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California | Police State and Prisons

Powerful prison guard's union starts recall initiative of Schwarzenegger
by News10
Monday Sep 8th, 2008 8:27 AM
The prison guard union (California Correctional Peace Officer's Association CCPOA) is the most powerful political organization in the state. Their high salaries, and lobbying for prison construction and draconian recidivism laws represent a large part of the reason California has a debt crisis. Schwarzenegger has always been a good partner of theirs, giving them most of what they want. Now, in the climate of tax shortfall in the billions, and a month's long budget impasse, Schwarzenegger may have asked them for some concession. Prison guards already average six figure salaries. In order to show him who is the real boss of California, they announce a recall ballot initiative Monday, Sept. 8.
http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=47409&provider=top
SACRAMENTO, CA - Facing the longest state budget impasse in recorded California history, Gov. Schwarzenegger will become the official target of a recall campaign Monday when the California Correctional Peace Officers Association files paperwork to recall the incumbent governor.

CCPOA spokesman Lance Corcoran confirmed to News10 Sunday that his union intends to launch the recall effort Monday morning.

"It's about leadership," Corcoran said. "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the worst governor in the history of worst governors."

CCPOA has often sparred with the Schwarzenegger administration over issues like prison reform and correctional officer salaries. The union is seeking pay increases for their officers this year but contract negotiations with the governor's administration have stalled.

Schwarzenegger's representative dismissed the recall threat as an attempt to make an end run around contract negotiations.

"It's not going to go anywhere," said the governor's press secretary Aaron McLear. "It not going to intimidate the governor."

CCPOA would need to collect about 900,000 valid petition signatures to qualify the recall for the ballot.

Former California Gray Davis was the first governor in California history to be recalled when he was ousted by voters in October 2003. Schwarzenegger was elected to replace Gray.
News10/KXTV
Copyright 2008 / All Rights Reserved
by sacbee
Monday Sep 8th, 2008 10:00 AM
Here is a tool supporting the statements about high prison guard salaries. The union manipulates job vacancies by delaying hiring, thus creating need for overtime. In addition to overtime pay, workers receive substantial raises with additional years of experience.

Scroll the agency field down to "Corrections". Note this is base pay, before overtime.
http://www.sacbee.com/1098/story/738462.html
by itmaybesaid
Monday Sep 8th, 2008 10:51 AM
If the guard union and others who make their livings from incarceration were rewarded when an ex-felon does not return to prison, and if they were penalized when then failed to rehabilitate someone, we would save lots of money.

Unreasonably long sentences, returning ex-felons to prison for minor, victimless parole rule infractions, replacing mental health care with prison time, and other things that make it harder to become a responsible citizen on the outside would be eliminated. Overcrowding that causes safety problems for both guards and inmates would be eliminated. That would save salvageable lives and familiies and save us Lots and Lots of Money.

Rewarding the big business of incarceration when there are more inmates, rathr than fewer inmates, is too expensive.
by stp
Monday Sep 8th, 2008 12:18 PM
Yes - despite some other flaws that Schwarzenegger has, I really hope this motivates him to take on the prison industry. They act just like a mafia group, and I bet if Arnold just used his speaking skills and contacts, he could be the one to finally crack their control - sort of like movies where the political hero takes on a crime problem or an entrenched political machine. Gangs of New York? This is really one case where progressives should back up Schwarzenegger, despite his cuts to schools and whatnot.