Union deal breaks ground

The Sacramento Bee reports:

For the first time a state employees union has agreed to allow its members to opt out of the state retirement system and to allow pensions for new workers to be calculated on an average of their three-highest salary years - changes the Schwarzenegger administration says it wants to pursue with other unions.

The union representing state lawyers and administrative law judges agreed to the changes in a new tentative two-year contract that still must be approved by union members and lawmakers, the state announced Friday.

I'll bet you don't get that deal if you work in the private sector.