California judge bars voter-approved pension cuts for city workers

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

BY TIM REID
LOS ANGELES Mon Dec 23, 2013 8:52pm EST

(Reuters) - A state court judge has barred the city of San Jose, California, from imposing voter-approved pension cuts on current municipal workers in a ruling with implications for cash-strapped local governments across the United States.

As public employee unions and many U.S. cities lock horns over cuts in retirement costs blamed for municipal budget crises, Superior Court Judge Patricia Lucas ruled that a ballot initiative forcing workers to contribute more to their pensions was invalid.

In her "tentative" ruling, dated from last week but publicly released on Monday, Lucas said the city was entitled under the ballot measure to cut workers' pay to save money, but she held that vested pension benefits were protected by state law and thus off limits.

The court fight in San Jose over pensions has been closely watched because other cities in California, and across the country, are targeting cuts in existing retirement plans as a way to reduce budget deficits.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/24/us-usa-pensions-california-idUSBRE9BN02L20131224

[TDale313]

1. Good!

Those pensions were already earned.

[cally]

2. good! but notice the bias in the wording in this article

Union workers face such a bias in mainstream media reporting.

[Turbineguy]

3. A deal's a deal.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Kick (nt)

[mulsh]

5. A rare victory for pensioner in the looting of their earned benefits.

n/t