Senate Bill 454

Attacks on Public Employee Pensions & Benefits

AFSCME is proud to represent over 180,000 state, county and municipal employees and retirees that share a common commitment to public service and who have invested in a sound public retirement system for their financial security. Unfortunately, legislation introduced this year by some legislators sought to needlessly undermine public employees’ hard-earned pensions and benefits. Our members who spend their lives serving the public across the state whether it be by driving our kids to school, maintaining our streets and roads or processing Medi-Cal claims have already made great sacrifices at the bargaining table for the health and sustainability of California's public pension system. 

SB 454, also introduced by Senator John Moorlach, would have required the state to immediately fund 100 percent of the retiree health care costs for state employees. Not only is this goal unrealistic and burdensome, it is yet another thinly veiled attack on the viability of retiree health care thatcircumvents the collective bargaining processand threatens the retirement security of millions of retired Californians who have dedicated their careers to public service.