A coalition of San Francisco labor groups is meeting this afternoon to formally announce plans to oppose a ballot initiative by Public Defender Jeff Adachi to reform city pensions.
The groups are worried Adachi’s proposal will make it “impossible” for many city employees to afford health care for their families, and are asking U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, to support them.
The rising costs of the city’s pension plan, coupled with record budget deficits, have prompted calls for reform from other city officials.
A ballot measure approved by San Francisco voters in June raised contributions to the pension fund by newly hired police and firefighters from 7.5 percent of their pay to 9 percent to cover the costs of their more expensive plans. Most other city employees still pay 7.5 percent.
Adachi’s plan, among other measures, would require all uniformed members of the police and fire departments to contribute 10 percent of their pay to the fund, while other city employees would contribute 9 percent. Adachi has said his plan could save the city $170 million.
Adachi has submitted more than 77,000 signatures to the Elections Department to place a charter amendment on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Elections officials are still verifying the signatures, but could be done as early as next week, according to the Elections Department.
If approved for the ballot, the measure would require approval by a simple majority of voters to pass.
The meeting of labor leaders, firefighters, police officers and other city workers was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. today at the San Francisco Police Officers Association at 800 Bryant St.
