Rep. Filner, City Worker React to State Public Employment Relations Board Ruling that the City of San Diego Violated State Labor Laws by Pushing a Pension Ballot Measure
February 13, 2012
On Monday, Representative Bob Filner and President of AFSCME Local 127 Joan Raymond, a City of San Diego sanitation driver reacted to today’s ruling from the state Public Employment Relations Board, which said the City of San Diego and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders violated labor laws by trying to push a pension measure on the June ballot.
The participants on the call also criticized double dipping Mayor Jerry Sanders' for being in Washington, DC to tout his illegal pension plan that results in higher costs, phantom savings and without a safety net for workers.
"Mayor Jerry Sanders' plan is not only unfair, it's immoral," said Representative Bob Filner. "This plan will make city workers’ futures completely subject to the stock market at a time when San Diego families are really tightening their financial belts. I challenge anyone who’s for this measure to show me where there’s one nickel of savings for the general fund. We need to figure out a way to put money into the budget now so we have the ability to face our future. Unfortunately, the Mayor is doing the exact opposite of that and I hope his plan is ultimately ruled illegal."
"The City's blue collar workers represented by AFSCME Local 127 are very pleased that the Public Employment Relations Board agreed with our complaint that Mayor Sanders violated state labor laws by trying to force his reckless pension plan on the ballot," said President of AFSCME Local 127 Joan Raymond, also a City of San Diego sanitation driver. "Mayor Sanders refused to listen and now the taxpayers are stuck having to foot yet another costly legal bill."
If it does get adopted, Sanders illegal pensions plan would cost the City of San Diego $94 million more over the first six years.
Sanders' reckless plan not only forces excessive cuts to the pensions of city workers in San Diego — who already don't get Social Security — but it's being championed by Sanders, who after 26 years as a police officer, collects a $90,000 city pension on top of his $94,000 mayoral salary.
Sanders' proposal follows a disturbing pattern nationwide of politically motivated attacks on the retirement security of middle class workers —including in San Jose — in which politicians have been caught using false and misleading information to cook up a fake crisis.
To receive an audio recording of the press call, please email Ryan@newpartners.com