Teachers: ‘Paycheck protection’ deceptive
CITYWIDE — Many Santa Monica public workers are joining forces with statewide groups to oppose Proposition 75, saying it’s an attack on their ability take part in the state’s political process which will have long-term repercussions if approved.
Firefighters, teachers and other public workers are among those who oppose Proposition 75, claiming that if it is approved during the Nov. 8 special election, their ability to take political action will be significantly diminished. Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarz-enegger’s campaign office, which supports the measure, said Prop. 75 will empower public workers by forcing unions representing them to request permission to use their funds for political action.
According to the state’s legislative analysis, a ‘yes’ vote on Proposition 75 means public employee unions would be required to receive annual, written consent from government employee union members and nonmembers to charge and use any dues or fees for political purposes. On the flip side, a ‘no’ vote means public employee unions could charge and use dues or fees for political purposes without consent.
Darrell Ng, a spokesman from Navigators — the firm handling the governor’s outreach for the special election — said that Gov. Schwarzenegger supports Proposition 75 because he believes public employees should have the right to choose when money is taken out of their paychecks for political campaigns.
Ng said the governor also supports, in concept, similar restrictions on corporations that would require them to also receive pre-approval before using shareholder money for political campaigns. However, Ng acknowledged such a component hasn’t been incorporated into the current initiative.
Harry Keiley, president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teacher’s Association (SMMCTA), said supporters like to call Prop. 75 “paycheck protection,” but in actuality it’s a deceptive measure to silence the voice of firefighters, nurses, teachers and police officers.
He also said it’s not necessary because current laws protect the rights of public workers. In California, a public employee cannot be forced to join a union and can opt out of making their dues contribute to political activities, Keiley said.
Keiley said another aspect of Proposition 75 voters need to take into account is that American corporations outspend unions by a margin of 24 to 1 on political action. Therefore, if Proposition 75 passes, it would obligate state unions to take further steps to garner the financial support it receives to promote labor interests.
Santa Monica Fire Capt. Ken Polhill, based at Station No. 5, represents the local Firefighter’s Union No. 1109. He is especially concerned with Prop. 75 because he believes there are misconceptions being pushed by some conservative media outlets which have taken a supportive stance on the measure, but are misconstruing how unions within California operate.
Namely, Polhill said union membership isn’t obligatory. However, public employees covered under union contracts are billed for the negotiations unions make on their behalf, regardless of membership status.
Polhill said Prop. 75 would require union offices to contact individual members and confirm whether or not they would like to apply their dues toward political action. Such an administrative task would tie up union offices in paper-work and hamper their ability to raise funds and act, Polhill said.
Currently, union members may elect to not have their dues go toward political action, but they must make the request, not the other way around, Polhill said.
Keiley said the SMMCTA and others are fighting the special election measures through joint efforts at their office at 1508 18th Street.
TAKING SIDES ON INITIATIVES Three of the eight ballot measures — Propositions 74, 76 and 77 — were initiated by Gov. Schwarzenegger and his supporters. Two of them will affect public education, according to Marc Saltzberg, president of the West L.A. Democratic Club and a chief organizer of the local campaign to fight some of the initiatives.
Proposition 74, which Schwarzenegger has dubbed the “Put Kids First Act,” is a measure which its supporters say is intended to improve teacher accountability in the classroom by putting them on probation for five years before they can obtain a permanent position.
Ng said there are only 12 states that have a probationary period of one or two years. The other 38 states have probationary periods of three years or more.
California’s teachers also are paid an average of $58,287 per year, compared to the national average of $46,726, according to Ng. At the same time, California’s cost of living is only 6 percent higher than the national average, yet the state’s teachers earn 23 percent more than the national average. Proposition 74 would improve California’s education system by being able to better manage some teachers, Ng said.
Saltzberg disagrees with Schwarzen-egger’s conclusions about what effects Prop. 74 will have on public education. First, he said the ballot measure, if approved, would detract the best educators from working in California, since it’s not realistic to expect top talent to endure a five-year probationary period when they could go elsewhere. Second, he said people who are working during a probationary period tend to not speak up. Having a five-year probationary period is too long and may serve as means for administrators to have too much control over their teachers.
Proposition 76, which Schwarzenegger has dubbed the “Live Within Our Means Act,” is intended to improve the manner in which the state manages its financial affairs by preparing a “rainy day fund” for future economic downturns. It also would allow Schwarzenegger to make mid-year cuts to some groups that receive funding.
Since 2000, according to Ng, state revenues have increased by $12.5 billion, while expenditures have increased by $23.5 billion. Proposition 76 is intended to stabilize revenue over a period of years. It would also eliminate one of the major ways to reduce education funding, Ng said.
Contrary to some reports, Ng said the measure would give the governor the ability to correct a 1.5-percent discrepancy between revenue and expenditures within the state budget if the legislature fails to correct the problem within 45 days. However, the legislature may also revoke the governor’s budget if it is able to agree on one besides that which the governor proposes.
According to Keiley, Proposition 76, if approved, would take money away from schools that was guaranteed in previous legislation.
“It’s an unprecedented power grab by the governor,” Keiley said. “This kind of unchecked power is dangerous.
“Our public schools need more funding, not less.”
WESTSIDE DEMOCRATS ORGANIZE AGAINST MEASURES Westside Democrats have opened a Santa Monica headquarters from which they intend to fight the governor’s special election and other ballot measures.
Keiley said the SMMCTA has permitted a group called the Democratic Westside Coalition (DWC) to open up an office at its headquarters at 1508 18th St. from where volunteers are hosting ballot-initiative information events, conducting phone-banking, offering voter registration and canvassing area precincts, Keiley said.
Saltzberg said the DWC has had booths set up at local events, such as the Farmer’s Market, where they have been offering information to the public about the special election. In addition, they have hosted Westside rallies and will continue to do so.
From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. during weekends, volunteers have also been calling Westside residents to see if they have any questions about the special election. Saltzberg said phone bank operators try to clarify any issues about the ballot measures they may have.
The DWC has also been hosting workshops where members of the public may come and ask questions about the group’s positions on the ballot measures.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 18, 2005. Read the original PDF.