A California court has rejected a challenge to a voter-approved measure to cut retirement benefits for San Diego city workers.
Tuesday's ruling by the 4th District Court of Appeal clears a big legal hurdle for California's second-largest city to put the 2012 measure into effect.
California's Public Employees Relations Board ruled in 2015 that campaigning for the ballot measure by then-Mayor Jerry Sanders made it subject to state law on the collective bargaining rights of public employees.
A three-judge panel ruled unanimously that the mayor's involvement didn't require the city to negotiate with its labor unions.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the measure, which was closely watched around the United States by cities and states that are grappling with large pension shortfalls.
