SAN DIEGO (AP) — A judge on Tuesday rejected a union-backed attempt to halt a measure that curbs pensions for San Diego city workers, setting the stage for it to take effect as early as next month.
The ruling clears an early hurdle for the closely watched measure, which, like one in San Jose, is already the subject of a hotly contested legal battle. Voters in San Diego and San Jose overwhelmingly approved the measures last month as their governments struggle under the weight of growing pension obligations.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Luis Vargas noted that a significant majority of voters backed Proposition B. If unions eventually prevail in their legal challenge, he said, previous benefits can be restored.
Recommended For You
California's Public Employee Relations Board urged the judge to put the measure on hold while it considered complaints of unfair labor practices by San Diego's municipal employee unions. The unions contend state labor law required the city to negotiate with them before putting the measure on the ballot, a claim that the city disputes.
The city told the judge that the union's legal challenge will be lengthy and time-consuming, jeopardizing savings to taxpayers if it were delayed.
Ann Smith, an attorney for the San Diego Municipal Employees Association, signaled at a hearing last week that she was prepared to accept a limited delay, perhaps to the end of October. She wanted time for her union and the city to hammer out details of a new 401(k)-style plan for new hires.
The judge said the city and union were making "substantial progress" on negotiating details of the 401(k)-style plan. He noted that the state labor relations board was nearing a decision on the unfair labor practices complaint, without mentioning that it could be subject to lengthy appeals.
The ruling clears the way for the measure to take effect when California's secretary of state certifies the vote, which is expected in August. It imposes a six-year freeze on pay levels used to determine pension benefits unless a two-thirds majority of the City Council votes to override it, and it requires the 401(k)-style plans for new hires except police officers.
The San Jose measure would force current employees, including police officers and firefighters, to pay much more toward their retirements or accept lower benefits. New hires would receive less generous benefits.
Unions representing San Jose police officers and firefighters claimed in lawsuits filed last month in state court that the measure violates their vested rights.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
