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This coalition of anti-worker, anti-union interests have already begun filing initiatives that strip away public employee benefits and protections. Below are three initiatives that have already been filed with the Attorney General’s Office for title and summary. This is only the beginning, as state budget negotiations and the legislative session continue on, more anti-worker initiatives supported by corporate billionaires will be forthcoming.
• “Public Employee Pension Reform Act” – This initiative would overturn a long string of case law that held that pensions, retirement benefits and retirement health benefits are deferred compensation which vest upon acceptance of employment and are protected from impairment by the California Constitution. In simple terms, this initiative gives public agency employers the power to reduce or eliminate retirement benefits for future employees, active employees and retired employees, as well as, among other things, invalidates all collectively bargained agreement provisions governing pensions, retirement benefits and retiree health benefits for active employees.
• “Stop Special Interest Money Now Act” – This initiative would silence of political voice of public employees by banning public employee unions from making direct contributions to political candidates. It also would eliminate the ability of employees to make contributions through payroll deductions.
• “Save Our Secret Ballot” – This initiative would remove our union’s ability to do card check in lieu of a full-scale election.
The fight is front and center. Now is the time for AFSCME California to ready itself for the campaign of a lifetime. Our enemies are well-funded by multi-millionaire car dealership owners and multi-billionaire corporate interests, and they will spend millions to silence our voices and strip us of our rights. Despite the odds, however, victory is within our reach.