By Daniel Borenstein | Contra Costa Times — Labor unions try to have it both ways. They fight statewide reform of public employee pension systems by insisting that change must be bargained at the local level. But, as we see in San Jose, when they get to the table they claim they can’t legally agree to substantive improvements.
Welcome to the crazy world of public employee pensions, where benefits are easy to increase, but nearly impossible to reduce — even when they’re unaffordable. The resulting costs squeeze out funds badly needed for police, fire protection, libraries and other essential city services — endangering the jobs of the workers whose unions resist change.
San Jose provides a stunning example:
