Ruling: Guards can't piggyback CHP pay hike

Sacramento Bee ^ | 9/6/7 | Andy Furillo

[SmithL]

An arbitrator has ruled that the state's correctional officers are not entitled to a pay raise based on an increase the California Highway Patrol union negotiated for its members last year.

In his Sept. 1 ruling, arbitrator Norman Brand found that the state did not violate its since-expired contract with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association it when rebuffed the union's claim that a raise must follow the increase awarded to the CHP.

The CCPOA filed a grievance last September saying members should have gotten the raise based on the union's old contract. The expired agreement established a methodology that paid the CCPOA members $666 a month less than CHP officers.

"The (memorandum of understanding) has expired," Brand wrote. "There is no language in the expired MOU that requires any further salary increases. Thus, none are required, unless and until the parties negotiate new increases."

Last year, another arbitrator awarded CCPOA members a 3.125 percent raise based on health care and other benefits awarded to the CHP employees. The arbitrator said the CCPOA members were entitled to the raise because the CHP benefits were conveyed before the correctional officers' old contract had expired.

[TexGuy]

Sorry, I just wanted to post a Chips Pic ....