Forum-The Attack On San Francisco City Workers & What Proposition A Will Mean For Them

SF Prop A- An Attack On Public Workers-SF City Workers Speak Out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q60h-aD6wA4&feature=youtu.be
The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the billionaires of San Francisco are pushing an anti-labor San Francisco Charter amendment written by San Francisco Supervisor and former venture capitalist Mark Farrell. Farrell has supported anti-labor propositions in the past and has now gotten the support of this new proposition from IFPTE Local 21 Executive Director Bob Muscat who is also the chair of the San Francisco Public Employees Committe, the building trades leadership, the police an firefighters union.
The proposition is also supported by AFT 2121 president Alisa Messer, UESF president Dennis Kelley and Connie Ford, VP of the SF Labor Council and Tim Paulson, Executive Director of the SF Labor Council. It is also supported by the San Francisco Republican party and the Democratic Party including anti-labor Mayor Ed Lee.
It is opposed by rank and file city workers and retirees.
United Public Workers For Action http://www.upwa.info

Yes On A Propaganda Attacking Public Workers With More Austerity
http://www.yesonaforsfretirees.com/the_facts
"Prop B in 2008 and Prop C in 2011 made significant progress toward fully funding the Retiree Healthcare Trust Fund (RHCTF) by requiring city employees to contribute more into the fund. However, the RHCTF is allowed to be drained in 2020, which would negate any effort to move to a fully-funded model, and ultimately reduce general fund annual contributions."
"By capping employer retiree healthcare expenses at 10% of payroll, the City will have greater certainty in its budgeting process."

• The Facts About Prop A

The Facts About Prop A
Proposition A Eliminates San Francisco’s $4.4 Billion Unfunded Retiree Health Care Liability
Today, San Francisco’s retiree health plan is funded on a pay-as-you-go basis, similar to Social Security at the federal level, where the current generation of taxpayers pays for the prior generation’s benefits.

Prop B in 2008 and Prop C in 2011 made significant progress toward fully funding the Retiree Healthcare Trust Fund (RHCTF) by requiring city employees to contribute more into the fund. However, the RHCTF is allowed to be drained in 2020, which would negate any effort to move to a fully-funded model, and ultimately reduce general fund annual contributions.

According to a report released by the City's Controller’s office, San Francisco’s current retiree health care costs are estimated to increase from $150 million in 2013, to more than $500 million in the next 20 years – an average annual increase of 8-9%, or nearly $13,487 per San Francisco household. These projections have also been confirmed by reports from organizations such as PEW.

If passed, Prop A will amend the City's Charter to create a legal lock-box for the RHCTF, and eliminate our City’s $4.4 billion liability in about 30 years. This will be without requiring increased contributions from current or retired City employees. Passing Prop A would make San Francisco voters the first city in the nation to address both pension reform and unfunded health liabilities.

Below is a graph representing the current projected costs for retiree health care expenses.

Proposition A Protects Retiree Health Care Benefits
Proposition A protects existing health care benefits earned by City retirees. It does not reduce those benefits and does not increase employee contributions. By capping employer retiree healthcare expenses at 10% of payroll, the City will have greater certainty in its budgeting process.

Proposition A Increases San Francisco’s Financial Security
Proposition A increases our City’s financial security and provides for more certain budgetary planning. A more stable financial future will encourage a more favorable bond rating, saving taxpayers money on voter-approved debt.

Proposition A Creates An Expert Panel to Oversee the Retiree Health Care Trust Fund
Proposition A establishes an expert panel to oversee the HCRTF composed of the Controller, Treasurer, Executive Director of the San Francisco Employee Retirement System, and one current and one former city employee appointed by our City’s Health Services System Board.

You can find out more information about Proposition A by clicking on these links:

• PEW Charitable Trusts - "Cities Squeezed by Pension and Retiree Health Care Shortfalls" - 3/8/13

• SFGate - "S.F. avoids retirees' health care issue" - 3/16/13

• SFGate - “Proposed ballot measure takes on retiree health care liability" - 5/21/13

• SF Examiner - "Retiree fund raiders eyed" - 6/5/13

• SF Examiner - "Planning for the next recession should begin now" - 6/30/13

• SF Chronicle - "Key vote coming on retiree health care liability"

• SFGate - "Voters to weigh in on retiree healthcare fund" - 7/16/13

• SF Examiner - "There is a way forward for City College" - 7/23/13

• UTSanDiego - “Detroit’s Lessons for California - and for City Schools” - 7/26/13

• SF Controllers Report
Do you like this page?


Prop A Supporters
ELECTED OFFICIALS

Mayor Ed Lee

Assessor Recorder Carmen Chu

District Attorney George Gascon

Supervisor John Avalos

Supervisor London Breed

Supervisor David Campos

Supervisor David Chiu

Supervisor Malia Cohen

Supervisor Mark Farrell

Supervisor Jane Kim

Supervisor Eric Mar

Supervisor Katy Tang

Supervisor Scott Wiener

Supervisor Norman Yee

BUSINESS AND LABOR

San Francisco Police Officers Association

San Francisco Firefighters Local 798

IFPTE Local 21

San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

San Francisco Council of District Merchants Association

Building Owners and Managers Association of San Francisco

Small Business Network

Coalition for Responsible Growth

Municipal Executives Association

Alliance for Jobs and Sustainable Growth

Committee on Jobs

UA Local 38

San Francisco Deputy Sheriff’s Association

San Francisco Veteran Police Officers Association

IBEW 1245

LiUNA! Laborers Local 261

POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS

San Francisco Democratic Party

San Francisco Republican Party

Alice B. Toklas LBGT Democratic Club

Harvey Milk LBGT Democratic Club

City Democratic Club

FDR Democratic Club

Protect Our Benefits

Retired Employees of the City and County of San Francisco

Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club

Westside Chinese Democratic Club

Asian Pacific Democratic Club

Potrero Hill Democratic Club

District 3 Democratic Club

SPUR

District 11 Democratic Club

San Francisco Young Democrats

Noe Valley Democratic Club

Chinese American Democratic Club