CCPOA news
December 22, 2009
Union says overtime hours at PDC skyrocket
Hundreds of psychiatric technicians at the Porterville Developmental Center have accumulated massive amounts of overtime, according to new statistics that one union says cost taxpayers up to $180,000 in November alone.
The California Association of Psychiatric Technicians (CAPT) found that its 759 local members worked 5,900 hours of overtime in November—a 257 percent increase since September.
The state-run hospital for the severely mentally disabled is grappling with maintaining a staff-to-client ratio while implementing unpaid furloughs.
"This is a big concern for us," CAPT consultant Brady Oppenheim said. "Our concern is for the taxpayers who are having to foot the bill…"
LINK - RecorderOnline.com
December 20, 2009
Court overturns California ban on violent felons owning body armor
A police advocacy group has criticized an appeals court judgment last week overturning a law that prevented violent felons from owning body armor, saying the ruling will put officers and the public in danger.
The decade-old ban was enacted after the 1997 North Hollywood shootout, a confrontation between police and two heavily armored bank robbers that injured officers and civilians. The state Legislature passed the ban in 1998 as a measure to protect police…
LINK - LATimes.com
December 19, 2009
UPDATED: Inmate captured following escape from Humboldt County conservation camp
An inmate who escaped from the High Rock Conservation Camp in Humboldt County was captured today.
Raul Martinez, 30, was caught about 2 p.m. by corrections agents and local law enforcement officials near the camp, which is located outside Weott, California Correctional Center spokeswoman Margaret Pieper said today.
He was booked into Humboldt County Jail and the case will be sent to the Humboldt County district attorney for prosecution…
LINK - Redding.com
December 17, 2009
Member TeleConference Audio File
Members of the CCPOA Executive Council and Legal Team made themselves available via telephone conference to answer questions about updates re: the recent decision in the furlough case and other issues.
Running time: approximately 32 minutes
December 17, 2009
Official Statement: CCPOA Wins Furlough Lawsuit, Reiterates Offer to Help Legislature Reduce Costs
West Sacramento, CA - An Alameda Court judge today ruled that the Governor's order to "furlough" California's correctional peace officers - which has reduced their pay but requires them to work their full schedule - was an illegal pay cut that violated labor law, and that the more than 30,000 officers, sergeants and lieutenants "are due their full pay for time worked."
"It's unfortunate that we were forced to file this lawsuit in the first place, but we're obviously pleased that the court ruled to protect these officers' rights," said Mike Jimenez, President of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA). "We made numerous attempts to work with this Administration to find better, more legitimate ways to cut corrections costs, but we were rebuffed. Legal action was our last, and only resort.
"However, we once again extend our cooperation and assistance to the State Legislature and Department Secretary to help identify sensible cost savings measures within the corrections system," said Jimenez. "We've proactively offered savings and reform recommendations on a nearly annual basis - and will be releasing our latest "New Direction" blueprint on corrections reform in January."
View the full decision and read another statement from CCPOA re: the lawsuit at ccpoa.org.
December 17, 2009
Schwarzenegger reacts to Alameda ruling
We just got off the phone with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's spokeswoman, Rachel Arrezola. We had left a message with the administration this morning asking for a reaction from the governor to CCPOA furlough lawsuit win.
Here's the statement Arrezola read:
"Over the last year all areas of state government have been forced to cut back and do more with less as the state has dealt with closing a $60 billion deficit. The governor has made the difficult but necessary decisions to cut spending and order furloughs and he will continue to stand firm to protect taxpayers and move California forward…"
LINK - SacBee.com Weblogs
December 17, 2009
Judge rules furloughs invalid for prison guards
A state judge today struck down Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furloughs of correctional officers, who have been working on furlough days and banking the unpaid time off.
Judge Frank Roesch of Alameda County Superior Court ruled that the governor's furlough order violated state law. He ordered the state to pay the prison workers for the unpaid hours they have worked.
To save money, Schwarzenegger last summer began furloughing for three days a month nearly every category of state worker…
LINK - LATimes.com
December 17, 2009
Judge: Schwarzenegger can’t furlough prison guards
A judge has ruled against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furlough order for thousands of California prison guards.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch on Thursday sided with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association and ordered the state to pay prison guards back for the days they worked without pay….
LINK - Google.com (AP News)
December 17, 2009
Correctional officers win furlough lawsuit
An Alameda Superior Court judge has ruled that furloughs Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered are illegal for state prison officers whose pay is reduced but who have to wait to take the time off.
The order by Judge Frank Roesch means that roughly 40,000 state correctional officers, their sergeant and lieutenants are due their full pay for time worked.
The judge's order commands Schwarzenegger "… to pay all employees represented by (the union) in this action of all hours worked for which furlough credits have not been utilized…"
LINK - SacBee.com
December 17, 2009
CCPOA files new federal lawsuit against Schwarzenegger over furloughs, federal labor law violations,
A federal class action accuses California of violating labor laws by ordering state workers to work during furlough days, and promising them a day off later. The class of prison and correctional workers reported their grievances to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis in June; now they want action.
The California Correctional Peace Officers Association, a major political force in California, claims that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his administration are violating federal laws on wages and hours, overtime and record keeping…
LINK - CourtHouseNews.com
