Archive for October, 2005
On November 8th - Get Out and Vote!
The media announced today that less than 60% of Californians are paying attention to Schwarzenegger’s Special Election scheduled for November 8th. This is exactly what the Governor’s Administration has been hoping for, the chance to receive favorable votes from their core group of supporters – and the silent, misunderstood non-votes of those who should in most cases be against his propositions.
The main propositions that CCPOA and hundreds of thousands of other Californians should be concerned about are Prop 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78. These propositions will not only cost taxpayers millions of dollars, but also cost Californians in other ways that would affect their jobs, their livelihood and their families. These new propositions affect union and other state employees including local law enforcement, correctional officers, firefighters, nurses, teachers and more.
BetterCa.com does a great job of outlining each of the propositions for us one-by-one so we can really see what’s going on behind the smoke and mirrors of politics:
VOTE NO > Proposition 74 – The “Blame Teachers Act”
BetterCA.com says: “This measure would do nothing to improve public education or deal with the real problems facing our schools… If this measure passes, new teachers would serve a 5-year probationary period rather than the current two years, and would lose the right to even have a fair hearing on their dismissal for a full 5 years. Current law already allows for firing teachers who are not performing in the classroom, no matter how long they’ve been on the job.”
VOTE NO > Proposition 75 – The “Paycheck Deception Act”
BetterCA.com says: “Proposition 75 is a deceptive measure put on the ballot by the big corporations and out of state billionaires who support Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s destructive agenda for California. It unfairly targets teachers, nurses, firefighters, police and other public employees with restrictions that don’t apply to other groups or corporations, which regularly spend shareholder money on politics without permission. Prop. 75 is designed to reduce our ability to respond when politicians would harm education, health care and public safety, effectively clearing the opposition to the Governor’s education and health care cuts.”
VOTE NO > Proposition 76 – The “Cut School Funding Act”
BetterCA.com says: “This measure would devastate our public schools and other vital services, cutting school funding by over $4 billion every year - $600 per student, leading to more overcrowded classrooms, teacher layoffs, and fewer textbooks and classroom materials… It also overturns the voter-approved Proposition 98, eliminating the minimum funding guarantee for education. It also cuts funding for local government – cutting police and firefighters, as well as local health care services that protect children and the elderly.”
VOTE NO > Proposition 77 – Reapportionment
BetterCA.com says: “Amends process for redistricting California’s Senate, Assembly, Congressional and Board of Equalization districts, putting the process in the hands of a three-member panel of retired judges, selected by legislative leaders. This measure requires immediate redistricting which is unnecessary, costly, and will produce unfair results by using outdated census data. Even Republican Secretary of State Bruce McPherson believes this measure is fatally flawed because it cannot be implemented under the timeline contained in the measure.”
VOTE NO > Proposition 78 – The Drug Companies’ “Bad Prescription” Initiative
BetterCA.com says: “The big drug companies are going to spend millions trying to fool voters and keep them from passing the real prescription drug relief contained in the Alliance-backed Prop. 79. This phony measure says only that drug companies can enter a “voluntary” program to reduce prices…but why will they? They have no real incentive to lower the sky-high cost of prescription drugs. A “No” vote on this measure is necessary to provide consumers with real relief from soaring drug prices, because whichever measure gets the highest number of votes becomes law.”
Whether you, or a family member, is part of one of the workforce affected by Schwarzenegger’s Propositions – you very likely will know a neighbor, a friend or community member who is. The Alliance for a Better California (BetterCA.com) is backed by the following California Groups:
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
www.calafscme.org
Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)
www.acsa.org
California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA)
www.ccpoa.org
California Faculty Association (CFA)
www.calfac.org
California Federation of Teachers (CFT)
www.cft.org
California School Employees Association (CSEA)
www.csea.com
California Teachers Association (CTA)
www.cta.org
Peach Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)
www.porac.org
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
www.seiuca.org
SEIU Local 1000
www.seiu1000.org
Minorities in Law Enforcement (MLE)
Help to protect STOP the Schwarzenegger Administration from taking so much from California residents, taxpayers and employees. VOTE NO on Props 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78.
Tell your family, friends and neighbors to VOTE NO on November 8th.
SPINNNNNNNNNNNNN
TO: All Unit 6 Staff
From: J. Baumiller
CCPOA President
Ironwood Chapter
As the wheel spins around and around where and who it stops on nobody knows. The wheel I am referring to is the WHEEL OF TURMOIL. As I have referred to before who will be the one today, tomorrow, or next week, to run Ironwood State Prison. Who will it land on? No one knows, will it be DO, SR, FH, or another one of our so called great leaders. Who, I wonder will finally step up to the plate and take charge.
The taking charge I am referring to is taking back control of our prison which is slowly spinning out of control. Officers place their lives at risk enforcing policy and procedures at Ironwood State Prison just to have a Yard Captain come behind them and violate policy and procedures. Procedures that the prison says they want you to follow and if you don’t adverse action will follow. What happens when administration doesn’t follow policy and procedures set forth by the Department of Corrections? Will they receive an LOI, adverse action; I don’t think so, maybe a promotion.
Officers are being drained on a daily basis, by working 16 hour shifts. This continues but administration doesn’t believe it has anything to do with the 60 some odd positions that Ironwood State has left vacant. Their answer is officers are calling in sick too much. Well, who ever is running the prison today needs to wake up and put the candy bar down. Yes, there are some officers calling in sick. It’s possible that an officer is so tired they have nothing left to do but to call in sick. And what have you seen from our administration? or when have they approached you and ask what they can do to help with this problem?
As many of you know the Department of Corrections has changed its name. Remember you can change the name all you want but unless you change who may be in charge, nothing will change.
_______________
J. Baumiller
CCPOA President
Ironwood Chapter