BRIAN STORY REPORTS; KAUFMAN & CO. ON LA MIGRA; RAFE'S IN THE FONTANA CITY COUNCIL RACE

[SEIU721REFORMERS]

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Dear Friend:

Last Friday, LA city workers and our labor allies packed the City Council meeting to speak out against the city's plan to slash our retirement benefits. I spoke to the Council, as did city engineers, 911 operators, librarians and the head of the LA County Federation of Labor. Unfortunately, the Council did the wrong thing. They adopted an ordinance to create a second tier in our civilian pension system. 

Future city workers will be hit hardest. The ordinance hikes the retirement age of new hires to 65, lowers their retirement factor and eliminates spousal healthcare during retirement. It's a bad plan that could drive future city workers into poverty.

I’ve worked in the city’s Bureau of Sanitation for 25 years and have been a union steward for 20 years. I stand on the shoulders of prior city workers who sacrificed so that we could have pensions. It's my duty as a union member to stand up for my coworkers and all future city employees.

This vote maybe over, but our fight is just beginning.

We just filed group grievances to protest the city's end run on our collective bargaining rights. And we are pursuing other legal remedies to stop the ordinance before it takes effect on July 1, 2013.

We are also gearing up to stop former mayor Richard Riordan’s attempt to destroy our pensions. Riordan is pushing a ballot measure that would make us pay more for retirement and give new hires risky, high-cost401(k) plans.

Get involved with our campaign to save retirement in LA. Call 213 368-8643.

In solidarity,

Brian Story,
Refuse Truck Operator

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ED KAUFMAN WROTE:

 Rafe

    Aa I have commented before it is understandable that many SEIU members find this information disturbing since the present union leaders have spent a lot of time pushing their political agenda.  Unfortunately this agenda of rallying the "undocumented" under the union flag conflicts with basic union principles.  Workers in the country illegally are a natural enemy of the union because as you admit "they make it possible for you and I to enjoy low prices."  Yes, Rafe, and they accomplish this by working for employers who deny them the decent pay and benefits which the union protects!

    Again I think it is important for you to take a look at what you are actually proposing.  You say we should "feel" for these workers because everyone deserves a piece of the pie.  But by their very nature these employees prevent union workers from getting their "fair share" of that pie.  In 1970 38% of the American workforce were protected by union membership.  Today thanks to the availability of the "cheap" labor you are promoting only 8% of workers are represented by a union.

    The truth is the argument that we need to support the plight of "undocumented" workers is an argument based on emotion and not union policy.  Enforcing union principles is not open to personal feelings on social issues.  My dad often had doubts about the policy towards "foreigners" when  he worked with others to organize the ILWU.  After all, his father had just immigrated here from Russia (as a citizen).  But when he saw his first scab from out of the country cross the lines that attitude changed.  As he often told me the union was no place for "weakness" because the employer would take advantage of every opportunity you gave him to save money at your expense.

    The figures I supply come from the Federal government.  They know what Los Angeles spends on its "undocumented" citizens because much as this money comes out of Medicaid and Medicare funds administered by them.  These figures also indicate that only 1.5% of our "undocumented" citizens (90% from Latin America) pay property taxes.  This is the primary reason that cities across the nation like Los Angeles are facing bankruptcy, not our pensions.

    Summing it up "undocumented" citizens "are not" contributing to either the health of our unions or the nations economy but are in fact a population subject to the "manipulation" of employers and political parties.

CHARLEY MIMS WROTE:

Rafe,

     You may want to share this response.

      Even if Ed Kaufman's numbers are correct, it does not directly impact the budget of the City of Los Angeles.  Healthcare costs for folks without insurance are paid out of state and federal coffers.  Education costs are also paid from those coffers.  The City closed its Health Department in the 1950's in an economy move since the County provided healthcare county wide as it still does.  The LA Unified School District is no longer a part of City government.  It was separated decades ago by state law.

     While I do not plan to debate any general costs of illegal immigration, healthcare and education are not costs that can be attributed to the City of Los Angeles budget.

In solidarity,

Charley Mims

RON MULLER WROTE:

Rafe, I hope you are well. I have some info on school funding.

 

The total this state spends is around 102,000,000,000,.00.

That includes both state and federal funding and includes K-12 and the UC and CS university systems. 

That is a hefty figure but even with 102 billion dollars they want more.  In comparison, the city budget is only between 6 and 7 billion.

Why need more?

Because the upper school management or administrators waste the money, and always ask us for more. Only about 25% get to

the students while superintendents make well over $200,000.00

Ed is right. If you import poverty and the uneducated, that is what your society will become, but at what cost.  Don't get me wrong,

If I was them I would come here too.  If fact when I moved here from Canada, it took me three years of background checks, medical checks

and sponsor checks to get here.

There is a right way and a wrong way, and if you can take the emotion out of the argument, you will see that it all done for political gain at our

expense.

Like you, I wish I had a solution. The city spending millions on the occupy protests and sanctuary programs just harms us, the city employee.

Politicians only worry about those who can help them. I wish that wasn't the case, but alas it is the truth.

The well is not an endless source and will go dry one day. Let us hope that we have learned by then and we can still afford to live here in

this once remarkable city.

 

I will attach my data from the state budget concerning the numbers I stated above.

 

Take care

ARTHUR LIMON WROTE:

Rafe, I'm glad you took your stance. We all know that during an election year and contract negotiation's. The gloves are off. That is to say it's normal to through in a few distractions to take up valuable time of our leadership. To those who are repeating rumors please rethink what your doing and spend your time on winning the battle that is clearly laid out before you. Leadership doesn't have the time nor energy to fight the two fronts. Cooperation is appreciated. peace 

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CITY OF FONTANA COUNCIL RACE

Guys,

The issue of Noise Abatement is why I am running for City Council.

I had gone to the City authorities for the past ten years to no avail.

So, I'v taken it upon myself to take the bull by the horns and bring this issue to the table.

I am asking for your help.

If you can email, twitter, Linkedin and facebook that you are supporting RAFAEL GARCIA for Fontana City Council, I will greatly appreciate it.

Let's see what a viral push can do for my campaign.

Thank you!

Rafe

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That's all folks!

 

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SEIU Local 721 Reformers is an email address attempting to share information with SEIU Local Members, Stewards, Officers, Staff and Officials.
Rafe Garcia, Steward, is the custodian of this email address.
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We, you and all the rest of us have the best interests of the rank and file members, over 70,000 strong.
FOUNDED AUGUST 31, 2008