Tuesday, Aug, 17, 2010 • Union opposes state furloughs

Correctional officers at Susanville’s two state prisons and more than 200,000 other state workers will again be forced to take furlough Fridays until the state legislature passes a budget.

The California Correctional Peace Officers Association, the union that represents the state’s correctional officers, has taken steps to resolve the issue.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an order on Wednesday, July 28, directing state agencies to reinstitute furlough Fridays until a new state budget is in place. The order for state workers to take three furlough days per month took effect starting Aug. 1 and will continue until a new budget is enacted and the Department of Finance certifies that the state has enough cash to meet its obligations through the end of the fiscal year.

The governor previously ordered furlough Fridays for correctional officers and other state workers in February, but that order expired on July 1. By not working on Fridays, the state workers lose about 15 percent of their salary each month.

“Without a budget in place that addresses our $19 billion budget deficit, every day of delay brings California closer to a fiscal meltdown,” Schwarzenegger said in a press release from the governor’s office. “The state controller has indicated he could be forced to issue IOUs starting in August in order to avert a cash crisis. Our cash situation leaves me no choice but to once again furlough state workers until the legislature produces a budget I can sign.”

The furlough order continues to exempt CalFire and California Highway Patrol officers from the furloughs. In addition, the governor’s new order is more narrowly drafted than the previous order to exempt revenue generating agencies and quasi-public entities with non-general fund resources.

CCPOA renewed contract negotiations with the state July 13, but, according to CCPOA, the negotiations ended abruptly when the state virtually closed the door on more than $150 million in savings for taxpayers.

California Department of Personnel Administration officials informed CCPOA negotiators their proposal was “dead on arrival” and the governor has declined to entertain any further discussions.

The union began by investigating “common ground” issues between the two parties, and, as a show of good faith and willingness to compromise, placed its concessions on the table that included pension reform and ultimately more than $150 million in concessions in the first year. Still, the union reported the state walked away from the deal.

“We don’t believe that they were ever interested in negotiating with us from the beginning, and the rejection of this deal clearly indicates that.” said Mike Jimenez, president of CCPOA. “Our proposal included long-term meaningful reform solutions and would have benefited California taxpayers significantly. This is the second time under the Schwarzenegger administration that we offered savings in excess of $150 million only to be rejected.”

According to a press release from CCPOA, all its members asked for in return was non-monetary language offering job protections.

“This was an honest and sincere attempt to do our part in helping the state save money,” said Chuck Alexander, executive vice president of CCPOA. “We are dumbfounded as to how the administration could walk away from a deal that saves the state in excess of $150 million.”

Alexander continued, “These are real dollars. How many school textbooks, teachers, or after school programs could this administration fund with those savings?”

CCPOA says that it remains ready to implement real reform with real savings for taxpayers.

For more information on the union’s efforts, call JeVaughn Baker at (916) 372-6060 or go to jevaughn.baker@ccpoa.org.