State negotiators have reached an agreement with CAUSE - Statewide Law Enforcement Assn. (bargaining unit 7) to revise and extend their current contract until June 30, 2008. In addition to pension and health benefit changes sought by the Administration, the new contract will aid recruitment of State park rangers, fish and game wardens, special agents, and public safety dispatchers, where salary lags have led to vacancy rates of 18 to 30 percent.    

 

Key provisions:

 

·          Pensions for new employees in non-Peace Officer categories will be based on their highest three-year average salary, rather than the highest single year that applies to all current employees.

·          The State's contribution to employee health premiums will be reduced from 85 percent of the average premium to 80 percent.

·          Salaries for fish and game wardens, state park peace officers, and special agents at the Justice Dept. will be raised 10 percent, effective July 1, 2006. In addition, the top pay for these positions will be increased 5 percent on Jan. 1, 2007, by adding an additional step to their pay range.¹ On Jan. 1, 2008, two more steps will be added, raising the top salary for these jobs another 10 percent.²

·          Salaries for public safety dispatchers at the CHP and Dept. of Parks and Recreation will increase 3.5 percent, effective July 1, 2006. A second increase of 6.5 percent will take effect Jan. 1, 2007. In addition, two steps will be added July 1, 2007 to the pay ranges for these jobs, raising the top salary 10 percent.²

·          Salaries for criminalists and related classifications will be raised 3.5 percent, effective July 1, 2006. A second increase, of 2-4 percent (depending on CPI), will take effect July 1, 2007. In addition, one step will be added to the pay range for these jobs, raising the top salary by 5 percent.²

·          Other peace officers in this bargaining unit also will receive the 3.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment, effective July 1, 2006, and a second COLA of 2-4 percent next July. In addition, they will have two steps added to their pay range, one on Jan. 1, 2007,¹ and another on Jan. 1, 2008.²

·          Employees in this bargaining unit who don't fall into the categories listed above will receive COLAs of 3.5 percent on July 1, 2006, and 2-4 percent on July 1, 2007. They will also receive a $1000 one-time payment upon ratification.³

·          The contract continues the provisions from the current agreement that exclude sick leave from overtime calculations and require new employees to work two years before they qualify for the full employer contribution for dependent coverage on their health plan.