CCPOA Joins SEIU In Approving Strike Authorization Vote

The state personnel bargaining agreement does include a strike prohibition, but it also is true that state workers no longer have a contract and therefore may not be bound by the expired contract strike clause.

Yeah, PATCO thought that too.....

LMAO!

Let's all strike. The public is so sure that state workers aren't needed and don't deserve anything. Let's see how they like it with no prison guards, nursing home inspectors, EDD associates to hand them their unemployment checks or medi-cal payments!!

STRIKE!!! Our lives are already screwed and we have no pay anyway!! STRIKE!!

I wish they all would unite and strike.

It's strike back time! enough is enough from this dictator, Dah!

An old lesson still holds for unions
By Steve Early | July 31, 2006 Boston Globe

THIS SUMMER (2006) marks the 25th anniversary of a strike whose outcome still haunts organized labor -- and affects the job conditions of millions of nonunion workers as well.

On Aug. 3, 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization launched a nationwide walkout after years of conflict with the Federal Aviation Administration. President Ronald Reagan, a onetime Hollywood union leader, gave the strikers 48 hours to return to work. When 11,345 ignored his ultimatum, he fired them all. Meanwhile, the FAA kept air traffic flowing, at greatly reduced volume, with the help of supervisors, nonstrikers, and military controllers.

Reagan's mass dismissal of PATCO members -- and their black-listing from further federal employment -- was the biggest, most dramatic act of union-busting in 20th-century America. PATCO's destruction ushered in a decade of lost strikes and lockouts, triggered by management demands for pay and benefit givebacks that continue to this day in a wide range of industries.

Whenever longtime union members gather now to bemoan the weakened state of labor, PATCO is invariably mentioned. If only we had all stuck together, they say, and displayed the kind of strike solidarity necessary to meet Reagan's challenge, the history of the last 25 years might have been different for labor.

In the summer of 1981, neither the AFL-CIO nor airline industry unions acted so decisively. As PATCO strike historian and Drexel University professor Art Shostak recalls, ``The labor movement fussed and fumed, finally to stand exposed as a paper tiger." PATCO's most significant aid came from abroad in the form of a brief job action by Canadian air traffic controllers who risked fines and suspensions for refusing to handle flights bound for or originating in the United States.

The PATCO strikers were unlikely candidates for labor militancy and martyrdom. The majority, as Shostak points out, were Vietnam-era veterans who went directly from the military into the FAA's rigid, hierarchical culture of ``white shirts, ties, and close-cropped hair." Much to the annoyance of other unions, PATCO had endorsed Reagan for president in 1980.

More significantly, PATCO failed to build ties with the pilots, mechanics, flight attendants, and baggage handlers whose backing was so desperately needed during the controllers' walk-out.

Nevertheless, as the fines, injunctions, and federal indictments piled up against strike leaders in Boston and elsewhere, PATCO's struggle became a ``consciousness-raising experience" for its members and other trade unionists. There was a tremendous outpouring of grass-roots labor support for the air traffic controllers, even as they were being widely vilified in the media as making greedy and irrational demands.

Viewed from the perspective of the last quarter-century -- with its real wage stagnation, longer working hours, and shrinking pensions -- the strikers' proposals may indeed seem unrealistic, although they shouldn't be. In response to stressful working conditions that affected FAA employees' health and longevity on the job, PATCO sought a shorter workweek (equal to the reduced hours of controllers in other countries) and better earlier retirement benefits.

Compare such strike issues and the aspirations they represented with the causes of a nationwide work stoppage at Northwest Airlines last year.

Nearly 4,400 members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association lost their jobs resisting a 26 percent wage cut, elimination of traditional pension coverage, and contracting out of more than half their work. All of the AMFA strikers were immediately replaced, PATCO-style, while top labor officials once again stood by, carping about the bad timing or past misbehavior of the union involved.

The lesson of PATCO -- and, more recently, AMFA as well -- is as old as unions themselves: An injury to one is an injury to all. No labor movement can long survive, much less thrive, without a strong culture of mutual aid and protection.

When labor organizations practice solidarity some of the time, rather than all of the time, they do a grave disservice to their own members -- and the millions of unorganized workers whose pay and benefits have also suffered since Reagan's death blow to PATCO.

Steve Early, a labor organizer, works for the Communications Workers of America.

CCPOA would be a bunch of fools to join SEIU any sort of job action. SEIU has proven they'll make a deal with the devil and toss everyone else under the bus in the process, then cry like babies when they don't get their way. Arnold gamed them into an MOU and burned them. They broke ranks with the rest of organized labor and signed an agreement with furlough days. Shame on them. Don't try to drag anyone else down with you.

CCPOA would be a bunch of fools to join SEIU any sort of job action. SEIU has proven they'll make a deal with the devil and toss everyone else under the bus in the process, then cry like babies when they don't get their way. Arnold gamed them into an MOU and burned them. They broke ranks with the rest of organized labor and signed an agreement with furlough days. Shame on them. Don't try to drag anyone else down with you.

That's good Joe, attack SEIU for not sticking together with CCPOA, then tell us how CCPOA shouldn't join in any actions with SEIU. That's the kind of thinking that, perpetuated, breaks the back and the definition, of "Unions."

We have already lost our home and my wife and I are both taking 20% pay cuts (40% total income). We can't pay our bills anymore and have to move out of this state soon so F___K the governor! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!

The military and National Guard don't have unions. Should they and they can therefore go on strike when the mood strikes them?

In addition, how is it that any state employee can think themselves exempt from the larger society that pays their way? You know, the society that has 9.5% nationally and some 12% in California alone UNEMPLOYMENT?

If y'all give something up NOW, perhaps you won't have to "strike"...

Or if the prison guards go on strike, lets let the un-strike capable National Guard take over for them in the short term while we train up their replacements from the masses of currently unemployed who would probably enjoy being working again ala the earlier used PATCO example.

SEIU, CCPOA, Strike One, YER OUT!!!

We have already lost our home and my wife and I are both taking 20% pay cuts (40% total income). We can't pay our bills anymore and have to move out of this state soon so F___K the governor! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!

We have already lost our home and my wife and I are both taking 20% pay cuts (40% total income). We can't pay our bills anymore and have to move out of this state soon so F___K the governor! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!

We have already lost our home and my wife and I are both taking 20% pay cuts (40% total income). We can't pay our bills anymore and have to move out of this state soon so F___K the governor! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!

If only we had all stuck together, they say, and displayed the kind of strike solidarity necessary to meet Reagan's challenge, the history of the last 25 years might have been different for labor.

What nonsense! Everybody hated PATCO. They combined arrogance and whining in a manner that could have pissed off the Pope.

I knew one of the senior controllers at a large center quite well - he was one of the instructors in the flying club where I learned how to fly. Bragged that he made $50K a year plus bennies - a hell of a lot of money back then, and even trainees were making $15K. Average income for workers back then was about $20K. He also had a whiney-assed PATCO bumper sticker. Back then every one was putting smiley faced stickes on their bumpers saying "Have a nice day." His said, "Air Traffic Controllers NEVER have a nice day."

What PATCO was demanding was a 32-hour work week (down from 40), a $10,000 pay increase, and a few additional bennies. Since fully qualified controllers were making significantly more than the average Joe, they didn't get a lot of sympathy from anyone.

The strike was illegal - they knew that - but they didn't care. The guy I knew was the senior PATCO guy at a Center - and he told all of us repeatedly that the system couldn't survive without PATCO and Reagan wouldn't have the balls to fire them. After Reagan did, he spent the next four weeks openly stating he hoped some planes would crash, so the voters would turn against Reagan. The next two weeks he spent trying to get some of the doctors in the club to certify that he'd been "sick" during the strike, not actually striking but simply too sick to work. He didn't get much sympathy.

If indeed the PATCO strike undermined organized labor, the only ones that can be blamed are the idiots in PATCO themselves. They had a good deal going - a damn good deal. Most of them even admitted that. They just thought they had more power than they really did.

On a related note, the State Legislature is falling all over themselves to find tax breaks for the last auto factory in California to keep it from closing. Half of it belonged to GM and they said they weren't going to build cars there because it was too expensive. Toyota owns what's left and between the UAW and the California business environment - they appear to be deciding it will just be cheaper to open a new plant somewhere else.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-autos-nummi16-2009jul16,0,1285487.story

http://www.examiner.com/x-17336-Midland-County-Economic-Policy-Examiner~y2009m7d16-Toyota-breaks-with-UAW

In discussing the plant that was ABANDONED BY GM IN ITS TAXPAYER FUNDED ENGINEERED BANKRUPTCY and now may be abandoned by Toyota:

NUMMI's factory workers are paid about $27 to $28 an hour in wages. In contrast, Toyota's other Northern American plants pay workers about $15 to $20 an hour.

"We know that it is difficult to continue operating any production facility in California, because of the costs," said Gino DiCaro, a vice president with the California Manufacturers & Technology Association. "California is 23 percent more expensive than the other states for wage costs, tax burden, energy costs, industrial real estate, and commercial real estate.
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And that does not take into account the regulatory environment."

So, should the state give tax concessions to try to keep those 4700 'family wage' jobs, or not?

We have already lost our home and my wife and I are both taking 20% pay cuts (40% total income)

Now lets examine that logically. Suppose you were making a hundred dollars and took a 20% cut. That would mean you now are making $80. Suppose your wife was also making $100 and took a 20% cut. That would mean that SHE is also making $80.

Your total salaries would now be $160. Since your original combined salary was $200, your current salary would have been cut $40/$200 - or 20% of your total income.

If you can't even do simple math, I'm surprised you can find work at all. I sure wouldn't want to hire you.

I think the CCPOA leadership needs a reality check. A strike would play right into Schwarzenegger's plan. CCPOA members do not have sympathy or empathy from the public and are a tiny percentage of the population. Even if all CCPOA members agreed to a strike, the population in general would not be affected. Strike and Schwarzenegger will use it to fire, and the majority of the population will applaud. Then pay rates will be reduced to pennies. If CCPOA can strike, Scharzenegger can fire. A better plan of action would be to keep a low profile and go the route of the courts, ride it out while Schwarzenegger is in power.

I think the CCPOA leadership needs a reality check. A strike would play right into Schwarzenegger's plan. CCPOA members do not have sympathy or empathy from the public and are a tiny percentage of the population. Even if all CCPOA members agreed to a strike, the population in general would not be affected. Strike and Schwarzenegger will use it to fire, and the majority of the population will applaud. Then pay rates will be reduced to pennies. If CCPOA can strike, Scharzenegger can fire. A better plan of action would be to keep a low profile and go the route of the courts, ride it out while Schwarzenegger is in power.

anyone can write anything but it doesnt mean its true. it hasn't been confirmed. plus ccpoa is like the govt what they want doesnt necessarily mean that all the members want it.

The military and National Guard don't have unions. Should they and they can therefore go on strike when the mood strikes them?

In addition, how is it that any state employee can think themselves exempt from the larger society that pays their way? You know, the society that has 9.5% nationally and some 12% in California alone UNEMPLOYMENT?

If y'all give something up NOW, perhaps you won't have to "strike"...

Or if the prison guards go on strike, lets let the un-strike capable National Guard take over for them in the short term while we train up their replacements from the masses of currently unemployed who would probably enjoy being working again ala the earlier used PATCO example.

SEIU, CCPOA, Strike One, YER OUT!!!

the person who wrote this has never worked in aprision before i doubt they would like to get urine and fesis splashed in ur face for no reason or a poision dart thrown at u(most of the inmates have hepititas and aids ) or a good ol fashioned slashing to ur face and neck oh i left out the fun stuff about 200- 300 inmates rioting then turning on u and ur back up wich if ur lucky 15 other cos and one gun dont talk shit if u dont know what we put up with on a daily basis.

The military and National Guard don't have unions. Should they and they can therefore go on strike when the mood strikes them?

In addition, how is it that any state employee can think themselves exempt from the larger society that pays their way? You know, the society that has 9.5% nationally and some 12% in California alone UNEMPLOYMENT?

If y'all give something up NOW, perhaps you won't have to "strike"...

Or if the prison guards go on strike, lets let the un-strike capable National Guard take over for them in the short term while we train up their replacements from the masses of currently unemployed who would probably enjoy being working again ala the earlier used PATCO example.

SEIU, CCPOA, Strike One, YER OUT!!!

the person who wrote this has never worked in aprision before i doubt they would like to get urine and fesis splashed in ur face for no reason or a poision dart thrown at u(most of the inmates have hepititas and aids ) or a good ol fashioned slashing to ur face and neck oh i left out the fun stuff about 200- 300 inmates rioting then turning on u and ur back up wich if ur lucky 15 other cos and one gun dont talk shit if u dont know what we put up with on a daily basis.

The military and National Guard don't have unions. Should they and they can therefore go on strike when the mood strikes them?

In addition, how is it that any state employee can think themselves exempt from the larger society that pays their way? You know, the society that has 9.5% nationally and some 12% in California alone UNEMPLOYMENT?

If y'all give something up NOW, perhaps you won't have to "strike"...

Or if the prison guards go on strike, lets let the un-strike capable National Guard take over for them in the short term while we train up their replacements from the masses of currently unemployed who would probably enjoy being working again ala the earlier used PATCO example.

SEIU, CCPOA, Strike One, YER OUT!!!

the person who wrote this has never worked in aprision before i doubt they would like to get urine and fesis splashed in ur face for no reason or a poision dart thrown at u(most of the inmates have hepititas and aids ) or a good ol fashioned slashing to ur face and neck oh i left out the fun stuff about 200- 300 inmates rioting then turning on u and ur back up wich if ur lucky 15 other cos and one gun dont talk shit if u dont know what we put up with on a daily basis.

It's funny the Unions are falling into Gov. Swarzzenfaggers trap. He wants the Unions to fight each other and go away. SO DON'T DO IT! We all know the real problem is that the middle class has no more money to give to the illegal aliens that have been sucking the state and the middle class dry.

Hey "Curious" George Hanshaw.

We have already lost our home and my wife and I are both taking 20% pay cuts (40% total income)

Now lets examine that logically. Suppose you were making a hundred dollars and took a 20% cut. That would mean you now are making $80. Suppose your wife was also making $100 and took a 20% cut. That would mean that SHE is also making $80.

Your total salaries would now be $160. Since your original combined salary was $200, your current salary would have been cut $40/$200 - or 20% of your total income.

If you can't even do simple math, I'm surprised you can find work at all. I sure wouldn't want to hire you.

Oh you must be doing Liberal math George? Okay you idiot. We lost our home and our children don't have a home now! I am the middle working class not some f__king illegal getting free money or some welfare recipient. I like to work for a living. You liberals would like to blame state workers for the problem and not the true source of the problem (illegals). Oh yeah, in your math you use $100 as an example. Well it's not a f__king $100. It was a $900 pay cut and that was pretty much our mortgage. It doesn't matter anyways you can keep this f__ked up state and keep on giving all your money to the people who choose to not work and see where you will be in another 5 years (broke again). This state will never change as long as you have the Pelosi's and the Feinsteins.

With unemployment in CA at about 12%, and private sector freezing or cutting salaries and cutting hours a wide spread strike by State employees will elicit very little sympathy among the general public. More likely all the out of work people will demand that they be given the jobs at whatever the state is willing to pay.

So go ahead and strike,it will only backfire on you!

Oh yeah, in your math you use $100 as an example. Well it's not a f__king $100. It was a $900 pay cut and that was pretty much our mortgage.

None of which changes the point that if you lose 20% of your salary and your wife loses 20% of her salary you've still only lost 20% of your combined salaries, NOT 40%.

No matter if you stay in California or go somewhere else, you'll do better in life if you get some training in remedial arithmetic.

Until the voters are reasonably educated, how can they hope to see through the shenanigans the gus (and gals) in Sacramento are pulling?

Math is just one of many reasons to uphold prop 98. I've read that music programs positively impact a student's math skills, yet are among the first courses cut.

Why do GOP legislators generally support incarceration over education funding?

When the corrections peace officers strike, Arnold will really be sweatihng, because you have to go through a long background check, and go thru an academy and be fully trained to work there.

So if CCPOA members strike, They will have Arny by the balls. I suggest he backs off the furloughs now.

When the corrections peace officers strike, Arnold will really be sweating, because you have to go through a long background check, and go thru an academy and be fully trained to work there.

So if CCPOA members strike, They will have Arny by the balls. I suggest he backs off the furloughs now.

When the corrections peace officers strike, Arnold will really be sweating, because you have to go through a long background check, and go thru an academy and be fully trained to work there.

So if CCPOA members strike, They will have Arny by the balls. I suggest he backs off the furloughs now.

When the corrections peace officers strike, Arnold will really be sweating, because you have to go through a long background check, and go thru an academy and be fully trained to work there.

So if CCPOA members strike, They will have Arny by the balls. I suggest he backs off the furloughs now.

When the corrections peace officers strike, Arnold will really be sweating, because you have to go through a long background check, and go thru an academy and be fully trained to work there.

So if CCPOA members strike, They will have Arny by the balls. I suggest he backs off the furloughs now.

When the corrections peace officers strike, Arnold will really be sweating, because you have to go through a long background check, and go thru an academy and be fully trained to work there.

So if CCPOA members strike, They will have Arny by the balls. I suggest he backs off the furloughs now.

After 9-11 all ccpoa members filled out and signed paper work that made us all emergency responders to any situation that put the public in pearl. Wouldn't it be ironic if we had to respond, for free, as emergency responders as ordered by the President of the United States?

I hope the strike happens. This will shut everything down throughout the state for quite some time. Even if they bring in the National Guard to try and run the prisons it would be hilarious. They know nothing about taking care of killers. I know most of you think that all you have to do is keep their cell doors closed all day but it doesn't work like that because you have to shower them, feed them, and give them medicine. Guess what? You have to open the cell doors because in many housing units the state saved money by not installing food ports to hand items to inmates. As soon as you pop that door you have the potential for serious assaults or getting a nice dose of urine or feces in your face.

Now add in SEIU 1000 workers striking and you have pretty much shut down the state down. State workers are not appreciated anyways and don't have much else to lose, so STRIKE!

Hey, I've got an idea! Bring in the CHP - California Highway Patrol who just got pay raises to take care of the inmates. The state says we're broke and they need state workers to take furloughs and pay cuts, why did the CHP just get a raise in a time of economic collapse?

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/181/story/957187.html

I think the point you all have missed is that CCPOA does not want to strike, but they see no other choice. They have been out of contract for 3 years. The state refused to bargain for a new contract and handed them one they (the state) wanted as a take it or leave it deal. The state took them to impasse and enforced the the terms they wanted for CCPOA. Then when CCPOA went to the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) where this crap is supposed to be settled, They threw the case into the in box and it has not moved in 2 years. The Governor appoints the members of PERB, and he can fire them. No court will take up any of the cases of unfair bargaining practices that have been filed until PERB is done with them. The law calls this Domination of negotiations. But arnold doesn't worry about the law, he just hires the Judges that will sit on the cases until they go away. CCPOA has presented a number of MOU (MOU=Memorandum Of Understandings) offers most of them have attempted to save the state money as they know how bad things are. The state says thats good but we need a little more, when the CCPOA gives a little more as asked, the state says, we know you met what we asked but we need even more. There will always be need for a little more as the state has no intention of settling a MOU with any union other than CAHP. arnold wants to break any union that did not support him in re-elction. And the others that did support him must not have done enough. You say that the Correctional Officers should be happy to have jobs as so many others do not. Well that is up for debate as arnold wants to privatize the state prisons, wants to layoff 3000 to 4000 Officers, wants to hold them over to fill the holes at straight time (hold over = 16 hours of work = they are not allowed to go home at the end of thier shift because if they do they can be fired or lose pay for refusing). When was the last time you were told you can not go home, but if you do we will fire you, after you have already completed your day. And this will last for years. 2 to 3 times a week you will do "doubles" at straight pay, no time and a half and no refusing. CCPOA has tried to negotiate a MOU and the state has not listened as they have been told to not let any of the unions have an MOU. By the way did you know the the state legislature never ratified the "last, best and final offer" (implemented terms) of the state. Even the legislature does not have the heart to take up the gauntlet and stand against arnold. You should also remember that the unions did not create the mess the economy is in, the unions in the past have and will continue to make concessions when times are bad. The legislature is at fault for the state of the state. They refuse to cut back any programs or spending, except employee wages, to balance a state budget. They continue to attemp to balance the budget by borrowing. They make $127,00 a year and receive another $90,000 in benefits besides thier retirement and medical, and they only have to work for the state for 4 years to recieve medical and retirement for life. Many of the laws of this state have been broken by arnold, and the butchers bill will come due, unfortunately many state workers and thier families will be hurt before this happens. Next time you need state services think about who is helping you. Next time you take a drink of water. Next time the family down the block is killed by a 3 time drunk driver think about where he is kept. Next time the Police or Sherriff take that wife beater from the block over or the serial killer or rapist to jail and you never see him again remember that someone sees him every day, it's just not you. next time a nurse tells you you have to wait because they do not have enough staff, remember that there are a lot of people that work for the state. Thank you for your time and lets hope that a strike, by any of our state workers, does not have to happen.

I hope they do strike. So we can pressure our local state reps. To fire every last one of you.
I have never seen so much cring in my life. While families don't have jobs, homes. And now have to deal with higher taxes because of you being greedy. a---holes. If I run for office one day. I'll make sure you don't have a foot to stand on.

Rock well when you finally run for office, If ever, I think you may have to finally open your eyes. Fire the state workers and who will run the state, you. Good luck with that Rock well. Please do some reading and research before you decide to run for office. Example: CDC as line staff supervise more inmates with less staff than any other state or the feds. The problem is that we have more managers than any other state. The over-abundance of management is a statewide problem and drives cost up. Also you should look into the reason CDC is twice as expensive as it was just 4 years ago. I can tell you. It is the federal courts running the state prison medical. An inmate does not pay any copay for any medical or dental treatment at all, even though the state has a law saying they are supposed to pay $5 a visit. An inmate goes to the emergency room for gas pains because the doctors do not want to be sued by the inmates or thier lawyers. Litigation by the inmates has cost the state billons, yes billions of dollars, and the inmates are not getting the money. The lawyers from the prison law project and other lawyer firms have turned corrections into a cash cow with the help of the court systems. Your children will not receive the medical/dental care an inmate can get unless you put the extra money out of your pocket. You do not/will not have the access to the courts that an inmate has if you need it, and you will wait behind the inmate cases if you do make it to court. CDC has went from 5.9 billion to 10.4 billion a year (in just 4 years) and this does not include the 7+ billion that that has already been handed to the federal receiver in 2007 and the 3.2 billion more he wants now. I believe this would be enough money to buy health insurance for everyone in california for a couple of years but is going to approximately 170,000 inmates instead. There are jobs open in the state if you think you can do a better job and your welcome to try. Oh by the way you will probably be the first one layed off though.

I have to agree with the post dated 7/19 at 08:05 - Rock well.....

I have worked for the State for 29 year. The waste and greed are at the higher levels - not rank and file. Most do not make a high salary, and our benefits have gone way down over time. If my retirement were great, I would have retired - but age plays a big factor, so I must hang around inorder to survive on my retirement. Medical has gone WAY up - I could not afford to cover my children, as I did when first hired in the 80's - it has gone up 10 fold or more. We pay more out of our paychecks than ever - we have rare raises, and usually they are offset by more deductions. It has been that way for years now. We have gotten VERY top heavy. So much so, the worker bees are being squished out. Seriously. We also pay the higher taxes etc - we actually pay our own salaries - if people want to look at it the way some seem to prefer (tax payers paying us). Take a good hard look at state service - money goes out to illegals with a governor stating he would rather pay them over a billion a year than keep workers. Great, huh? Get back to basics, get rid of non-use commissioners making $100 grand per year, aides up the kazoo, you name it - the waste is every where, and not with the rank and file workers. State workers also do not have the safety gaps others do - no unemployment to help fill the gap, payment for most once per month or every 5 weeks at times, no right to strike - not the gravy boat so many think.

I have to agree with the post dated 7/19 at 08:05 - Rock well.....

I have worked for the State for 29 year. The waste and greed are at the higher levels - not rank and file. Most do not make a high salary, and our benefits have gone way down over time. If my retirement were great, I would have retired - but age plays a big factor, so I must hang around inorder to survive on my retirement. Medical has gone WAY up - I could not afford to cover my children, as I did when first hired in the 80's - it has gone up 10 fold or more. We pay more out of our paychecks than ever - we have rare raises, and usually they are offset by more deductions. It has been that way for years now. We have gotten VERY top heavy. So much so, the worker bees are being squished out. Seriously. We also pay the higher taxes etc - we actually pay our own salaries - if people want to look at it the way some seem to prefer (tax payers paying us). Take a good hard look at state service - money goes out to illegals with a governor stating he would rather pay them over a billion a year than keep workers. Great, huh? Get back to basics, get rid of non-use commissioners making $100 grand per year, aides up the kazoo, you name it - the waste is every where, and not with the rank and file workers. State workers also do not have the safety gaps others do - no unemployment to help fill the gap, payment for most once per month or every 5 weeks at times, no right to strike - not the gravy boat so many think.

the ccpoa can not stand with seiu,they need us we dont need them.they have no backbone and will run when it gets tough.we on the other hand will take all the media backlash,state goverment backlash,oh and watch the national guard take over until they can train joe blow off the street to do are jobs for 15 dollors an hour.i dont like that guy up in sac anymore than the rest of you,but a strike is what he is waiting for from ccpoa.he wants to break us,the most powerful union,the one they all need but nobody wants around until it's time for elections$$$$$.you are all right about standing together we need to do that,we being the prison guards.we need to worry about us.

the ccpoa can not stand with seiu,they need us we dont need them.they have no backbone and will run when it gets tough.we on the other hand will take all the media backlash,state goverment backlash,oh and watch the national guard take over until they can train joe blow off the street to do are jobs for 15 dollors an hour.i dont like that guy up in sac anymore than the rest of you,but a strike is what he is waiting for from ccpoa.he wants to break us,the most powerful union,the one they all need but nobody wants around until it's time for elections$$$$$.you are all right about standing together we need to do that,we being the prison guards.we need to worry about us.

the ccpoa can not stand with seiu,they need us we dont need them.they have no backbone and will run when it gets tough.we on the other hand will take all the media backlash,state goverment backlash,oh and watch the national guard take over until they can train joe blow off the street to do are jobs for 15 dollors an hour.i dont like that guy up in sac anymore than the rest of you,but a strike is what he is waiting for from ccpoa.he wants to break us,the most powerful union,the one they all need but nobody wants around until it's time for elections$$$$$.you are all right about standing together we need to do that,we being the prison guards.we need to worry about us.

Everyone is so stuck up about the money and benefits that a Correctional Officer makes! The reason they make that money and benefits is because thier job, well "it sucks". This money and benefits is the incentive to have someone take these jobs. I know you have heard more than enough of "if everybody could do this job they would!" well here it is again. As Caam said rank and file do not make up the waste and greed in CDCR. The inmate population has risen about 7% in the last 3 to 4 years, but management has expand by 30+% in the same time frame. what does that tell you? Did you know that the federal courts have forced many of these new managers on the state and that they are paid by the taxpayers of California? Did you know that the federal medical receiver makes $675,000 more than 3 times what the governor is supposed to be paid? By the way the receiver at pelican bay makes over $300,000 a year, more than double what the warden makes and he has been there for around a decade? There are federal receivers all over the California prison system and WE have been paying them for decades!

Lets get back to why the Officers, or as the newspapers like to call them "guards" get paid what they do and for what.

When was the last time you asked another man to get undressed, bend forward, spread his buttocks open and ask him to cough. You have to search all of his clothing and he just came in from running laps on the yard and they are all sweaty. This is called an unclothed body search!

I have done this off and on weekly for 23 years. It is part of the job, and we do it.

When was the last time you had a man put his hands out to his sides and then you pat every part of his body through his clothing to stop the movement of contraband. And this inmate is a plumber and just was plunging a full toilet. This is a clothed body search!

It is part of the job and we do it daily to numerous inmates.

Two inmates just were pounding each other in a fight on the yard. They are covered in pepper spray and blood. We perform a clothed body search to make sure they have no weapons and to ensure they have no major traumatic injuries. We take them to the medical clinic then perform an unclothed body search so they can be inspected for injuries by medical staff.

Since a high percentage of inmates have communicable disease we are endangered every time we deal with any blood. And do not forget that when they are sprayed with pepper spray that this causes thier mucous membrains to over produce to help rid the body of the irritation, they spit snot all over the place.

Sound like the job for you yet!

How about the inmate suspected of swallowing drugs to prevent being caught. He is placed in isolation in the main medical clinic, he is fed laxatives and a high fiber diet. When he defecates the Officer has to take a tongue depressor and stir thtough the feces to search for contraband. This happens almost daily.

It is our job and we do it and dozens of other jobs that are necessary for security but demeaning to the inmates and the Offficers who must carry out these duties!

If any of these duties appeal to you you probably are not Correctional Officer material.

You should realize that this a job that has no sense of accomplishment. If you need to bolster yourself in your job by being able to "accomplish" a goal this is not the job for you. I have seen hundreds of inmates return to prison that I had in my work units before. I feel no sense of accomplishment in this!

Correctional Officers do not set policies within CDCR as the "NEWS" claim, CCPOA does try to keep its members safe, and sometimes that does affect policy. Do you want to go home in the same condition you arrived in, I do. I have went home in worse shape than I arrived in on several occasions!

Anybody want the job yet? There are openings available if you can make it through the phsychiatric review, physical fitness test and the drug testing, please apply! Be ready to have thousands of training hours over your carreer, I average over 120 hours of training per year though I am only required to have 54 hours per annum. That applies to most Correctional Officers. As CCPOA says at the end of every 5150 info line recording, "Have a good day and be safe".

"The reason they make that money and benefits is because thier job, well "it sucks"."

A lot of people have sucky jobs and are poorly compensated. The larger problem of course is the amount of resources we are spending to lock people up and the compensation of prison guards is a large part of that.

California and Texas had roughly the same number of prisoners in the state system -- 171,000 -- in 2007.

California spent $8.8 billion, Texas $3.3 billion. Somehow Texas underspends California by $5.5 billion.

Put another way, California spends $51,000 per prisoner per year; Texas $19,000 per prisoner per year.

Much of that cost has to be in compensation, no?

I have been working in a prison for 9 years as a teacher. Now there's a position that the public would consider a waist of time. I won't list all the reasons here that my job is valuable. But I will give you my perspective of working in a prison. Correctional Officers have kept me safe and I much appreciate that. I worked on a yard where three officers were very seriously assaulted two doors down from me. Inmates are always planning hits on staff. Almost all of the time it is directed at correctional officers. We never know when or how it will happen. Inmates have lots of time on there hands to plan these assualts. These inmates are not in a hurry and they do not give up until their plan is carried out. Within the last year there have been increased threats to non custody staff as well as custody (correctional officers) Even though I have felt less and less safe because of these threats, I still know that correctional officers are the main target. Even teachers, nurses, as well as custody have to be extremely careful when talking to an inmate through a cell door or they can have a dart with feces projected toward their eye or even puncture them anywhere on their skin. Then if any staff member has been possibly exposed, they are encouraged to have interfuron treatment for two weeks (like chemo therapy). Inmates are infested with blood born pathogen diseases.This is one of the many fine things inmates will try to do to us.
I also want to comment that it is not the Correctional Officer's pay that is costing the tax payers buku bucks. It is the medical costs. I am not even talking about the nurses salary. Their job is extrmely dangerous. It is the hospitalization, surgeries, dental care, expensive medications and psychiatric care that these inmates are legally entitled to that is so extremely expensive. Then, if an inmate feels that his right to appropriate medical care is violated he sues Calif and wins millions of dollars. This is where your tax dollars are going. The dude that made the comment about $51,000 per inmate per year in CA vs $19000 per inmate per year in Texas did not bother to mention that most of that money in CA. is for the outrageous cost of medical care for inmates. I am a member of SEIU and I am voting NOT to strike. Yes, I feel very disrespected by Gov Swartz and by the legislature. Yes, I am furious that the gov signed a contract with our bargaining team and then our membership ratified it, but it is blatantly being dishonored by making us take more furlough days than agreed.
Yes, I am furious that they are trying to solve the debt on the back of state workers "Deeper cuts to state services." instead of getting the wealthy to help ease this burden. Yes, I resent some of the insensitive comments that Gov Swarz has made about state service and state workers. However, I am sincerely convinced that THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO STRIKE. Just think about it! Please don't be like a flock of sheep and follow someone right over a cliff. We have a dictator in office who has no conscience and he will use "declared state of emergency" as a justification to wipe us out! And if you think we will get any sympathy from the public, THINK AGAIN! Many of them are in a lot worse shape then most of us are in right now. IF YOU DO NOT WANT A STRIKE BE SURE TO VOTE NO. PLEASE DON'T JUST NOT VOTE. Remember a majority vote in order to call a strike means a majority of cast votes not a majority of members eligible to vote. Please, SEIU members, if you do not want to strike, vote NO and get it mailed on time. To the correctional officers, please note that you have job security even though it isn't as fair as it should be. It's we teachers who are a bit panicked about having our programs shut down and being layed off. Very few of you will lose your jobs. So Please hang in there and keep your jobs. And again Correctional Officers, thank you for keeping me safe in a prison. Jantje Kinder

I also do not believe this is the time to strike. The state can hire whoever they want to babysit inmates, and if they offer half of what the C/O's are making, people will bite. I am not saying you C/O's don't deserve it - you deserve it and more! In better times, a strike would be a good tool, but not when the surrounding areas are looking at 10-15% unemployment. Not sure what the law says about who can work in prisons - maybe it has to be a peace officer, in which case, I am wrong here. But I hope that this is thoroughly thought through and that if CCPOA decides to strike, our families do not end up like the air traffic controller families, with no jobs and no income.

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These men and woman sacrifice their safety doing their job. Our government is treating these men and women unfairly,i hope they do strike. Then what will you do arnold,will you say that you will be back. ha ha they should lock you and your
associates up with the prison population just to see what you all would do. Maybe then you will get your head's unstuck and give these brave men and woman what they deserve. I have family that work for you, I see what you are doing first hand.
Why dont you get a pay cut arnold.

These men and woman sacrifice their safety doing their job. Our government is treating these men and women unfairly,i hope they do strike. Then what will you do arnold,will you say that you will be back. ha ha they should lock you and your
associates up with the prison population just to see what you all would do. Maybe then you will get your head's unstuck and give these brave men and woman what they deserve. I have family that work for you, I see what you are doing first hand.
Why dont you get a pay cut arnold.

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