|
|
| Prison Officers' Sick Leave Usage Soars as Rules Shift |
| By Los Angeles Times |
| Published: 07/05/2002 |
|
In the four months after Gov. Gray Davis agreed to a new and looser sick-leave policy sought by the prison officers' union, sick leave by the officers jumped 20% over the same period last year. The new policy is part of the labor agreement negotiated by the Davis administration and the California Correctional Peace Officers Association and approved by the governor and Legislature in January. The pact also promises correctional officers a pay increase of up to 34% over the next five years, at a cost of $680 million by 2006, when the final raise kicks in. Critics say other provisions, such as the one dealing with sick leave, will also add to the state costs. If the current trend of officers calling in sick continues for the rest of the year, the jump will cost the state an extra $12.5 million. Spokesmen for the Department of Corrections and the union that represents California's 27,000 prison officers said they were unaware of any disease outbreak afflicting prison workers during the first four months of 2002. Rather, they cite the new labor contract, and the limits it places on wardens who want to discipline officers for using extraordinary amounts of sick leave. A union executive said the contract gives officers 'newfound freedom' to call in sick without fear of retribution. The Corrections Department reported that the related cost of overtime also jumped 20%, to $58.4 million, in the first four months of 2002, worsening the prison system's $277-million budget shortfall and the state's projected deficit of nearly $24 billion. Officers are forced to work overtime to cover for colleagues who call in sick. In contrast to the soaring use of sick time by state prison officers, the state's other major law enforcement agency, the California Highway Patrol, reports that sick leave increased less than 1% in the first four months of the year, at a cost of $33,796 more than last year's tab for that period. Overtime costs at the CHP rose 7%. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think