In a ruling on Monday, the California Supreme Court unanimously said that cities and counties in financial trouble are not required to consult with unions before laying off workers. The lawsuit arose out of the firing of 18 firefighters in the city of Richmond in 20003. The International Association of Fire Fighters said that the city could have cut costs in other areas, rather than layoff the firefighters. The California Public Employment Relations Board said that layoffs for financial reasons are not subject to collective bargaining, a decision with which the California Supreme Court agreed.
See "Cities can lay off workers without union input", San Francisco Chronicle, January 24, 2011