Public Employee Unions | CalWatchdog.com

Tag "Public Employee Unions"

Special contracts allow ‘full-time’ teachers to work for both union and district

It’s been called “ghost teaching,” and it thrives in California. Full-time teachers are paid six-figure salaries to work for their union while keeping their school district seniority and pensions afloat. The dual work arrangements are built into union contracts. “This

Stockton ruling, like Vergara ruling, shakes CA status quo

Chris Reed October 2, 2014

Californians who think the state status quo is nuts and that public employees amount to a protected class of citizens have gotten unexpected help this year from the state and federal courts. First came Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rolf

LA, CA still avoiding pension reality

John Seiler August 5, 2014

The ultimate pension reform is Detroit-style bankruptcy, with retirees getting less than what they are owed by contract. As the NY Times reported on July 22: “DETROIT — Coming to terms with what came to be seen as inevitable, this

Sacto City Clerk rejects petition to put arena subsidy to a public vote

Katy Grimes January 25, 2014

In another twist in Sacramento’s arena derangement syndrome, a petition drive to put a public subsidy for the proposed Sacramento basketball arena project to a public vote, has been rejected by the Sacramento City Clerk. Friday, the city clerk announced

LAO questions legality of plan to use cap-and-trade $ on bullet train

Katy Grimes January 14, 2014

The governor’s just-released 2014-15 budget proposes to spend $850 million from cap-and-trade auction revenue on various projects — including the state’s high-speed rail project. That would defy the very purpose of cap-and-trade. In a new report on the spending plan,

Schools chief already wants to extend Prop. 30 taxes

Katy Grimes January 13, 2014

Only one year into Proposition 30’s five-year life, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has already called for an extension of the 2012 ballot initiative. Set to expire in 2018, it was sold to voters as a temporary tax.

Gov. Brown's budget largely ignores massive debt

Katy Grimes January 10, 2014

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Jerry Brown yesterday released his state budget proposal for fiscal year 2014-15, which begins on July 1, with spending sharply higher than last year, despite promises of fiscal restraint. The governor’s $155 billion total spending plan increases the general fund

How will Brown budget proposal address pensions, taxes, debt?

Katy Grimes January 6, 2014

California's budget battles will begin on Friday when Gov. Jerry Brown releases his proposal for fiscal year 2014-15, which begins on July 1. The media and political buzz in the Capitol building is that the state has a surplus — and

2014 brings new laws regulating CA businesses

Katy Grimes January 2, 2014

In 2013, California’s Legislature busied itself passing more than 800 new laws. In the coming weeks, CalWatchdog.com will report on the many affecting businesses in 2014. Overtime for nannies and domestic workers The “Domestic Workers Bill of Rights,” Assembly Bill 241,

EDD employees nap, watch TV, surf net, while claims stack up

Katy Grimes December 17, 2013

My three-part series about the Employment Development Department computer system upgrade has some in the agency wanting to unload. Apparently EDD officials’ explanation of the newly updated $100 million computer system “glitches,” and claims of understaffing, aren’t the whole story,