Big changes are on the horizon for California’s 63,000 corrections employees, including layoffs and transfers triggered by the state’s prisoner realignment plan.
The first wave of layoff warning notices were sent in October. The total notices will be 26,000 employees of the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with less than 10 years of state service. CDCR spokesman Paul Verke said not all 26,000 will be fired.
The employees’ unions have negotiated contract changes that will allow more flexibility in the layoff process. The unions include the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA), Local Service Employees International Union 1000 (SEIU) and other unions.
“The concessions aren’t ideal,” said CCPOA representative JeVaughn Baker. “CDCR is downsizing and it’s better for our members to relocate than to be jobless in this struggling economy.”
These changes affect employees, produce serious cuts to state paid moving allowances, eliminate certain aspects of job security, while decreasing overtime cost for correctional officers.
About 200 CCPOA members volunteered to move if they worked at overstaffed prisons to one of five understaffed facilities. From this, they will receive between $3,750 and $7,500 for moving costs.
Officers in danger of job loss, but who wish to stay where they are, can voluntarily bid to join an “overtime avoidance” group or become permanent-recurrent employees. For open shift positions, these groups will cover overtime.
State analysts calculate for this present fiscal year, California will save approximately $12-$13 million.
In addition, the transition of adult parole from state authority now puts local governments in charge of that process. This will make obsolete 800 to 900 state parole agent and support staff positions.
Verke said that under state law and union contracts, the layoffs cannot begin for 120 days, which would be Feb. 29.
Currently the state’s 33 correctional facilities are at a capacity of 144,000 prisoners, yet CDCR analysts estimate losing 34,000 by July 2013.