The CIM Patch Memo.

For a copy of the memo, Click Here.

December Chapter Meeting Minutes

For the Minutes from the December Chapter Meeting, CLICK HERE.

2008 C/O Post and Bid Results (Revised 12/26/07).

The 2008 C/O Post and Bid results are in.
Click Here.

DPA Runs Afoul Of The Law - Again!

December 12, 2007

To: State Board,

Yesterday we were informed that the PERB (Public Employee Relations Board) has issued a complaint against regarding the Last, Best and Final.

In the complaint, PERB States;


· By implementing terms and conditions for a three-year duration, Respondent acted contrary to the provisions of Government Code sections 3517 and 3517.8 and thus violated Government Code section 3519©.

What this means is that the State has violated Government Code by imposing a Last Best and Final for a period longer than the annual State budget. As a result of this complaint, there will be a settlement conference on January 7, 2008 with a subsequent hearing if settlement is not reached.

At this point, it would appear as though all provisions of the Last Best and Final, including post and bid, are only good until June 30 of 2008.

We will provide more information as it becomes available.

Chuck Alexander
CCPOA Executive Vice President

Catastrophic Time Bank Donations.

The Christmas season is upon us and, as our thoughts turn to family, friends and reunions, let’s not forget those brother and sister Peace Officers who are less fortunate and have fallen upon hard times through illness and injury.

There are several Catastrophic Time Banks currently in operation for individuals who are in need of your vacation or holiday time contributions. We take care of our own, so make your choice and donate time to these worthy individuals.

Thank you for your consideration.

Commentary

First, it was their defeat by the "Corcoran 8" in an acquittal, then it was their defeat by Correctional Officer Dave Lewis in an acquittal, now it is the reversal of the jury's guilty verdict by the presiding Federal Judge, Manuel L. Real who ruled on Monday, November 26, 2007, that the jurors were wrong when they convicted the "Chino 3", Thomas Ramos, Hector Flores and Robert McGowan.

The reversal of the verdict, dismissed for lack of evidence, is a testimonial that, while U.S. Attorneys and their Deputies continue to wage an increasingly acrimonious war against California Correctional Officers, there are, thankfully, those in the Federal Judicial system which preside over reason and common sense as well as their courtrooms. Clearly, the war waged by Federal Prosecutors against California Correctional Peace Officers is not being joined by the Federal Judiciary.

Animosity is cumulative. With each and every prosecutorial defeat comes a renewed and louder cry of "Hang ‘em High!" The Federal Prosecutors in California have become nothing more than a Haters Club of all things Correctional and, as such, they now join the ranks of such notables as Mike Nifong in his hatred of College Lacrosse players and Johnny Sutton and his hatred of Border Patrol Agents and Texas Sheriffs.

As a suggestion to any Federal Prosecutors who may read this, shed your fixation on California Correctional Personnel and make your reputation elsewhere as it is, obviously, clouding your judgment and your ability to, efficiently, expend taxpayer dollars.

CIM guards get verdicts overturned
By Rod Leveque, Staff Writer

Message From Fred Stevens, V.P.

CLICK HERE.

2008 Vacation & OPTS Schedules

For the Correctional Officer's 2008 Vacation Bid results, CLICK HERE!

For the Correctional Sergeant's 2008 Vacation Bid results, CLICK HERE!

For the Correctional Lieutenant's 2008 Vacation Bid results, CLICK HERE!

For the Correctional Sergeant's 2008 OPTS Training schedules, CLICK HERE!

Supervisory Post and Bid Update.

For a message from The CCPOA Supervisory V.P. regarding Supervisory Post and Bid, CLICK HERE.

Post and Bid Forms Are Out!

Correctional Officer's Conditional/Continuous Post and Bid can be obtained by Clicking Here.

Correctional Sergeant's Conditional/Continuous Post and Bid can be obtained by Clicking Here.

Correctional Lieutenant's Conditional/Continuous Post and Bid can be obtained by Clicking Here.

For C/O's Post and Bid Request form for 2008 - 2010, CLICK HERE.

A Message to Fair Share Members.

You might as well upgrade to full membership because, pursuant to Section 3515.7 (b) GC, the DPA has stopped deducting your fair share fee from your paycheck. As a result, if you do not make arrangements to mail your fair share payment into CCPOA, the Ralph C. Dills act does not provide for your continuing representation by CCPOA*.

To continue to reap the benefits of your representation with CCPOA without having to write a check each and every month and mail it in, JOIN CCPOA. Only full members are continuing to have their dues deducted and their representation continued, uninterrupted.

For your further review, the following is an excerpt from a letter recently distributed by CCPOA's Benefits and Trust Fund:

"The DPA has informed the CCPOA that it is no longer entitled to receive fair share fee deductions. As a result, people who were Fair Share are no longer members of the CCPOA and therefore, not eligible for any benefits through the CCPOA Benefit Trust Fund. The last Fair Share fee deduction from their payroll warrant occurred in September 2007. As a result those individuals who were Fair Share no longer have benefits through the Trust as of November 1, 2007. The benefits lost are as follows:

CCPOA Primary Dental •
Western Dental•
CCPOA Vision Service Program (VSP)•
$20,000 Basic Life Insurance •
$5,000 Accidental Death •
Basic Legal Defense Fund•
Basic Family Legal Plan offered through Caldwell Legal•

This action was taken by DPA. There is nothing that the CCPOA or CCPOA Benefit Trust Fund can do about what has happened. If a former Fair Share member has any questions, please direct him/her to contact William Page, Program Manager, Department of Personnel Administration at 916-445-9801."

Gary Clark, President
Chino Chapter
CCPOA

____________________
*REF: Sections 3512, 3513 (k) & 3515.7 (g) GC

Discussion on the Progress of the MOU Negotiations.

Our-Man-In-Sacramento, Marty Aroian, has agreed to be at the CIM Chapter meeting on Monday, November 19, 2007 at 1630, at Mr. Berry’s BBQ. For directions, please consult the link at the left entitled "Chapter Meeting Schedule".

We appreciate Marty taking time out of his busy schedule to explain the current state of the BU6 MOU negotiations and a view down-the-road. Since he is on the Contract Negotiating Team, he will have up-to-the-minute information for all of us.

Gary Clark, President
Chino Chapter
CCPOA

Post & Bid information - POSTED.

For the Conditional and Continuous post and bid form for November, CLICK HERE.

For a list of Seniority positions available for Post & Bid, CLICK HERE.

October Chapter Minutes.

For October's Chapter Minutes CLICK HERE!

The Eggs!

Chapter Update for 10/18/2007

You may download updated chapter information by clicking HERE.

Chapter Update for 10/11/2007

You may download updated chapter information by clicking HERE.

2008 Post & Bid Schedule.

To download the Post and Bid schedule for 2008, CLICK HERE!

Regarding the Checks . . .

In a meeting on October 11 2007 between CIM Management , CIM Personnel and CCPOA ....CCPOA was told by the beginning of the year new policies were to be started, checks were only to be issued on the 15th and payday only .... there would be some exceptions such as days off and Vacations but Management and Personnel feel they don't have a responsibility to leave pay checks in areas where they are not secured or signed for or opened by anyone other than who the check is issued by...

CCPOA stated Bu6 members have a right to have their checks available to them after they have earn them ... Personnel also stated they were going to have checks in a central location on paydays instead of at the facilities ...they suggested MSF visiting , CCPOA again protested that the BU 6 members have a right to receive their checks in a timely manor during working hours ...Personnel staff seemed to be willing to accept the idea of Personnel staff going to each facility to issue checks .... CCPOA stated we felt that impeding staff from getting their checks in a timely manor such as having to go to a central area to stand in line after their shift was unreasonable they stated before they changed policy they would meet with us again .... CCPOA told personnel and Management that Debra Turner brought this idea to Gary Clark when he was chapter president in 2000 , we agreed with the idea do personnel staff coming to each facility to issue checks, this idea was shot down by then Warden Lori Decarlo.

We will keep you apprised of any developments on this issue......

Gary

Mike Speaks, Part 6.

Mike Speaks, Part 5.

Mike Speaks, Part 4.

Mike Speaks, Part 3.

Mike Speaks, Part 2.

Correctional Sergeant Seniority Assignment Bid Forms . . .

For November 2007 are available.

CLICK HERE.

Mike Speaks.

Guards union files unfair labor practice charge - Sacbee - 10-03-2007

Guards union files unfair labor practice charge
By Andy Furillo - Bee Capitol Bureau

Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A4

"State negotiators failed to "meet and confer" in good faith by declining to answer questions posed by the CCPOA and by only "going through the motions" of bargaining in the course of the talks." . . . [MORE]

For CCPOA commentary on this action CLICK HERE.

Correctional Officer's 2008 Vacation Schedules.

The 2008 Correctional Officer's vacation schedules are in. You may download the document by CLICKING HERE.

The minutes from the September, 2007 chapter meeting.

CLICK HERE to download the minutes.

Rancor rules prison guard negotiations, Sacbee - 9-30-07

Union, governor locked in battle over who's in charge of system.
By Andy Furillo - Bee Capitol Bureau

Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, September 30, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A1

"When he and the chief negotiator for the state, Dennis Batchelder, sparred over ground rules for the ongoing talks, Jimenez exploded. By the time the nine-minute session ended, the union president had dropped the F-bomb 12 times." . . . [MORE]

Post by Indian Chief on Pacovilla.

The local chapter was alert by a officer(former Job Stewart) that the Watch (SAB)office this morning was advising staff that there sick call ins was making their OT into straight time. Nobody was made aware of this policy being implemented.

The Chapter Vice Prez. spoke with the ERO and Custody Captain. And it was determined that the watch was giving out bad information. So at this time CIM staff, the sick policy stays the same.

Will we keep you advised if anything changes.

IC

Announcement.

In his recent visit to Southern California on Saturday, September 22, 2007, at a meeting conducted at the Zendejas restaurant, Mike Jimenez, State President of CCPOA, distributed a computer disk containing the CCPOA Contract Proposals. These disks were issued with the instructions to get the information out to the membership.

Since the most efficient way of distributing this information to the membership is by posting it on the internet, as soon as these files are uploaded to a web server, they will be linked, on this blog, for downloading.

The Blogmaster

Conditional and Continuous Post & Bid for 10/2007

For the Conditional and Continuous Post & Bid form for 10/2007, CLICK HERE!

The Gathering Gloom.

Regardless of that which you read in the paper, there is another side to the Bargaining Unit 6 MOU which does not always receive its proper share of exposure and, while I do not routinely look for the black helicopters, I think I may see one hovering, along with the vultures, over the grizzled remains of collective bargaining.

The manufacturing of the prison population/staffing crisis was catapulted into the headlines when that paragon of intellect, Roderick Hickman, closed the Correctional Officer training academy because of his estimation of a drop in the prison population. This, occurring during an unprecedented explosion in the prison system’s population - OOPS!

If this were taken, out of context, and viewed alone without any other information, it could certainly be perceived as a CDCr misstep. However there are other ominous developments which place a different perspective on this apparent miscalculation.

At the time the Federal Courts were taking over the medical aspect of the Department of Corrections, Governor Schwarzenegger assisted the Federal Courts by refusing to oppose the takeover. His stated attitude toward the California Department of Corrections was then, as it is now, that he just didn’t care, and his willingness to cede all of the Department of Corrections to Federal Receivership is more apparent today than it has ever been.

The staffing crisis has only become worse with age and, if Governor Schwarzenegger’s Department of Personnel Administration has their way, staff shortages will triple within the next few years as those that hired on during the prison expansion of the 1980's retire, forced out by the expiration of the last COMPETITIVE contract that BU6 members will be seeing for quite a while.

It is becoming increasingly clear that Schwarzenegger and his Department of Personnel Administration (DPA) are masters of deception as they have coined the terms “lucrative” and “generous” to describe their offer to CCPOA, and the news media has taken this mantra and carried it to the furthest corners of California. However, the application of this term is inaccurate to the point of making it a misnomer when used to describe the current offer to CCPOA by DPA. If compared to Wal Mart employee’s wages and terms and conditions of employment, the term would be properly used. On the other hand, if compared to other law enforcement agencies who are competing with the Department of Corrections for qualified candidates, the terms “lucrative” and “generous” would be inaccurate. Therefore, the term “competitive” would be far more descriptive and appropriate in describing the offerings of DPA to CCPOA and, in that venue, their offerings must be viewed as non-competitive.

Now we can flesh-out the skeleton of Rod Hickman’s seemingly inexplicable and isolated action to close the Correctional Officer’s Training Academy, during a time of unprecedented population growth, with the subsequent philosophy and actions of The Governor and his administration in the post Hickman era.

Now that thinking individuals have, hopefully, shed the words “lucrative” and “generous” in favor of the more descriptive term “competitive”, we can proceed with an analysis of the potential for a Federal takeover of the California Prison System because of the non-competitive nature of DPA’s offer.

In many of the Medical Receiver’s, Robert Sillen’s Quarterly Reports to the Federal Court (http://www.cprinc.org/materials.htm) he vociferously complains of chaotic and inadequate recruitment and retention of staff by the California Department of Corrections, as being an impediment to the implementation of constitutionally guaranteed medical care for inmates within the CDCr. This commentary is not limited to medical staff, but includes ALL employees of CDCr and does not exclude BU6 members. With the DPA assisting in the under staffing of the Department of Corrections through non-competitive contract offerings and conditions of work, the nexus between a takeover of DPA duties as State negotiators in talks with CCPOA or, perhaps, even a unilateral implementation of a Federal version of an MOU could be justified to the court as necessary to achieve a staffing stability that would facilitate proper and “constitutionally adequate” medical delivery systems to inmates.

The members of the DPA are very savvy and must realize the future consequences of their failure to render departmental hiring plans competitive with other law enforcement agencies throughout the State. This failure seems to further implement the Governor’s previously stated philosophy that allows the Federal courts to do whatever they want with California’s prison system.

I think, if you look up, you’ll see that one of those birds is not a vulture.

Regarding Staff Assaults at CIM.

Recently, The Investigative Services Unit of the California Institution for Men responded to an information request regarding the status of staff assault referrals to the San Bernardino District Attorney, Mike Ramos, for prosecution.

ISU's response can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the status of these referrals, you may contact Lt. Goetz, ISU Lt., at (909) 597-1821, Ext. 4110.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the rejection for prosecution by the District Attorney, you may contact Mike Ramos, District Attorney, San Bernardino County at (909) 387-8309 or by email at da@da.sbcounty.gov or on the web at http://www.sbcounty.gov/da/

A Great New Web Site.

There is a great website which should be of interest to all CPOs, CLICK HERE!

Continuous and Conditional Post & Bid for October, 2007

For the Continuous and Conditional post and bid form for October, 2007, CLICK HERE.

POST & BID, SHIFT START-STOP, AND OTHER CONTRACT STUFF.

Important information, CLICK HERE!

Results of the Conditional/Continuous Post and Bid for September 10 of 2007

For the Results of the Conditional/Continuous Post and Bid for September 10 of 2007, CLICK HERE.

The 3 Week Vacation Forms for 2008 are HERE!

CLICK HERE to get yours.

Prison health system in flux

Changes at CIM facility part of many

By Shelli DeRobertis, Staff Writer

CHINO - California Institution for Men's forfeiture of its hospital license is just one part of a systemwide overhaul of the prison health-care system, state officials said. [MORE]

CIM hospital to forfeit license

Facility won't provide acute care, will transform into an infirmary
By Shelli DeRobertis, Staff Writer

CHINO - The hospital at the California Institution for Men will give up its license and formally cease acute-care service, instead becoming something more akin to an infirmary, state officials said Wednesday. [More]

Setting the record straight regarding DPA's offer to BU6.

Download the TRUTH about DPA's contract offer to BU6 by clicking HERE!

July 2007 Chapter Meeting Minutes

The minutes and addendum from the July Chapter Meeting can be obtained by clicking HERE (for the minutes) and HERE (for the addendum).

Guard slaying suit is settled

Family OKs $1.2 million in case alleging 'grave mistakes' by prison brass.
By Andy Furillo - Bee Capitol Bureau

Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A3

Relatives of the officer, Manuel A. Gonzalez Jr., who was stabbed to death by an inmate in January 2005 at the California Institution for Men in Chino, agreed to the settlement Friday afternoon. The agreement brought to a close the civil rights case the family filed against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

A failure by the prison agency to properly classify Blaylock and a decision to hold off on distributing 362 "stab vests" to the Chino correctional staff, even though the equipment had been delivered to the prison and had been stored in a warehouse, contributed to the officer's death, according to the lawsuit. . . [MORE]

Guards union at a low ebb

But leader says recent setbacks don't mean group has lost clout.
By Andy Furillo - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, July 8, 2007

To say the least, times have been tough lately for the California Correctional Peace Officers Association.

The union has gone more than a year without a contract, failed to stop a major prison construction bill, lost 35-1 in a bid to torpedo a key gubernatorial appointee and endorsed a guy for governor who lost by 1.2 million votes.

In a political world of ebb and flow, CCPOA President Mike Jimenez concedes that his 31,000-member union has drifted off into "one of those eddies right now," and that Capitol insiders might think the union's influence is on the wane. . . [MORE]

Conditional and Continuous Post And Bid For August, 2007

For the Conditional and Continuous Post & Bid Forms for August of 2007, CLICK HERE!

Results of July's CCPB & June's Chapter Minutes.

For the July results of the Continuous and Conditional Post and Bed, CLICK HERE

For the Minutes of the June Chapter Meeting, CLICK HERE

Freddy Martinez - End Of Watch

Freddy Martinez, 28 year veteran Correctional Officer at CIM, passed away today from natural causes at Pomona Valley Regional Medical Center.

For all who knew him, his indomitable spirit will live in the hearts and minds of those who’s spirits were lifted by his keen sense of humor. GOD, you will know Freddy by his beloved Viet-Nam era Army field jacket with his E-5 Sergeant’s stripes on the sleeves. GOD bless you Freddy - make them laugh.

The CCPOA Chapter would like to thank Mr. Poulos, for being in attendance at Freddy's hospital bedside, together with the CIM Chapter President, prior to Freddy's passing on Wednesday.

Senate panel delays vote on state negotiator

The union representing the state's 31,000 prison guards has been without a contract since July 2006. Last month, a state board ruled that contract negotiations were at an initial impasse, and asked for an outside mediator to intervene.

The move ups the stakes in the negotiation process. The next step would be to rule that the talks were at a "hard impasse." If a hard impasse is declared, the state can represent a final offer and then impose a deal, even without the union's agreement. [More]

Pie Bid & Vacation Schedule

PIE Bid Schedule

PIE Vacation Schedule

Results! Continuous and Conditional Post & Bid for June of 2007

The results are out.

CLICK HERE for the results.

May's Chapter Meeting Minutes & Notice To Delegates

For your copy of the Chapter Minutes, CLICK HERE

For the Notice To The Convention Delegates, CLICK HERE.

CIM land on the market?

CHINO - California Institution for Men's transformation from beast to beauty might be more than a fairy-tale idea if the state agrees to a proposal Chino Valley city officials delivered to legislators in Sacramento this week. . . . [MORE]

The (Arb) Check Is In The Mail!

CLICK HERE for the arb check update.

Dismissal of charge against inmate denied

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A judge again refused to dismiss a potential death-penalty charge Thursday against a prison inmate accused of fatally stabbing a guard. Lawyers for Jon Christopher Blaylock argued the count . . . [MORE]

May's Chapter Meeting

For the flyer on May's Chapter Meeting, CLICK HERE

June's Cond/Cont Post & Bid and PIE Vacation Form

CLICK HERE for the Conditional/Continuous Post & Bid forms for June of 2007

CLICK HERE for the PIE two week Vacation Bid Form

Inmate protests charge
Accused of killing guard, he aims to get capital count tossed
By Rod Leveque, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 05/06/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - An inmate accused of murdering a Chino prison guard has again asked a judge to dismiss one of the charges that could bring him the death penalty.

CLICK HERE for article.

April 19 Chapter Meeting Minutes.

The April 19, 2007 Chapter Meeting Minutes can be obtained by CLICKING HERE!

SATF, an organization who’s time has come.

Upon request of the author, this Letter-To-The-Editor, which was submitted to the Daily Bulletin for publication, is being reprinted here. It comments on the article in the same newspaper entitled, "CIM officer wins spitting lawsuit" published today, May 3, 2007.

With a totally politicized California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations, the California Staff Assault Task Force is certainly a force who’s time has come.

Since secret agreements between Wardens and District Attorneys absolving inmates of accountability for their assaults on staff, such as the one posted on the CIM Chapter CCPOA Blog at http://cimccpoa.blogspot.com/2007/04/another-brick-in-wall.html, fail to provide any deterrence for assaults on staff by inmates, the staff members themselves must take matters into their own hands through the civil court system. Joint statements between CDCR and District Attorneys that narrowly define the types of assaults on staff that will be referred for prosecution, send a clear message to CDCR staff that they are, truly, on their own and the Staff Assault Task Force fills the vacuum left by CDCR/San Bernardino County politics.

Additionally, time is cheap for convicts and, even if prosecuted, assaulting staff is considered a badge of honor among the inmate population. What embarrasses them the most is when they have to explain to their prison associates that they can’t purchase any products from the prison store because a Correctional Officer, whom they assaulted, is taking their money until the judgment is satisfied. In the game of one-upmanship that inmates often play against staff, the SATF has found the perfect solution - Game Over.

Joe Bradley

Newport, VT

Lawmakers Make Prison Deal

Click HERE for KCRA Video.

Direct Adverse Actions

Allegations of employee misconduct are not new, they are as old as civil service itself. Recently however, correctional managers are dealing with these reports in a manner which demonstrates their inefficiency, incompetence and inexcusable neglect of duty, any or all of which these managers will forgive of themselves while indicting subordinates for the same transgressions.

In times gone past, Wardens receiving reports of employee misconduct by supervisors against subordinates (it never works the other way around) would send these reports to either institutional investigators (ISU) or regional departmental investigators (OIA) to determine, through investigation, the veracity of the allegations, as per Chapter 3, Article 14 of the Departmental Operations Manual (DOM). In theory, the process was a valid step in the employee’s due process as, theoretically, it filtered out allegations which were unsustainable based on the available evidence. During the investigatory process, the accused would have an opportunity to present exculpatory evidence. Whether or not this evidence was well received by the investigators was largely a matter of politics. Recently however, all pretense of fairness and due process has been shed in favor of “Direct Adverse Action”.

In this, most recent, aberrational departure from the philosophy of due process, the Wardens at California’s State Prisons have embraced this terrorist tactic in adjudicating claims of misconduct by supervisors against subordinates. Claims that, oftentimes, are based on a personal dislike supported by nothing more than acerbic vitriol. It is only at the Skelley hearing, the last chance at due process prior to the implementation of the proposed adverse action, that any exculpatory evidence is allowed to be presented.

For many employees, this is the first semblance of an investigation that they receive, turning a simple hearing into a combination investigation/hearing, one in which the Peace Officer’s Procedural Bill Of Rights is, routinely, ignored because of this misuse of the Skelley proceeding.

Instead of taking up the time of cheaper wage earning investigators who should be doing the investigations, the Direct Adverse Actions consume an inordinate amount of the time of highly paid Chief Deputy Wardens in protracted investigational hearings that usually take hours to complete. It is only at this juncture that the unmeritorious nature of these charges are discovered. A nature that should have been discovered prior to the Skelley hearing, in a proper investigation wherein the Peace Officer’s Procedural Bill of Rights is observed. The high rate of the failure to sustain the allegations in Direct Adverse Actions speak for itself.

For the Wardens who have adopted this misuse of an otherwise laudable proceeding, it is they who should be attending their own Skelley hearing. If the Wardens consider themselves to be victims of inept investigators who have failed in conducting proper investigations, including affording the accused an opportunity to present exculpatory evidence, then the malfeasant investigators should be seeking new employment for wasting everybody’s time. Unfortunately, as with all else with the Department of Corrections, politics will prevent correction of this abysmal corruption of the Skelley hearing process.

My advice to the Chief Deputy Wardens, employees and employee representatives who attend these hearings is that you should pack a lunch, it will be a long day.

The Blogmaster

Conditional/Continuous Post & Bid Results-5/07

The results for April's Continuous and Conditional Post and bid are in:

Click HERE to see the results.

Click HERE to see the correction.

The Blogmaster

Site Tools - Clocks, Calendar and Calculators.

A simple four gadget sidebar (Windows Vista Not Required).

I have added a clock, calendar, count down/up clock (flash) and calculator (javascript) page which is accessible in the left margin of this blog under the heading "Helpful Stuff for You".

Since this web page is hosted on the free version of Geocities, which adds a script line to the page code that disables resizing scripts and adds advertising, the following steps must be taken if you wish to keep this page on your desktop while you utilize your browser for other tasks.

Right click on the link then, from the fly-out menu, select "Open link in new window". When the new page opens, resize it to fit your needs. If the "SPONSORED LINKS" that appear on the right of the page get in the way, you may close them before resizing:

The Blogmaster

BU6 MOU Proposal to CCPOA From DPA.

In response to a request, here is the Most recent DPA proposal for the MOU.

CLICK HERE!

Manuel A. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Highway

A Senate panel approved a resolution by state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, to dedicate part of Highway 71 in San Bernardino County as the Correctional Officer Manuel A. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Highway...(More . . .)

April 2007 Chapter Meeting - Announcement

Thursday, April 19, 2007
1630
At Mr. Berry’s BBQ

For more information, CLICK HERE!

Daily Bulletin, 4/4/07 - Chino mayor, corrections secretary visit crowded CIM

'I expected what I saw'
Chino mayor, corrections secretary visit crowded CIM
By Shelli DeRobertis, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 04/03/2007 11:44:42 PM PDT

CHINO - A top state official saw for himself the cramped and hot conditions of the California Institution for Men in a special tour past prison beds Tuesday. (More . . .)

Another Brick In The Wall

Click the Play button above for a song about CalDORC

This agreement between the Warden and Mike Ramos concerns CCPOA. Pursuant to a grievance that was filed alleging violation of §7.04 (C), the Warden is NOW attempting to conform to this section by the appropriate language that refers ALL assaults on BU6 employees to the District Attorney for prosecution. It will be interesting to see if the District Attorney, Mike Ramos, makes himself or his representative available to sign this new agreement.

The operative question here is, “Why would a warden sign such a thing?” Pay particular attention to Page 2 under the heading “Assaults on Staff” and the exempted referrals to be found there.

CLICK THE BRICK

Daily Bulletin - 4/3 - Chief: Fire crews at greater risk on CIM calls

Chief: Fire crews at greater risk on CIM calls

By Shelli DeRobertis, Staff Writer

Article Launched: 04/03/2007 01:00:00 AM PDT

CHINO - Being a firefighter is hazardous enough, but members of the Chino Valley department take greater risks when they get called to the California Institution for Men, the fire chief says. (More . . .)

Attention Military Reservists!

Are you a reservist? If so, CLICK HERE!

The results of April's Continuous and Conditional Post and Bid

The results of April's Continuous and Conditional Post and Bid are in! for the results, CLICK HERE

RCW-HUB Agreement / 3/27/2007

The RCW-HUB Agreement of 3/27/2007 can be accessed by clicking HERE.

The original signed version can be obtained by contacting Gary Clark or any of the Board Members.

Blaylock hearing postponed

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A hearing for an inmate accused of murdering a guard at the men's state prison in Chino has been postponed until May 17. (More . . .)

California Prison System Out Of Control.

Check out the Video Blog at Full Disclosure Network by clicking HERE!

Read the report by clicking HERE!

The Blogmaster

3/21/2007 Chapter Meeting Minutes

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.

Status on the “Escape Route” Grievance at RCW.

Status on the “Escape Route” Grievance at RCW.

In November 0f 2005, Fred Stevens, Chief Job Steward of RCW, filed a grievance which protests the construction of the fencing project around the housing units at RCW without providing the housing unit Correctional Officers an escape route and the lack of notice to CCPOA. Clearly this is needed as the Riot Center West continues to live up to its name.

This grievance is currently pending arbitration, and it has been resisted by CDCR management each and every step of the way. The time consuming antagonism by CDCR management, over a matter that is so crucial and patently necessary for staff safety, is truly baffling as staff are forced to work, day after day, living on borrowed time. This in spite of the fact that the Warden and I have discussed this issue at length without resolution.

Sadly, this is just another example of the managerial ineptitude, at each and every level, that this chapter faces on a daily basis.

It makes one wonder, “Just where do they get these people?”

Gary Clark, President
Chino Chapter
CCPOA

Code 3 Response at RCW.

There was a Code 3 response at RCW yesterday which, thanks to the great response of our BU6 brothers and sisters, was confined to Borrego Hall.

The violence was contained with NO STAFF INJURIES. As of this reporting, several ambulances were summoned to transport an undetermined amount of inmates.

More to follow when information becomes available.

http://origin.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_5484224

Labor Advisory - Pay Arbitration

UPDATED MARCH 23, 2007

CCPOA has a toll free number that members can call with their questions on the pay arbitration settlement. It is (877) 729-2726.

MARCH 17, 2007

In a conversation I had with Chuck Alexander yesterday, Friday, March 16, 2007, I received an update on the disbursement of the settlement monies. This will, hopefully, dispel all prior rumors of the progress and amount each of us, that are entitled to payment, will receive.

Since this is a settlement based on the distribution of the $200M award and NOT a payment for lost wages, everyone entitled to payment will receive their share based on their qualifying time that they worked during the subject 18 month period regardless of pay grade or overtime.

If all eligible BU6 employees had worked ALL of the 18 months, the payment would work out to ROUGHLY $7,000.00 before taxes. However, in the reconciliation process, CCPOA and the State Controller are discovering that many of the claimants only worked a fractional portion of the subject 18 months and are only entitled to payment for part of the total period. It is this recalculation and redistribution of the $200M that has the potential for causing a delay, however, this also means that, depending on the time that each entitled BU6 employee worked during this 18 month period, the amount could be less or it could be more because of the redistribution of the $200M.

Generally, those who worked overtime during this period will receive more in this settlement than if the overtime was calculated separately.

The distribution is tentatively scheduled for April of 2007, however, due to the redistribution as cited, the distribution may be delayed until May.

Gary Clark, President
Chino Chapter, CCPOA

CIM IN THE NEWS - 3/14/2007

Click on article for full story.

Prisons chief to tour CIM

CHINO - The head of the state's prison system plans to tour the overcrowded California Institution for Men following numerous local appeals to Sacramento for help.


Judge OKs Blaylock trial

Suspect charged with killing correctional officer
By Rod Leveque, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 03/14/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A judge ruled Tuesday that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to take an inmate to trial on charges he murdered a guard at the men's state prison in Chino

3/13/07 - Daily Bulletin - CIM guards recall attack

CIM guards recall attack

Judge to decide if suspect in fatal stabbing of officer will stand trial
By Rod Leveque, Staff Writer

Article Launched: 03/13/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A judge is expected to rule today on whether an inmate will stand trial on charges he stabbed a Chino prison guard to death more than two years ago.

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_5422879

Announcement - March Chapter Meeting.

The Chapter Meeting for March is scheduled for:

Wednesday, March 21, 2007
1630
At Mr. Berry’s BBQ

For more information, CLICK HERE

Continuous and Conditional Bid for April, 2007

The Continuous and Conditional Bid Forms for April of 2007 are out. To get yours now, CLICK HERE.

Thank you Personnel Assignments for your efforts in producing them.

The Blogmaster

Labor Advisory 3/2/2007

ADVISORY

Yesterday, Thursday, March 1, 2007, I was advised that In Service Training had implemented a new procedure at baton training. As reported, if one of the trainees incorrectly executes a baton movement, the baton instructor will tell him to do a series of push-ups to atone for the trainee’s transgression. I thought this to be quite odd as there is nothing in the baton lesson plan requiring unrelated physical training.

Upon learning of this new procedure, I questioned Lieutenant L. Neff, IST Manager, regarding its implementation without the, legally required, notice to CCPOA regarding impact to the BU6 Membership at CIM. He informed me that the procedure had been implemented on January 1, 2007 and compliance with the “request” for push-ups was wholly voluntary, and in no way, a requirement of the baton training. However, this appears to be a disingenuous effort to minimize a procedure which, as one of its components, has a coercive hazing ritual that follows any failure to comply with it.

As reported, if the trainee is instructed to do push-ups and initially fails to comply, the instructor begins berating the trainee by loudly proclaiming to the other trainees that this individual “has no integrity”, not just once, but several times until this “volunteer” complies under the duress of the hazing.

LABOR ADVISORY:

Because of the potential for an industrial related injury through compliance with this voluntary procedure and CCPOA’s concern that such additional strain during a physically stressful training session may precipitate an adverse cardiopulmonary episode, CCPOA emphatically recommends that you DO NOT participate in this procedure. If your decision to decline participation in this voluntary procedure leads to any coercion or hazing, report this activity to a job steward immediately after training so that CCPOA can prepare a Request To File Charges (RTFC) with the State Personnel Board against the offending trainer for violations of §19572 GC including, but not limited to, (m) Discourteous treatment of the public or other employees. There is also a mandatory reporting of such employee misconduct required by the Departmental Operations Manual:

§31140.7.1 Procedures for Filing an Allegation of Employee Misconduct

“Every employee of CDC with knowledge of employee misconduct shall report any such act and cooperate fully in the investigative process."

Therefore, if you are a victim or even a witness to discourteous treatment at any IST training, it is your legal duty to report it. There is no place in the Department of Corrections for this type of misbehavior.

If you choose to voluntarily comply with this procedure and you experience any ill effects from the additional physical strain, immediately discontinue the training and, if you believe that your illness is caused by the activity related to your training, request that the baton instructor fill out a SCIF form and report to either U.S. Healthworks or your designated health care provider for evaluation.

G.M. Clark, President
Chino Chapter
CCPOA

Labor Advisory - 2/28/2007

ADVISORY!

There has been a rash of adverse actions against BU6 members at CIM, seeking reductions in pay for a term, which may be motivated by the recent $200M arbitration victory of CCPOA for BU6 Members. Many of these adverse actions erroneously cite invalid or expired LOIs, that exist in the employee’s Personnel and/or Supervisory file, as “supporting evidence by the state in a later disciplinary case” (§9.05 D). However, if you have an unexpired LOI in your Personnel and/or Supervisory file and you have complied with “all requirements contained in the LOI/WID” prior to it’s expiration date (§9.05 A), YOU must request it’s removal from your file(s).

This request, together with any supporting documentation, MUST be tendered to “the Appointing Authority or his/her designee”. This is generally done by giving the request to the Employee Relation’s Officer (ERO) and having the original and a copy date stamped, as being received. Keep and file the copy in a secure place because documents of this type have a way of disappearing.

If your request is being ignored, file a grievance alleging that Management is in violation of §9.05 A of the BU6 MOU.

A sample letter can be found by clicking HERE.

Please insure that ALL expired LOIs are removed from your files. Pursuant to §9.03 of the BU6 MOU, you have an absolute right to inspect your files.

The Blogmaster

Conditional/Continuous Post & Bid Results, March, 2007.

The results of the Continuous and Conditional Post and Bid for March 2007 are in.

CLICK HERE to see them.

WINNING THE BATTLE WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT.

Gary Clark, President
Chino Chapter
CCPOA
February 23, 2007

The recently won arbitration victory regarding the CDCR’s obligation to notice CCPOA regarding proposed policy changes has already begun to have profound effects in the way management interacts with CCPOA.

Prior to this victory, CDCR managers apparently considered nothing they did, regarding policy promulgation, to have “impact” on BU6 members for the purpose of triggering the implementation of §27.01 and Sideletter #8 of the BU6 MOU. Essentially, the attitude of CDCR managers and administrators towards CCPOA was, “What we do is none of your business.” The arbitrator did NOT agree.

The CDCR is now under orders to comply with these sections of the MOU and this is sending shock waves throughout the prison system.

Working in conjunction with CCPOA in Sacramento and the victory they achieved, the Chino Chapter has achieved victory without ever having to go beyond the planning stages of the proposed informational picket. Such is the reason that the online poll never materialized - there was simply no need for it after we achieved our victory. Make no mistake, now that the pry bar has opened the door for us, the obligation to meet with the Chino Chapter of CCPOA will no longer be ignored. If the arbitrator’s order is violated, it can always go back to him, immediately, for enforcement.

Pursuant to a memorandum signed by Associate Warden Mike Collier dated February 21, 2007, the Mini Yards at MSF, which were dismantled without proper notice on December 21, 2006, will be restored immediately. There will be a meet and confer between CIM and the Chino Chapter of CCPOA at a later date. This meeting will be for the purpose of negotiating and minimizing this proposed policy’s impact on BU6 employees - a meeting that management was legally obliged to notice and attend prior to the implementation of the policy.

I would like to thank Jerry Lerouge, Chief Job Steward, MSF, for filing the grievance on the abolition of the Mini Yards. The Chapter is fortunate that Jerry and his prodigious talents have come back, after a brief respite, to serve the Chapter.

I also will take this opportunity to thank the Mayor of Chino, Dennis Yates. In a meeting between Mayor Dennis Yates, Fred Stevens and I, on February 12, 2007, the Mayor expressed his willingness to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with CCPOA on the picket line to promote our common cause of staff and community safety. This is a man who is, genuinely, concerned about the plight of BU6 members at CIM as well as the Community of Chino.

Even though the proposed picket was not necessary this time, you can rest assured that CCPOA stands Battle Ready should such an action be necessary in the future.

Minutes From the February Chino Chapter Meeting.

For the minutes of the February Chapter Meeting, CLICK HERE.

Announcement! The Western State Police and Fire Games

Those that are interested in participating or that would like more information, can email me at:

rosascimjs@yahoo.com

or contact me at work 3rd/W Z-31 MSF.

The games are in Mesa, Arizona the week of Oct. 6-13. There are many different events to enter.

Thanks!

Ruben Rosas

An Informational Picket At CIM!

We, the membership of the Chino Chapter of CCPOA, have had it with this administration's intransigence!

What can be done?

CLICK HERE!

By Gary Clark, President
Chino Chapter
CCPOA

Admittedly, there are some issues which impact our prison which our Warden is not able to control. A recent example of this is James Tilton’s decision to transfer inmates out-of-state, by forcible means if necessary. However, more often than not, the promulgation of poor security policy and the failure to correct bad security policy and demonstrably deficient physical plant defects is the result of local action and/or inaction at CIM.

During the current CIM administration, two Correctional Officers, within a two week period, were seriously beaten in incidents which occurred at the MSF yard in housing units without proper offices. Proper offices, NOT open-air podiums, would have afforded the officers a chance to see the attack coming and, perhaps, offer some defense against it.

In a meeting with the Warden, soon after my current term as Chapter President began, we discussed retrofits to make these offices more secure. No action on this issue yet.

Recently, during the current CIM administration, there was a major riot at the Reception Center West which exacerbated the need for escape routes for Correctional Officers working the recently fenced-off housing units. Even though these escape routes were suggested during the construction of the fences, they were ignored.

Recently, during the current CIM administration, the well established security measure of the Mini-Yards was dismantled by one of CIM’s managers. This procedure prevented large groups of inmates from congregating on the MSF yard at the same time. Considering the changing and more violent nature of the “minimum” inmate at CIM, the Mini-Yards are needed now, more than ever. However, day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month the, potentially catastrophic, demise of the Mini-Yards has yet to be reversed.

There are currently many grievances, at various levels within the grievance system, which contest the fact that policy, within the scope of CCPOA representation, is being unilaterally implemented and CCPOA is being locked-out of the state’s legal obligation to afford labor to be part of the process of policy development in these areas. Bad security policy and insecure physical plant certainly impacts terms and conditions of employment.

Now, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation plans to build a mental health facility at CIM which will pose even more of a burden to a security system gone awry. Since CCPOA has been locked-out of the policy making process, perhaps Sacramento should reconsider CIM as one of their proposed sites until the administration gets its security act together.

Since CDCR no longer provides legal notice to CCPOA prior to most policy implementations, perhaps it is time to take our case to those who ultimately pay for the programs and services offered to inmates by CDCR and who are most effected by these policies. That would be the taxpayers of the communities surrounding CIM.

For this reason, a poll will be conducted from February 16, 2007 until March 5, 2007 at the CIM blog at http://cimccpoa.blogspot.com as a feasibility study into an informational picket in front of the California Institution for Men. Based on the reception, either pro or con, the determination will be made whether or not to organize the picket line.

Please visit the blog and vote, one way or another.

The Warden's To-Do List

Clear and Present Danger

Your humble Blogmaster discovered an editorial on another blog which exemplifies the frustrations that many BU6 staff have for a CDC bereft of a plan.

With the author's permission I have linked to the article which can be accessed BY CLICKING HERE.

With the author's permission I have linked to another of her articles, entitled "Tilton's Corcoran", which can be accessed BY CLICKING HERE

With the author's permission I have linked to another of her articles, entitled "Corporate Raiders in the Prison System", which can be accessed BY CLICKING HERE

Conditional and Continuous Bid, 2007

The Continuous and Conditional Bid Forms for 2007 are out and published in the "Forms" section of the blog. To go there now, click HERE.

Thank you Personnel Assignments for your efforts in producing them.

The Blogmaster

February's Chapter Meeting

When?

February 20, 2007 at 1630

Where?

Mr. Berry's BBQ
5670 Shaefer Ave., Unit "A"
Chino, CA 91710

For the flyer and more information, CLICK HERE.

Click Here for Minutes of the January Chapter Meeting

The Blogmaster

BREAKING NEWS ABOUT THE ARB!

From Fred Stevens, Vice President
Chino Chapter
CCPOA

The state controller’s office will deposit a $200,000,000.00 check in a CCPOA account on Monday January 29, 2007. Then the state controller has 30 days to provide a list to CCPOA for all available recipients of the settlement. CCPOA then has 30 days to compare the verification forms returned by the membership. If there are and differences then the member will be contacted. After another 10 days the state controller will start cutting the checks. In all it will take from 70 to 90 days to receive your check.

You will be paid for each qualifying month that you worked 11 or more days. Holiday time vacation time and approved workers comp will get you that seniority point. If you have a pending workers comp and you did not receive a seniority point you will not get paid from this settlement.

If it does get approved at a later time it will be up to you and or your attorney to get a settlement from the state. If you have suspensions or have been terminated and you win your case and get your Job back you must get this money in your settlement with the state. All the moneys in this settlement must be paid in 90 days. CCPOA can not hold any for any reason CIM CCPOA will have the pay arb. verification forms on or about Jan 30, you will also soon be able to get a copy of that form on the CCPOA web site. This form will be used to compare what the state controllers office provides to CCPOA.

Over time will not be a factor in the amount you receive. The money was a settlement not back pay. However most CCPOA members will receive more then they would have received if they had calculated the overtime in. It is estimated that each member will receive from $5,000.00 to $7,000.00 dollars. 10 over times per month would have gotten you $800.00 the amount you receive will be above that. In fact you would have had to make more then $110,000.00 for this to affect you. Once all is said and done over 90% of the membership will have more than what a retro check would have gotten them.

IMPORTANT: there are 600 CCPOA members in the state that did not get inputed into the controllers computers. What this means is you will receive a retro check and the raise on your check at the end of February.

In all we received a 30% increase over the life of our last MOU.

CCPOA has set up a toll free hot line ware you talk to a live person for any questions. The number is 1-877-pay-arb6 or 1-877-729-2726

Walking with you on the toughest beat in the State,

Fred

It has been brought to the Blogmaster's attention that the form is available at the CCPOA main website by clicking HERE.

Week Ending 1/26/07 - Membership Concerns

Every Friday there will be posted a "Membership Concerns" section for Chino Chapter members to post ideas regarding issues which impact them. By posting these in the "Comments" section, issues that are not brought to the attention of the local Job Stewards may be addressed.

If you have any suggestions to improve this blog, simply click "The Blogmaster", and write me an email.

The Blogmaster

Update on the Elimination of the Mini-Yards at CIM

Grievances regarding the disastrous, unilateral policy of eliminating the Mini-Yards have been filed by one of the institution's most experienced Job Stewards.

Jerry Lerouge has identified and grieved two major contract violations that have been committed by the current CIM administration.

They are violations of:

1. §27.01/Sideletter #8 which requires notice to CCPOA, prior to any policy change, for the purpose of opening negotiations regarding the change. Notice which CIM failed to tender,

And

2. §6.02 Health and Safety due to the negative security impact this new policy/procedure has on BU6 employees.

The CIM Chapter of CCPOA remains flummoxed as to the reasoning behind this clandestine policy change and we await a full explanation of how less security is better security.

The latest on the pay arbitration, 1/18/07

The letter from Mike Jimenez regarding the payment of the arbitration award, CLICK HERE.

January's Chapter Meeting.

When?

January 22, 2007 at 1630

Where?

Mr. Berry's BBQ
5670 Shaefer Ave., Unit "A"
Chino, CA 91710

For the flyer and more information, CLICK HERE.

The Blogmaster

Membership Concerns, Week Ending 1-19-07

Every Friday there will be posted a "Membership Concerns" section for Chino Chapter members to post ideas regarding issues which impact them. By posting these in the "Comments" section, issues that are not brought to the attention of the local Job Stewards may be addressed.

If you have any suggestions to improve this blog, simply click "The Blogmaster", and write me an email.

The Blogmaster

Unsafe Practices at CIM.

During the administration of Larry Witek, former Warden of the California Institution for Men in Chino, one of the more security minded actions that he implemented was the concept of the Mini-Yard at the Minimum Support Facility (Minimum Custody Yard). This isolated the inmates, who were confined to their own housing unit yards, into smaller, more manageable, numbers, when they were out of their housing units exercising, and it has worked reasonably well throughout the years.

On December 21, 2006, the newly promoted Associate Warden for the MSF yard rescinded this long-standing security procedure with a memorandum ordering a cessation to the Mini-Yards by exercising all of these inmates together, on the main yard, both day and night. This newly implemented procedure places approximately 1,000 inmates together on a yard that is supervised by only 4 Correctional Officers. Clearly this is a backwards step in security at CIM.

I met with the Warden regarding this issue on January 5, 2007 and he expressed his support for the Mini-Yards, a concept which his subordinate abrogated through the December 21, 2006 memorandum.

In a meeting with the Employee Relations Officer (ERO) immediately after my conversation with the Warden, the ERO and I agreed that, prior to implementation of this emergent policy, Management was obligated to inform and meet with CCPOA, regarding this change, as per the BU6 MOU. To my knowledge, this meeting has yet to occur.

It has been my observation over the decades that Correctional Managers/Administrators tend to walk lightly around their fellow Correctional Managers/Administrators for fear of losing support by stepping on political toes, however, given such an egregious breach of security protocol, someone needs to muster up the courage to step up to the plate and take charge of the situation instead of allowing politics to play out in their own good time. It only takes an instant for Correctional Staff to be injured or killed on-the-job.

This situation makes one wonder just who is in charge of CIM. Clearly this appears to be a case of the tail wagging the dog.

Gary Clark, President

Chino Chapter

CCPOA

The Annual CIM Walk-Run.

Due to the recent changeover in the CIMCCPOA union administration, the CIM annual walk-run and attendant festivities scheduled for Saturday, January 6, 2007, were just now discovered by the incoming Chapter President, Gary Clark.

There will be ample entertainment for the entire family and several Law Enforcement Agencies will be represented.

The event will commence at 0900 and end at 1200, with a reception at a local veterans club following the event.

This event honors fallen peace officers so please make an appearance to show your support for those who gave everything.