State Files for Mediation in CCPOA Contract Negotiations

Today the Department of Personnel Administration formally requested mediation in its year-long negotiations with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) over a new contract.

State negotiators filed their request in the hopes mediation will end the deadlock and lead to agreement on a new contract.

"For the past year, we have repeatedly brought offers to the table. CCPOA has never offered a single counterproposal. Our latest offer is fair and generous and will significantly enhance pay and benefits to our employees. Additionally, it will enable management to run our prisons safely and efficiently, and facilitate implementation of the recently approved prison reforms," said Dave Gilb, director of the Department of Personnel Administration. "Without outside help, negotiations remain futile."

The State's four-year offer includes raises estimated to total 18 percent plus an additional 1 percent for pre- and post-shift activities, and increases in health benefits, shift differentials, and uniform allowances. It also doubles recruitment and retention pay for hard-to-recruit facilities and establishes a bonus program for employees who recruit new correctional officers, paying $2,000 for each new recruit. The total cost of the contract offer is nearly $1 billion.

Negotiations have stalled over CCPOA demands for pay increases beyond what the State has offered, as well as the union's refusal to negotiate changes to contract provisions that have become increasingly problematic to prison operations. The provisions the State seeks to modify primarily concern sick leave, the grievance and arbitration process, and the "entire agreement" clause, a provision that obligates management to negotiate with the union before making virtually any operational change.

DPA filed its request with the Public Employment Relations Board.