ALERT
I got a letter today from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California that
indicates that on June 21 the CalPERS Board of Administration will be meeting in
closed session to discuss their position on a pending law suit entitled Cargill et
al. v. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California et al.
This law suit is a class action suit brought by various categories of temporary
employees (temporary service employees, contract employees, consulting firms,
independent consultants and temporary employees of the agency) who are demanding that
these temporary workers are entitled to the full rights and benefits of public
employment -retroactively.
This follows close on the heels of the Micro-soft case granting temporary employees
some pension benefits and profit sharing.
The CalPERS Board is considering their position on the definition of public employees,
before the suit is brought to trial. The Board's position will then ultimately become
a determining factor in the outcome of the suit.
This action by the CalPERS Board could have immeasurable financial consequences to
public employers not only for the definition of what is a public employee, but also
the retro-active cost of benefits that may be granted within the actual suit.
I have attached two letters, one sent directly to the CalPERS Board from Metropolitan
Water District and the other letter that was sent to me. Please review and send or
call CalPERS to voice your opposition to changing the well-established principle that
public employment is governed by statue and not by contract or common law.
Jo Barrick
Administrative Services Director
City of Shafter
PERS Board.doc
PERS letter.doc
