Public Employee Unions Face Continued Attacks in California

By Stephen Gale, Chair, Sonoma County Democratic Party

Republicans have never had much regard for unions, which almost invariably have opposed their candidates for election as president. Over the last thirty years, Republican leaders and their intellectual ideologues have waged almost continuous war against organized labor. Beginning with Republican President Ronald Reagan’s actions in the summer of 1981, when he fired 13,000 striking air traffic controllers and destroyed their union, Republicans have waged war at both the federal and state levels. Indeed, over that period of time, union membership has steadily declined to a level that now represents a low-water mark in my lifetime.

Writing about the actions of Republican President Reagan, Washington Post columnist Harold Meyerson accurately stated that he had sent “an unambiguous signal that employers need feel little or no obligation to their workers, and employers got that message loud and clear – illegally firing workers who sought to unionize, replacing permanent employees who could collect benefits with temps who could not, shipping factories and jobs abroad.” That pattern of conduct continues to be supported by Republican strategists to this day. And those hard-working members of the middle class who produce products – from simple commodities to sophisticated technological devices – and services in our society pay a price through increased unemployment, reduced income and severely reduced benefits.

This past week, the specter of union-bashing raised its head in the worst possible way – as part of a threat to hold California’s fiscal health hostage.  As our Democratic Senator Noreen Evans noted in her January 26, 2011 blog, “While the Governor and Legislative Democrats grapple with the state’s fiscal crisis by proposing severe budget cuts matched with tax extensions, our Republican colleagues remain on the sideline. Recently, however, they made their first demand – destruction of pension plans of public employees.”

Republicans have disrupted continuity in political leadership through term limits.  They are now turning their sights on the public employees who, because of their membership in public employee unions, are able to span between administrations and political changes that take place every two years. Their current attack on pension plans is a bold attempt to negatively impact the operation of our state government by making public service less attractive to those who seek a career in the public sector.

Public-sector employees are generally paid lower wages than comparable private-sector employees. In most instances, public employees also opt out of the Social Security system in order to participate in a state-sponsored retirement plan.  Against the backdrop of these two realities, secure long-term retirement benefits can be a key factor to retain public employees rather than lose them to higher paying jobs in the private sector.

I am calling on each of you who support a strong middle class in our country to support our Public Employee Union allies against this attack on the future of California. I ask that you understand the issues – and separate Myth in the public press from Reality – so that you can be a strong advocate against the Republican assault being mounted this year.

Please join me in attending a panel discussion titled Public Employee Compensation – Myth & Reality: A Community Forum & Dialogue, taking place on Thursday, February 3rd from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. In order to advocate effectively, we need to be well informed and this event, that is structured to be educational, is the first step in effective advocacy. The event is taking place at Odd Fellows Hall, 545 Pacific Ave., Santa Rosa. It is hosted by The Sonoma County Coalition of Labor Organizations, North Bay Labor Council and the Living Wage Coalition.

We know from the results of the November election that when Democrats stand together, Democrats win. It’s time for us to stand together on this important issue.