LA City Unions Vote on the Mayor's Labor Deal LA Mayor Villaraigosa has been telling the anti-labor Governor of Wisconsin that "collective bargaining works." He gave 19,000 city workers a choice between a four percent pay cut to finance health benefits when they retire as opposed to seven weeks of furloughs that would cost them even more. Today, the vote was announced, and more than 6,000 of the 19,000 said, " no deal ."

City of LA on Brink of Bankruptcy, in Conflict with DWP Mayor Villaraigosa has threatened to implement a plan to close down all Los Angeles City departments except police and fire for two days a week, starting next Monday. It's all part of his dispute with the City Council over raising rates for the Department of Water and Power. This, after the DWP announced yesterday it would not contribute $73 million to the general fund.

DWP Looks to Raise Rates to Pay for Green Energy Last year, Los Angeles voters turned down Measure B , Mayor Villaraigosa's plan to raise rates charged by the Department of Water and Power to create jobs and increase the use of solar energy. Today, the DWP Board took up the Mayor's latest proposal, which sounds much the same. The DWP has been taking heat because its workers are getting increases in pay while other city employees suffer pay cuts and lay-offs. It also makes so much money it contributes a surplus to the City's General Fund.

City-Labor Deal Los Angeles City workers have voted unanimously to defer pay raises and increase pension contributions , a move that could save the city big money. LA is facing a budget deficit of $530 million. Matt Szabo is senior press secretary for Mayor Villaraigosa.

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