South Bay

In approving a recently negotiated settlement to San Jose's illegal Measure B, City Councilman Ash Kalra exclaimed, "San Jose's long civic nightmare is over."  In tweaking a famous quote from former President Gerald Ford, Kalra summed up labor's years-long fight with the City of San Jose over worker benefits.  Since pension-cutting Measure B's passage in June 2012, City employee unions and the city have been sparring in superior court and at the state’s Public Employment Relations Board.

Following a Santa Clara County District Attorney investigation, and numerous press reports about mismanagement, Beau Goldie has been forced out as the CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Goldie was a decades-long Water District employee who rose through the ranks, but his tenure as CEO was marked with rancor and hostility toward labor.  Goldie resigned Jan. 14.  The Board will rotate the interim post among chiefs while it searches for a new CEO.

Our San Jose Members overwhelmingly voted to ratify a framework to settle litigation over the City's contentious, illegal Measure B.  This Settlement Framework is the culmination of exhaustive efforts over the past four years by IFPTE Local 21 and our three chapters: the Association of Engineers and Architects, the Association of Maintenance Supervisory Personnel and the City Association of Management Personnel. 

What seemed impossible not long ago has become reality as the leaders of the Police Officers Association and the Firefighters Union have reached a Tentative Agreement to settle litigation over San Jose's failed pension Measure B. The TA was authorized by the City Council and both Union's Board of Directors, and resolves the litigation over pension, retiree healthcare, and disability benefits.

AEA, AMSP, CAMP TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED
WITH CITY OF SAN JOSE
June 17, 2015

Local 21 Members across the Bay Area helped encourage people to strap on their helmets and ride their bicycles to work on May 14.

Local 21-endorsed Tim Orozco is in the June 23 run-off to fill the North San Jose seat on the City Council.  The purpose of the Special Election is to fill the seat left vacant with Labor ally Kansen Chu, who was elected to State Assembly in November.  We need volunteers to remind District 4 voters to cast a ballot in this crucial Special Election.  Voter turnout will be low and most will cast their votes by mail, so we're already working hard to reach out to voters.

Several Local 21 Members were recognized for their work on projects and for representing "the highest level of public service and commitment to the City of San Jose and its residents."  The teams were highlighted based on the "Employee Values of Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Respect and Celebration."  Congratulations to Local 21 Members for continuing the highest quality of work for the City.

Years of acrimonious labor relations and expensive litigation around Measure B's pension reform may finally be coming to an end. Last week, the San Jose officials and various City Unions began settlement talks to resolve the Measure B dispute and replace it with a new, more competitive pension benefit for Tier 2 employees. The tenor, tone and substance of the discussions represented a sea change in attitude from what we have experienced in recent years, and we are cautiously optimistic that a settlement can be reached.