Southern California layoff fight like a mini-Wisconsin

by Jen Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:45 pm

Southern California layoff fight like a mini-Wisconsin
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42258668/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/

COSTA MESA, Calif. — To solve a looming
pension crisis and budget gap, city officials here said, they needed to
take drastic action. And everyone agrees on one thing: they did.

Nearly half of this city’s workers were told late last week that,
come September, they would probably be out of a job. Nearly every city
department will be eliminated. More than a dozen tasks will be
outsourced, including graffiti removal, firefighting, building
maintenance and street cleaning.

Unlike the drama that played out over the last two months in Madison,
Wis., the battle over public workers in this bustling suburb and
upscale shopping mecca in the heart of Orange County is happening at
lightning speed.

Layoff letters went out last week to more than 200 of the city’s
roughly 450 workers, sending many of them into a panic as they scurried
to look for new jobs. The move will, in one great swoop, reinvent
municipal government here, and perhaps lead the way for other cities.

by mrgolf Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:00 am

Strange thing is that Orange County is a very wealthy county Southern California layoff fight like a mini-Wisconsin Ca-00034-cgreetings-from-orange-county-california-posters

Southern California layoff fight like a mini-Wisconsin Ca-00034-cgreetings-from-orange-county-california-posters

Southern California layoff fight like a mini-Wisconsin

Southern California layoff fight like a mini-Wisconsin

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