Grand jury targets binding arbitration for public employees

The Monterey County Herald
Posted: 01/10/2011 05:15:20 PM PST

Public agencies should not abandon their existing retirement programs under the state's Public Employment Retirement System, but should instead rein in practices that are creating severe fiscal issues for CalPers and local governments.

That was the recommendation of the Monterey County grand jury, which released its 122-page report Monday afternoon.

The grand jury suggests that cities and local agencies with public employees should abolish binding arbitration in labor matters, require public votes before retirement benefits are increased, stop offering "golden handshakes" to public employees and prevent the practice of "spiking" employee salaries late in their employment so that workers can receive better retirement benefits.

The grand jury also encouraged local officials to establish a trauma care hospital in Monterey County and to demand better financial review and public participation in efforts to build a desalination project that would create a new water source on the Monterey Peninsula.

For more on the grand jury's findings, see The Herald on Tuesday or go to www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/grandjury.

http://www.montereyherald.com/breaking/ci_17059262?nclick_check=1