California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of MEA on Proposition B!
This morning, the California Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Fourth District Court of Appeal on Proposition B, finding that the City violated the law when it placed Prop B on the ballot in 2012.
The Supreme Court found that the Court of Appeal 1) failed to give the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), which had previously ruled in MEA’s favor, the proper legal deference in this case, and 2) erred in ruling that the City’s duty to meet and confer with MEA on this ballot initiative was never triggered.
The remedy ordered by the Supreme Court is that the Court of Appeal should now “address the appropriate judicial remedy for the violation identified in this opinion.” PERB had previously ordered a “make-whole” remedy but did not have the authority to actually invalidate the ballot measure and strip its language from the City’s Charter. The Court of Appeal does have that authority.
We will identify and communicate the next steps in this case as soon possible. In the meantime, know that the California Supreme Court has completely and unequivocally vindicated MEA’s and PERB’s position, and rejected the City’s arguments in whole.
Thank you to MEA attorney Ann Smith, whose work on this case for the last seven years is the reason we received the result that came this morning. And congratulations to all MEA-represented employees who are one step closer to justice in this important case!