Jerry Brown won't target unions' bargaining rights

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Jerry Brown, who approved collective bargaining for California government workers during his first gubernatorial term in 1976, said Friday that he will not challenge employees' bargaining rights as the Republican governor in Wisconsin is doing.

Brown said he will not follow the lead of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who wants to strip most non-safety public employees of most collective bargaining rights. Walker says his proposal, which prompted massive protests and a walkout by Democratic lawmakers, is intended to reduce state spending.

Brown, a Democrat, said California's $26.6 billion deficit will give unions a chance to show they can help the state make tough choices.

"I hope in California we can demonstrate that both management and representatives of the working people in the public sector can rise to the occasion and do what's in the public interest," Brown said during a Capitol news conference on the budget.

Some of that happened last year, when former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, won pension concessions from several state unions during contract negotiations.

Like many other states, California faces soaring costs for its retired workers, caused primarily by the recession's effect on the value of pension-fund investments, generous benefits awarded to public employees during better economic times and a wave of baby boomers heading into retirement.

The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the nation's largest pension fund, has $75 billion in unfunded liabilities. The state also is on the hook for nearly $52 billion in unfunded retiree health care benefits.

Brown said he wants to seek pension reforms after the state closes its budget deficit. His budget proposal last month called for 10 percent pay cuts for the six state employee bargaining groups that are operating without a contract. It also proposes creating a lower-cost "core health plan" for state employees.

At the same time, Brown is seeking union support for his plan to ask voters during a June special election to approve extending sales, income and vehicle tax increases that were approved two years ago. Republican lawmakers so far have refused to support the governor's request to call the special election.

Jann Taber, spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, declined comment on Brown's remarks. Darrel Ng, spokesman for Assembly Minority Leader Connie Conway, R-Tulare, also declined to comment.

Brown's stance contrasts with that of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who chairs the Republican Governors Association. Perry on Friday urged people to show their support for the Wisconsin governor.

There also were protests this week in Ohio, where lawmakers are considering a similar proposal to end public employees' bargaining rights, and in Tennessee and Indiana where Republicans are pushing through bills to limit bargaining rights for teachers' unions.

"I would say that collective bargaining is definitely in the spotlight across the country, and some places it's on trial," Brown said. "I'm confident that we don't have to go the route of eliminating participation. I think the whole idea of democracy is greater participation, not less."

Brown, 72, won a third term in November after serving two terms in the 1970s and early 1980s. As governor then, he signed the state's collective bargaining law, which increased union power in the state. However, he also vetoed pay raises for public employees.