows unions to form smaller bargaining units. In a letter sent Tuesday, trade associations including the U.S....

By Jack Dean

Local Government Election Results in California Highly Relevant to Labor Issues

California’s primary election night was overshadowed by the support from Wisconsin voters for state elected officials who implemented a modest reform of collective bargaining for public employees. But here is an exclusive report on how the June 5, 2012 election also brought good results for advocates of fiscal responsibility and economic and personal freedom in California. Some...

By Kevin Dayton

Union Watch Highlights

Michigan Is Big Labor’s Next Big Target By Shikha Dalmia, June 5, 2012, Reason.com Those who thought that Big Labor’s recall drive against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was its final attempt to maintain its lavish benefits at taxpayers’ expense should think again. Win or lose in Wisconsin today, it is already opening a new front...

By Jack Dean

Surly Unions Make Wisconsin the Badgering State

Before Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker became a recall target for his efforts to reform collective bargaining in his state, I was a guest on a Madison radio show discussing the influence of public-sector unions and the significance of the state’s unfunded pension liabilities. Instead of “Wisconsin Nice” – a euphemism for the polite, conflict-avoiding nature...

By Steven Greenhut

Occupy Wall Street Receiving Support and Funds from SEIU and AFL-CIO

I’ve written about it in my book and blogs – the mainstream media is attempting to portray the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement as the Left’s version of the Tea Party. Nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve spoken at several Tea Party events and observed those in attendance as respectful and thoughtful, unlike...

By Dave Bego