CA's prison guard union just got a little richer thanks to Jerry Brown. (Arnold: income, live)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Gunluvver2

In my ten years as a Prison Guard I concluded that most of the officers (actually involved in security) leaned toward the Conservative side of politics. The case workers, housing unit managers and others involved in administrative duties were more Liberal in their politics. It seemed to me that the more actual contact individuals had with inmates the more conservative their views. In our system to works as a Caseworker or higher rank than a Corporal you had to have a College degree or a minimum of five years on the job. Exceptions were made for certain military experience.

In our University faculty I think the percentage of Conservative professors teaching Criminal Justice is a lot higher than the Professors in other Humanities. Still not a majority but not as scarce as a Conservative Professor in the English or Social Services departments.

JMHO,
GL2

Probably my favorite position as an officer, before I promoted to Seargeant, was as an S&E - Search and Escort Officer. Something different on every watch, first responder when it hit the fan and very challenging; especially midnight load-outs on ther buses from the reception center. For some reason, people didn't want to come out of their cells/houses to be loaded on the Grey Goose headed for San Quentin or Folsom, or even then Gladiator School at Tracy. I can't imagine why!

Yeah! We were rather hard-core and tended to lurch to starboard.

[steel7]

Prison guards do have a dangerous & important job but the state cant afford to pay what they want.

[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by steel7

Prison guards do have a dangerous & important job but the state cant afford to pay what they want.

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From what I understand the big problem with the budgets involving State Workers unions is the Pension Plans with defined benefits. Most of our Public Employees (Nebraska) have a 401 K plan. The employee contributes a percentage of their Gross salary (IIRC about 4%). The state matches that amount with a contribution of 156% of the members contribution (the figure when I was in service). Employees were fully vested after five years. This goes in to a Pension fund managed by a financial institution selected by the State. When I retired I rolled over all of my funds to a self directed IRA. The State has NO LIABILITY for my retirement funds. Other than the initial contributions made from payroll while on the job the state has no future liability under this system. I elected to roll over my funds in to a self directed IRA because I did not want some third party handling my money. I made the right decision based on ten years of returns.

The "defined benefits" system is a disaster! If allowed to continue the defined benefits way of funding pensions is going to result in bankruptcy in any agency that uses it. However with Politicians controlling TRILLIONS of dollars that are in these funds that is just too much opportunity for corruption by a crooked system. It will not change until VOTERS wise up and insist on changing it.

GL2

[Vascodagama]

Originally Posted by Gunluvver2

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From what I understand the big problem with the budgets involving State Workers unions is the Pension Plans with defined benefits. Most of our Public Employees (Nebraska) have a 401 K plan. The employee contributes a percentage of their Gross salary (IIRC about 4%). The state matches that amount with a contribution of 156% of the members contribution (the figure when I was in service). Employees were fully vested after five years. This goes in to a Pension fund managed by a financial institution selected by the State. When I retired I rolled over all of my funds to a self directed IRA. The State has NO LIABILITY for my retirement funds. Other than the initial contributions made from payroll while on the job the state has no future liability under this system. I elected to roll over my funds in to a self directed IRA because I did not want some third party handling my money. I made the right decision based on ten years of returns.

The "defined benefits" system is a disaster! If allowed to continue the defined benefits way of funding pensions is going to result in bankruptcy in any agency that uses it. However with Politicians controlling TRILLIONS of dollars that are in these funds that is just too much opportunity for corruption by a crooked system. It will not change until VOTERS wise up and insist on changing it.

GL2

If the state corrupt politicians can't get you full outrageous pay and full outrageous benefits for life after the age of 55 then who is going to keep the corrupt politicians in power???

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Gunluvver2

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The "defined benefits" system is a disaster! If allowed to continue the defined benefits way of funding pensions is going to result in bankruptcy in any agency that uses it. However with Politicians controlling TRILLIONS of dollars that are in these funds that is just too much opportunity for corruption by a crooked system. It will not change until VOTERS wise up and insist on changing it.

GL2

I quite agree but even so, I'm glad both my wife and I have defined benefit plans. We also had 401Ks we were able to self-manage and for mine, as a manager, at one time the state matched me up to a whomping $100 a month. But that ended up being one of the first take-backs from management years ago and only lasted a couple of years after inception anyway.

Anyone laying bets that governors and legislators, coin-operated by the unions, will make any major changes anytime soon?

[Vascodagama]

State employees failed to repay millions in loans

The Controller is continuing his probe — the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation was singled outas one of the probe-ees — and the audits may uncover millions more in uncollected salary and travel advances.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Don9

State employees failed to repay millions in loans

The Controller is continuing his probe — the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation was singled outas one of the probe-ees — and the audits may uncover millions more in uncollected salary and travel advances.

Ya mean ya don't think they just forgot - simple human error?

[steel7]

It seems ALOT of the state employees are raping the tax payer & our greedy politicial leaders are letting it happen. What a disgrace.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by steel7

It seems ALOT of the state employees are raping the tax payer & our greedy politicial leaders are letting it happen. What a disgrace.

Out of something like 220,000 employees, I would imagine that the number "cheating" the state is relatively minor.

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Out of something like 220,000 employees, I would imagine that the number "cheating" the state is relatively minor.

For most institutions/businesses public and private it can be anywhere between 2-5% on average of companies of 1000 or more. Conversely the percentages increase dramatically as the number of employees goes for obvious reasons. Those numbers can add up quickly if the average loss is just $5000 dollars over the term which the criminal is employed. Which is peanuts compared to the crooks at the highest levels of any organization.