California Union Watch

Tracking government union money and influence in California politics. A project of the @CalPolicyCenter.

[Will Swaim @WillSwaim]

California’s government unions finance the campaigns of politicians who, once if office, return the favor in the form of higher wages and richer pensions and insurance—until government’s main function is collecting tax dollars to pay union workers.

[Jeremy Wayne Tate @JeremyTate41]

I totally understand why teachers unions oppose school choice.

I get it.

As a business owner I too like the idea of not having to compete with anyone.

[Scott Davison @scottyd121]

"California’s weak academic results stem from a system dominated by insatiable teachers unions that aggressively block reforms and alternatives to the status quo.

$149B for education...and nothing to show for it.

Incredible that people still vote with the teachers unions.

1/2

[Lance Christensen @lancelands]

Just a reminder that California's general fund budget has basically doubled since Newsom became governor.

The state doesn't have a revenue problem; the legislature has a spending problem.

@cabudget

[Lance Christensen @lancelands]

Next Monday, the CA Senate Appropriations Committee will be taking up over 400 bills. In that batch are several terrible proposals, including AB 84, the teachers' union's plan to kill charter schools. Not only is it bad policy,but it will cost a lot of money without improving our neighborhood public schools.

Please see @CalPolicyCenter coalition letter in opposition to AB 84.

https://t.co/JTpUvOWC4T

[Transparent California @Transparent_CA]

Never underestimate the ability of government to repeat past mistakes, especially when it is in the best financial interests of government employees to do that.

"Planning is underway at San Diego County to let veteran sheriff’s deputies and other public safety employees collect both their salary and their pension simultaneously — a practice that left a trail of controversy at the City of San Diego during its pension scandal in the early 2000s.

That legacy has not impeded county officials from checking off key boxes to creating a deferred retirement option program, known as a DROP, after lobbying from the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of San Diego County, the powerful labor union for more than 2,000 sheriff’s deputies."

Because we know what our government values more than fiscal responsibility and providing services to taxpayers, and that is their own pay and benefits....

https://t.co/XkqbrMg0Jn

[Marc Joffe @marcjoffe]

Protesting a 0.3% cut in San Francisco's workforce, union members disrupted a City Hall meeting yesterday.

Their chant of "Who's City? OUR City!" was spot on. Unions own local governments throughout California.

https://t.co/gTq6SwE4Nk

[Lance Christensen @lancelands]

This is a band-aid approach.

If we really want to address our teacher shortage, we need to:

1. Eliminate the teachers' union, disincentivize poor teachers by refusing to coddle them along when they fail.

2. Extend teacher tenure by years or eliminate it entirely. There's no way a current principal can adequately evaluate a new teacher in a year and a half to see if they deserve a job for life.

3. Accept credentials from other states.

4. Reduce credentialing programs for professionals and retirees going into the teaching profession.

5. Exit CalSTRS and consider a solid, portable DC retirement/pension plan for teachers.

6. End first-in-last-out policies.

7. Introduce merit pay. Allow for parents, students,
administrators and other teachers to evaluate teachers every year for pay increases (or deductions).

8. Eliminate radical social justice, SEL, CRT, ethnic studies curriculum and culture from our schools.

9. Allow schools broader access to emergency credentials that last as long as the principal is necessary.

The list could go on, but this is a start.

[Lance Christensen @lancelands]

Talk to teachers. This isn't working.
The state could spend $10 billion but unless & until the legislature improves safety & discipline in the classroom, extends tenure to 5 yrs minimum, eliminates teacher unions, stops radicalizing the classroom & actually follows the science of reading, there will be no demonstrable improvement in recruiting high quality teachers.

[CalElecteds @calelecteds]

From our colleague, former OC Treasurer Tax Collector & Supervisor, John Moorlach:
"Regretfully, too many [local elected officials] are beholden to self-interested public employee union leaders who helped get them elected to their positions."

[Lance Christensen @lancelands]

As my friend & colleague, @WillSwaim, says, "When California sneezes, America gets pneumonia."

That's why we work diligently at @CalPolicyCenter to bring you the insights & alternatives to make California, and conversely, America better, every single day.

Check out our newly redesigned website for your public policy answers to keep state & local government in check & provide free-market ideas for you & your family to overcome the barriers to freedom & prosper.

https://t.co/22bbHfFSDk

[Lance Christensen @lancelands]

I joined my friend & colleague at the @CalPolicyCenter - @WillSwaim - to regale all the terrible bills Gov. Gavin Newsom signed out of the 977 that landed on his desk on Sept 1st from the #caleg. We give a shout out to @LauraPowellEsq for her list.
https://t.co/VAnm4vXc1f

[Lance Christensen @lancelands]

A policy @CalPolicyCenter gladly supports. We've been sharing this info for over a decade with our @Transparent_CA friends at @NevadaPolicyRI. Hopefully this makes @ToddMaddison job easier?

[CalElecteds @calelecteds]

New numbers out from @center4jobs showing that California lost 7,100 fast food jobs Q1 of 2024. Many of these jobs loses are a result of recent minimum wage law changes.

Read full report here: https://t.co/fruSvxSBET

[Lance Christensen @lancelands]

I hear no lies.

That's why @CalPolicyCenter takes ZERO government dollars to do our work.

[CalElecteds @calelecteds]

Please join us virtually today from Noon-1pm PT for a discussion with Marine Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kenney Enney, a Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Trustee on defeating teacher union attacks & recalls.

Registration link in replies.

[CalElecteds @calelecteds]

Join CLEO as we network, support & advise local elected officials, advocates & candidates committed to principled governance from California’s thousands of cities, counties, school & special districts.

Register for our Candidate & Leadership Academies at https://t.co/iGhpFyydUp.

[Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist @DeAngelisCorey]

Randi Weingarten included me on the list of her union's primary enemies.

[Will Swaim @WillSwaim]

Newsom’s union and academic allies told us the wage hike wouldn’t cost anybody anything. @SEIU @UCLA @LorenaSGonzalez