California Prison Guard Union: The Toughest Beast in the State
PolicyNook Posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 1:15PM 
The California correctional officers’ union (CCPOA) has been guarding more than just prison inmates. As one of the most influential special interest groups in the state, it has secured and steadfastly held onto some of the highest salaries and benefits awarded to state employees.
CCPOA maintains an annual operating budget of over $23 million. With that sum, it makes contributions to ballot initiatives, lobbying efforts, and political campaigns.
CCPOA is best known for its support of ballot initiatives that keep prison populations high. In 1994, CCPOA spent $101,000 on the Three Strikes Initiative, making it the second largest donor to that campaign. That proposition passed with a 72% majority. In 2008, CCPOA spent $1 million against Proposition 5, helping to defeat an initiative that would have emphasized treatment over incarceration for non-violent drug offenders.
Flexing its Political Muscle
According to FollowTheMoney.org, during the 2010 election, CCPOA spent $1.9 million in contributions and independent expenditures against Meg Whitman and for Governor Brown. This outlay ranked the union well within the Governor’s top 10 supporters.
In an open letter to members after the election, CCPOA Executive VP Chuck Alexander wrote: “Now that the campaign is over we can begin talking with Governor-elect Brown and his team about what it will take to better our working conditions.”
Notwithstanding its steadfast support of Governor Brown, CCPOA distributes campaign contributions to and supports legislators across both parties. In the last ten years, CCPOA has given money to every current state senator. During the same period, it gave slightly more to Republican senators overall, a reversal of overall union giving, which favored Democrats 9 to 1 in 2010. And in the 2010 election, 104 of the 107 candidates endorsed by CCPOA won election.
Salary Successes
CCPOA negotiated a collective bargaining agreement that covered the union from 2001 to 2006. The agreement secured a 34% raise in base pay for correctional officers over those five years, far ahead of most other state employees. In 2010, the average California prison guard salary was $72,400, over 60% higher than the national average – $44,230. Counting overtime pay, California prison guard salaries routinely surpass $100,000.
When the union’s collective bargaining agreement expired in 2006, the Schwarzenegger administration and CCPOA could not agree on a contract. Union members received no pay raises until 2011, when the Brown administration reached an agreement on a 2-year contract with CCPOA. The administration presented the contract as a cost saver, largely because it increased employee contributions to their pensions.
Although it marginally lowered overall costs in 2011, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) estimated that the contract would increase annual correctional officer personnel costs by $350 million in the 2013-14 fiscal year. Given the $3.2 billion personnel costs for correctional officers, that amounts to an expenditure increase of more than 10%. The increase is largely attributable to a 4% base pay raise, increased state contributions toward healthcare coverage, and a policy that allows prison guards to cash out unused vacation time.
Excessive Compensation?
Given differences in cost of living and different demands placed on guards in different states, the most accurate evaluation of compensation might focus on whether the compensation level allows the department to maintain its desired staff levels. If the department has no trouble filling positions – if hiring rates are consistently higher than attrition rates – this suggests that compensation is adequate.
In February 2008, based on the comparison of hiring rates and guard attrition (1,575 vs. 600 respectively), the LAO concluded that "the data suggest that current [prison guard] compensation levels are sufficient, if not more than sufficient, for the state to meet its staffing needs."
CCPOA’s upcoming raise should also be considered in the context of the state’s General Fund budget, which also funds other departments’ salaries and services. Absent state revenue increases, raising prison guard compensation necessarily means trimming provisions for other state employees and services. Citing this, the LAO tentatively recommended rejecting the employee contracts negotiated in early 2011. Ignoring the recommendation, the California Legislature approved the contracts. Three months later, the Governor and the Legislature passed a budget that issued major cuts to K-12 and higher education.
Today, as Sacramento finds itself facing difficult budget decisions, one must ask: how effectively can the Governor defend the state’s varied interests when negotiating with one of his largest and most influential political supporters?
Reader Comments (25)
Wow. They are one of the nastiest special interests in the state! We have to find a way to expel these special interests once and for all! Here's a good way to start: http://bit.ly/VE0pVH.
The corruption makes my stomach turn. Politicians were originally meant to serve the greater good. Now, special interest donations distract from that purpose, poisoning the legislative decisions in Sacramento. Decisions made in Sacramento comply with special interest standards, ignoring the benefit of California as a whole. No wonder we are in such a dire situation. Until we rid Sacramento of special interest donations, we will continue to see a failing California.
See the problem here: http://bit.ly/TwIAun
We need to cut down on special interest control over Sacramento. This article shows how their power is costing us money, and potentially our safety. We need to demand a government that represents OUR interests over SPECIAL interests! This video really highlights how much we need to get special interest money OUT of California politics: http://bit.ly/RV1RVi
Ever heard of AB109? Also you seem very knowledgeable about the Prison System and how it works, when was the last time you had to put your neck on the line for your community and worked inside an institution? Better yet, just take a visit inside the fence and write an article about the fantastic working conditions the Correctional Officers have. Write up about all staff assaults, attempted murders and riots that have happened in the past 3 months. There are so many articles such as this one above about the over-paid Guards that when more and more atrocities happen like riots, murders, officers being killed on duty, the California tax payers will wonder why there are articles such as this trying to make them seem like terrible people.
I still can't believe all these articles against the California Department of Corrections. They complain of our salary and benefits, but what they don't realize is how dangerous this specific job is. Talk about Post Traumatic Stress. There is nothing worse than your first day as a Correctional Officer. You have nightmares over the stress of learning your job, dealings with totally agressive inmates trying to run your program, and pressure from other Staff members and Supervisors, while you are trying to deal with learning your job. Unfortunately, we had to learn from certain inmates on learning the ropes on running the daily program. Go ahead, file an application for this job. I know your not cause you are not brave enough. I'm retired after 30 years in California State Prisons after working in the Texas Department of Corrections for 3 years before I came to California. Seriously get very tired and fed up with all these liberals and hate messages of how we make out with salary and benefits. We earned every single penny we earn.
While CDCR employees have been on furloughs and paycuts, CHP has never had furloughs and has continued to get pay INCREASES. how is that not in the news??
Critics around every corner yet none of them want to do our job. We potentially put our lives on the line every day so that you can sit behind your computer and complain that we make too much money. Last I checked, anyone with a high school education and law abiding past can apply and make the same pay and benefits. Mabe those prerequisites elude you.
Let me ask you, who in California could support a family making $40,000 a year especially in the Bay Area and LA. I don't know any one that would do this job for that little of money. You also fail to mention how much we make compared to other California Police Departments. With layoffs happening we are very understaffed, not to mention we are have the most dangerous criminals that were in SHU units being release to general population that will increase staff assaults and institutional riots. What you fall to hear about is the dangerous conditions that we deal with daily. Example, " August at SQ we had two officers that had to fight for their lives against a high powered gang member in a SHU unit. They both went out to the hospital and one of the officers was slashed millimeters from his Artery. These are not normal working conditions but its what we deal with on a daily bases.
The raise you speak of is only to the top step officers, and those officers must have been at the top step for at least ONE YEAR prior to the raise becoming effective so only so many will get the raise, the rest of the officers get nothing and CCPOA members haven't had any raise for the last 7 years and if you take into account all the furlough, PLP cuts they are back to 1995 wages. The raise is FAR OVERDUE and it was bargained for by giving up POFF II retirement so they bought their own "raise" which really equates to a 1% raiser after the loss of POFF II, but then you have a raising of PERS contributions so the 1% goes away and becomes another pay cut, again. Get a clue.
This article is most lopsided for it fails to include the responsibilities of the public, the lawmakers and the governor to ensure that any agreement made with a labor organization is feasible and beneficial to all concerned including the taxpayers. Sure this union group is powerful, influential and outspoken with its contributions and donations but be realistic here for a moment..
Who in this entire process was in control? The governor, or the legislators or the public or perhaps the union.. My point is there appears to be no parameter set up for logical and responsible spending to occur. The politicians gave away the farm and are now regretting their lack of control. Being tough on crime, passing the "3x and you are out" was costly and expanding prisons was a needless and unwarranted undertaking without any long term assessments or projections that would allow a reducing in population rather than growth. Giving in resulted in being out of money to run prisons sacrificing education etc. Policy making gave into demands that mass incarceration was the answer to crime in the streets. We are now finding out this was not true.
Making agreements and breaking agreements is bad business and impacts future dealings. The issue here is why did the Governor, past and present relinguish control of this matter. Why didn't the legislature take control of this matter and with all these public advocates out there in California, why was there no major opposition to any of these changes.
The union appears to be in self control, self determined and self projected into a direction that benefits their rank and file. The government appears to be out of control in spending, in legislating and in fiscal responsibiliies to maintain a balanced budget. Now when the rubber meets the road, the government wants to lay off correctional officers. A strategy that will backfire and cost more expenditures in the long run through lawsuits for negligence, wrongful deaths, medical coverages for injured staff, damage to state property, etc etc.
It does seem the union does get to call most of the shots in California making it most powerful but one must remember that what the union does is not always benefitted directly or indirectly by the rank and file who work inside these prisons. One can argue they get overpaid which is ridiculous under the circumstances they work in.
A state senator wouldn't take the job for 78 K or even 100 K knowing the potential harm or worse is possible on any given duty day inside the penitentiaries. The governor sold his soul and is now facing ramifications for doing so.
It is what it is but the responsiblity is not just on the union, it belongs to the entire chain of participants, stockholders and voters that allowed the union to be so powerful and influential and must now react to its wishes rather than the other way around. In other words, don't cry about something you created......................................California
You need to stop listening to the news media and talk to a correctional officer if you want to get the facts. And, if you really want to know how a correctional officer earns thier wages, get a spine, and follow us around work for a month or more.
As a professional peace officer behind the prison walls. I can honestly tell you that correctional peace officers are some of the most professional and well trained peace officers that law enforcement has to offer. If people knew just a little of what they have to do on a daily basis they would demand the state pay them even more. They earn every cent they make. And their lives are on the line every single day.
Keeping the hordes of criminals incarcerated is a job nobody wants. So have some respect for the brave men and women who do it. The author of this article sounds like an uneducated idiot.
Hey Tim,, don't be so high and mighty....It's CO's like you that destroy any respect for those who do this tough job and walk the tough beats but don't go off pointing fingers and calling people names. Be a professional and act as one so you can set the example and show you earn your pay and its not an entitlement as many people think it is...
Remember, Correctional Officers don't stoop down to the level that is demonstrated by others who know not what they are talking about or infer CO's don't earn their pay: they rise to the occasion and remain professional at all times and conduct themselves in a manner reflective of law enforcement and good training standards.. That's how CO's earn the pay that is now under fire.
Where does this writer get his informtion from? If officers make 100,00 a year than I'm not getting my full pay check! I need to talk to personal. In 11 years as an officer I've never made this kind of money and that includes over time. I wish these writers would report the truth but, I guess the truth would not be as interesting. This writer forgot we are not the ones who commited the crimes that put these criminals in prison. I also assume he is also speaking for all the victims who say we are the ones who passed the 3 strike law to keep our over paid jobs? This writer did not mention how life expectancy is anywhere from 18 months to 3 years after retirement thast if we make it to retirement. We don't get holidays off to spend with our families and we don't get holiday pay when we work on holidays. We got 3 furloughs an month for 18 months. Our health insurance has gone up 100.00 a year for the last 5 years ( yes, this does come out of our pay). We pay 22% percent into retirement and we are going to be forced to pay 50% in the next 5 years. I also, pay for state and federal taxes. The only thing our union is asking for is that the state stops cut staff positions. These cuts are making our daily job become so dangerous that I don't know how long it will be before we report of an officer being killed.
God, bless all the officers who work in this thankless job! Peace.
Wow - these guys are like the school yard bullies. Makes you wonder about what law enforcement really holds dear - public safety or public funded pensions. Pretty scarey to think!
All the posts about the "danger of the job", how they put their lives on the line for our prison system. WHAT ABOUT OUR SOLDIERS??? I find it ironic that ANYONE could claim that under those circumstances the pay grade SHOULD be expected...It is TIME FOR OUR SOLDIERS TO GET THE SAME EFFORTS ON THEIR BEHALF!!
Yes, the prison system is a dangerous one and anytime you are working with criminals one would assume that it would not be the best working conditions, but to declare the DESERVING attitude while our own military is not able to even make enough to feed their families and keep homes while away at war..well, just doesn't set right. Too much power is given when POLITICIANS have conflict of interest associated with money given to support them and then must declare decisions FOR those who support them. HERE IS A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR MILITARY WHO ARE THE ONLY ONES ONLY ONES who should be treated AS DESERVING for putting their lives on the line.
I don't know how many people put this article together but they touch on many subjects and are speaking without knowledge of what goes on inside prison and have innacurate facts of what we support. I'm not gonna research their numbers on money donated by CCPOA because our union representatives are just as political and scandalous as our highest of goverment offices. I do however know that whoever wrote this article says, "CCPOA supports incarceration over treatment" is wrong. If a person is treatable, he/she will be given every opportunity to correct themselves to become a productive member of society. I also know that most of these criminals are full time criminals and their behavior is uncorrectable. No type of treatment or medication can correct this permanantly. This article also says that CCPOA is trying to stop the release of low level offenders. Maybe it's because we have a little knowledge of the type of incarcerated persons we are dealing with. Most of these inmates are not good people who have made a just 1 mistake. These are carreer felons who also have no fear of returning to prison because of the treatment and medical care they receive. Look up the facts on number of low level offenders (AB109) that have been released and returned to custody for more violent crimes. The last non-violent offender i read about stabbed 2 ladies in a city close by. 1 passed and the other will be spending the rest of her lfe traumatized over the whole ordeal. Please don't base your judgement or downplay the work of Correctional Officers/line supervisors based on the actions of CCPOA. Its like any part of goverment right now, were all kind of split down the middle and just want things to be done right. Not sure this can happen in my lifetime. Greed's a not so funny thing , brings out the worst in everyone!
So, your NOT a group that stands to help down trodden citizens, your "Nazi" tactics are simply and sadley held to get bigger salaries and benefits bleeding people that can't stand up and kick you back
I read this article and read the comments and am quite mystified. Think about this everyone. It is very apparent elected officials are pretty easy to purchase. So if you want to reduce prison populations by passing legislation that treats non-violent drug offenders in a way which doesn't incarcerate them, then money has to be raised to purchase the politicians. It is really that simple. If you want to get legislature to pass any law you simply have to buy them plain and simple. I don't have a problem with prison guards making whatever they make. The problem I have is the way our system allows lobbying to begin with. Our government is in a tailspin to special interest groups everywhere and the groups with the most cash and the ability to spend more on lawmakers get their way. There is no arguing this point. It is a fact.
Many bad laws are being passed every day in legislatures around the nation. Back room deals are made so regularly it is now considered the norm. If you want to get us back to a government which looks out for the people rather than the special interests they serve, the country is going to have to make a united stand to stop it. Do I think that is impossible at this point; nothing is impossible, do I think it is improbable? For sure. It will be next to impossible to get lawmakers to eliminate their cash cow special interests. So you can sit there and whine about this government employee's paycheck or that one, but until enough of us get off our tails and begin the process of taking the government back there is little hope.