Salary, healthcare, pensions, leaves and other employment benefits are typically viewed by employees as an important component of the compensation package they receive for their work.

Employer proposals to change any of those benefits are subject to California law which require the public employer to notify the applicable employee organization about the changes and provide it with the opportunity to meet and confer or bargain over the proposed changes.

The glossary in the box at right explains the language of this process, often referred to as the “collective bargaining process.”

The Institute for Local Government has also made available A Local Officials Guide to Pension Terminology, a plain-language glossary to assist local officials as they engage in conversations with their constituents, their bargaining representatives and each other about public pension issues. (See the file at right.)