Vallejo Bankruptcy Threatens Collective Bargaining Everywhere
The city of Vallejo has launched what may be the most far-reaching attack on public employees in California history.
In a state that’s home to Keith Richman, that’s saying something.
As part of its tactically motivated bankruptcy filing, Vallejo has petitioned to have all of its labor contracts voided by the bankruptcy court.
It would be a first for any bankruptcy proceeding – public or private: Not even the most drastic of bankruptcy filings has proposed completely canceling lawfully negotiated labor contracts.
If allowed to stand, Vallejo’s attack on its own employees would send shock waves throughout the labor movement, setting the stage for a cascade of tactical “bankruptcies”, all filed with the sole purpose of reneging on their employees.
And the worst part of it is ... Vallejo isn't really bankrupt!
Vallejo Firefighters Local 1186 has been fighting the good fight on behalf of its members. But they are far from alone. Labor is coming together as never before in its fight for employee rights:
- All employee bargaining units in Vallejo have joined in a unique coalition to fight the effort, and are participating in the fight.
- Vallejo Fire Fighters has received nearly $75,000 in loans and grants from the IAFF in support of its legal effort – a signal of the national impact of this attack.
- At its recent convention in Oakland, the California Labor Federation approved a resolution calling on all of labor to oppose the bankruptcy and contribute to the effort.
Even all of this help is no match for a deep-pocketed opponent that is prepared to serially raid the public treasury to finance its vendetta.
As part of a broad coalition with other city bargaining units, Local 1186 has incurred more than $200,000 in legal fees and court costs fighting the bogus bankruptcy in court. That is but a fraction of the more than $2 million in taxpayer dollars spent by the city in its anti-firefighter jihad.
Vallejo's coalition of working men and women has launched an informational campaign aimed at keeping working people informed about the true nature of the city's attack.
To read the real story and find out how you can help, go to www.vallejobankruptcyupdate.com.