February 2012

SEBA President
Laren Leichliter

New Year, Same Attack on Public Employees

We are beginning a new year right where we left off, with everyone blaming public employee pensions for the demise of the County and the State. A new twist the Board of Supervisors is trying to introduce is another initiative which would require voter approval for any retirement benefit increase for all public employees. It seems that every time there is a Board of Supervisors meeting, they come up with new ways to take things from the public employees of this county. SEBA will continue to monitor this latest action by the Board of Supervisors and we will keep you updated on how it progresses.

Another important issue is SEBA has decided to pick up the part-time Board of Supervisors Initiative that stalled recently. SEBA has contacted the proponent of the initiative and he has agreed to make me the new proponent so that I may continue to get the initiative on the ballot in November. This is not an attack on the current Board of Supervisors because it would not affect them. It is an attempt to help the Board of Supervisors save the County residents money which seems to be their top priority. The initiative would make them part- time employees. Since they appear to be relegating more of their duties to the CEO, including allowing voters to vote on future County employee contracts, why should they remain full-time paid employees while only doing half the work they use to do? SEBA members, as well as all County employees, have been assisting with the County’s financial problems by continuously working with the County to help save money, but we are all constantly under attack by the Board of Supervisors and the CEO to give more.

I have been asked several times in the last few months how our PAC money is spent and why we even have a PAC fund. Two reasons are the two initiatives I just described above as well as a State initiative called the Prohibits Political Contributions by Payroll Deduction. This initiative will restrict associations/unions from collecting political action monies by payroll deductions. This initiative has already gathered enough signatures and will be on the November ballot and if it passes it will extremely hamper any association’s or union’s ability to stand up for themselves or their members in the political arena. Many members say they agree with this theory until someone starts an initiative like the one the Board of Supervisors is currently considering. Remember, any increase in a County employee’s retirement package has to be voted on by the County voters, which means any raise would increase a County employee’s retirement package. In fact, any increase in any earnable compensation item would require County voter approval. This being said how many of you would want every raise voted on by County voters every time a contract expires and a new contract is being negotiated? This is why the PAC fund is so important to all SEBA members.

As always be safe out there.