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State workers, including 1,300 Sierra Conservation Center employees, are facing a 10 percent salary reduction, which prison officials say will cost the state more in the long run.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger outlined his proposal to save money in a Dec. 19 letter to all state workers.

In an effort to bridge a projected $42 billion deficit over the next 18 months, the governor has called for all state employees to take two unpaid days off per month, which amounts about 10 percent of employees’ salaries, corrections officials say.
 

 The letter also included possible layoffs of up to 20,000 people across the state payroll.

The furlough program would begin Feb. 1, 2009, and last through June 30, 2010, the letter said.

“We’re looking at every legal option we’ve got to prevent this from happening,” said Lance Corcoran, California Correctional Peace Officers Association spokesman.

There are two actions attempting to block the move, Corcoran said. Service Employees International Union Local 1000 filed an unfair labor practice with the Public Employee Relations Board Dec. 22 challenging Schwarzenegger’s executive order.

“The governor can’t simply declare an emergency and then decide that he can break the law,” Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker said in a statement. “The law requires the governor to negotiate these issues prior to implementation. We will fight in the courts and at the bargaining table to protect the jobs and the rights of our members.”

Corcoran said correctional officers understand the dire financial situation the state is in, however, they feel they should not be penalized for the legislature and governor’s failure to balance the budget.

Additionally, a “pay cut is no way to stimulate economy, especially in rural areas,” Corcoran said.    

Correctional facilities in California are often located in rural areas, and the salary reduction could have a significant impact on these areas, he said.

Union representatives at Sierra Conservation Center near Jamestown declined to comment since the governor’s order is not yet final, said Lt. Jimmy Hurtado, prison spokesman.

Of the 1,300 SCC employees, about 530 are correctional officers, and the furloughs would affect all of them, Hurtado said.

"Times are tough for everybody as it is,” Hurtado said. “Cuts would make it tougher.”

The last time something similar happened was about 10 years ago, said Sgt. Don Connant.

“We have posted positions that are mandated to be filled 24 hours a day,” Connant said.

Correctional officers are assigned to different position in the dorms. When one is off, another officer would have to cover the position, most likely drawing overtime pay.

“There’s no savings to the taxpayer,” Connant said. 

“It’s not the same as an officer worker, where the paper gets a little higher,” Corcoran said.

Paper piling up “doesn’t affect public safety,” Corcoran said.

However, it could create a backlog in non-uniformed staff positions, which would mean paying someone overtime to catch up.

“In the long run it will usually cost us more,” Hurtado said.

There are 6,500 inmates at SCC and its 19 fire camps, with an operating budget of $148 million a year, Hurtado said.

Correctional officer salaries range from $3,311 to $5,661 per month, depending on rank and seniority.