Cities and counties don’t have to consult with unions before deciding to lay off workers to save money, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday.
The court unanimously upheld Richmond’s decision to eliminate 18 of its 90 firefighting jobs in 2003, when the city said it faced potential bankruptcy.
The board said decisions to cut the workforce for financial reasons are not subject to collective bargaining, and the court agreed.
Under California law, “a local public entity that is faced with a decline in revenues or other financial adversity may unilaterally decide to lay off some of its employees,” Justice Joyce Kennard said in the ruling, which upheld lower-court decisions.
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