This is CCPOA's 5150 information hotline for Friday, December 23, 2011.
CCPOA NEWS
Meet & Confer Notices for the Week– We received notices on 8 proposed changes from CDCR recently and responded by requesting a meet and confer on each of these items listed below:
Revisions to the DOM Regarding Seniority For Designated Supervisors and Managers
(2) AB 109 Institution Conversion VSPW
Implementation of Pilot Program for Alternative Treatment Option Models
Implementation of Operational Procedure 209 - Tehachapi
AB 109 Institution Conversion –Corcoran
Behavior Treatment Program Closure Dispute - DJJ Ventura
AB 109 Institution Conversion – Lancaster
Furlough Lawsuit Ends – The state Supreme Court this week denied review of a First District Court of Appeal decision allowing the state to furlough Unit 6 correctional officers. The trial court had ruled in favor of CCPOA which had filed the lawsuit on behalf of the membership. However, an appellate court reversed the trial court and ruled in October that the three-day-per-month furlough program initiated during Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration is lawful. The state Supreme Court’s ruling allows the appellate decision to stand and concludes this lawsuit in a disappointing manner for the members. For more on this ruling, please go to the CCPOA website where we have posted the full story.
Health Care Benefits Increased –Unit 6 members will have a little extra money in their paychecks as a result of the 2011 MOU negotiated between CCPOA and the state. Employer contribution rates will increase, resulting in less money being taken out of employee paychecks to pay for the various health care plans. Please go to the CCPOA website where we have posted a memo from the EC explaining the different amounts and savings Unit 6 members will receive.
CDCR NEWS
Inmate Recidivism Reduced – California’s recidivism rate fell to 65 percent this year, according to the 2011 Adult Institutions Outcome Evaluation Report from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). This significant reduction of 2.4 percentage points in one year equates to 2,766 fewer offenders returning to prison and an approximate saving to California taxpayers of $30 million. The full report from CDCR is posted for you on the CCPOA website.
Inmate Sentenced in C.O. Stabbing– A Pelican Bay State Prison inmate already serving a life term got another 10 years tacked onto his sentence after he pleaded guilty stabbing correctional officers earlier this year. The judge also ordered he pay nearly $40,000 in fines and restitution. The full story is on the website.
CAPITOL NEWS
Higher Fed Tax Rate For January1 Paychecks– Because Congress had failed to act by this past Tuesday, the state controller’s office is required to follow IRS mandates and withhold 6.2 percent for the Social Security tax rate. This will equate to about an extra $2.00 withheld for every $100 earned on paychecks issued on January 1. Congress has since agreed to restore the lower withholding amount which is expected to be returned to employees and reflected in the February paychecks. We’ll keep you posted with any developments.
NOTICES
State Board Meeting– The January Board of Directors meeting will cover two days and has been set for January 20 & 21 at the Capitol Plaza Holiday Inn.
Chapter Presidents Training– New Chapter President training will be held the day before, on Thursday, January 19th at CCPOA Headquarters.
If you have ideas for an article to be addressed in the Peacekeeper, please send them to Nichol Gomez at nichol.gomez@ccpoa.org. Also, when staff assaults occur, please send a completed staff assault alert form to Nicole at the same email.
For the latest information on pension reform, prison realignment, private prisons and parolee problems, please go to the CCPOA website where we post the information as it comes in.
Thanks for calling the 5150 hotline, have a safe shift, and a very Merry Christmas!