SEIU Local 535

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Anti-worker ballot initiatives circulating in our communities

Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger and his business allies started circulating several anti-worker initiatives for the ballot.

One is the Privatization of the Public Pension system. This measure eliminates a secure pension for millions of Californians and ends death benefits for the survivors of police and firefighters. It puts our public pension system at risk and won't save taxpayers a dime.

The other is the Paycheck Deception measure. This is a rehash of an initiative that business tried and failed to pass in 1998 - the so-called "union dues check-off" initiative (formerly Prop 226). It is intended to silence the voice of public sector union members in politics and prevent us from fighting back against big business.

In addition, Schwarzenegger is trying to alter legislative districts to lean more his way by qualifying a redistricting initiative. These initiatives are bad news for all Californians and are direct attacks to weaken our unions. Schwarzenegger and his business allies will spend millions to collect signatures for the ballot.

PLEASE DO NOT SIGN ANY INITIATIVE ON THE TOPIC OF PENSIONS OR "UNION DUES CHECK OFF" UNTIL YOU KNOW MORE.

Make no mistake: this is not an attempt to protect your paycheck or save taxpayers money. This is part of a nationwide strategy to undermine workers' protections in order to give a blank check to big business. If we fight back together we can protect the rights of our members.

Please don't sign these measures until you learn more. For information on these and other ballot initiatives go to www.calaborfed.org.

This web page is paid for by SEIU COPE, www.seiucope.org, with voluntary contributions from SEIU members and their families and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.