San Francisco supervisors announced today two provisos that they would like to see introduced on the June ballot in 2010. Firstly, the city may ask firefighters to work longer hours per week. Doing so, however, might be setting things up for a fight, as firefighters are generally considered something of a political force in the city. Secondly, Supervisor John Elsbernd suggests that municipal drivers (Muni drivers) begin negotiating their own salaries. Muni drivers are currently paid based on a formula in the city charter, and are among the highest paid such drivers in the country. Elsbernd believes that making the drivers negotiate salary will give city employers greater leverage and bargaining power. Both proposals will have to be approved by at least six supervisors to make it onto the June ballot.
See "Supervisors seek savings on fire, Muni labor", Rachel Gordon, San Francisco Chronicle, December 14, 2009