There's an excellent article in today's Los Angeles Times about the escalating tension between Arnold Schwarzenegger and the powerful California Correctional Peace Officers Association.  The story starts off powerfully, detailing how guards filed a nuisance grievance against the State over a 5' sunflower plant that was supposedly obstructing their view from the gun tower.

I'm surprised they didn't shut down visiting at the Lancaster facility while they paid some guard triple overtime to go home, get his clippers, put on protective gear, clip the sunflower, put it into hazmat disposal facilities and change back into uniform.  (If I sound cynical about this particular union, it's because I am.)

I wrote a letter to one of the State's prison wardens last week.  I won't specify which one because we want to keep our friend anonymous and safe.  The reason for the letter?  The State recently reinstated Friday visiting, a privilege they'd revoked (along with Thursday visiting) several years back when we were having the Davis budget crisis.  Dan and I went to visiting twice after the reinstatement.  Once on a Friday, which was wonderful because it wasn't crowded, lines were reasonable, guards were in a much better mood than usual.

The second visit was on a Saturday.  Again, it was much better than usual, presumably because Friday visits were taking some of the enormous pressure of weekend visits off of Saturday/Sunday.

As I wrote to the warden, "As you can imagine, it takes an extraordinary amount of dedication to regularly visit an inmate at any California prison facility.  The travel is difficult, the processing is time consuming and, despite the best efforts of visitor and guard, always tense."  What I didn't add, because I didn't want to be antagonistic, is that visiting is always demeaning for the visitor. 

You'll note that I did reference "the best efforts of guard."  As a visitor, I appreciate that the guards are in a difficult position.  They have to suspect the worst of every visitor and, at the same time, manage a pleasant demeanor and treat visitors with respect.  Many don't manage that tightrope, but all of the guards who staff visiting at "our" prison do at least make the attempt.  Not so at every California prison.  (We've visited at 3 now.)

In general, I don't object to individual guards (although our friend has some stories that would raise anyone's hackles).  What I do object to is the unfettered power of the prison guard's union and some of the ridiculous concessions they've won from our government in contract negotiations.

The article lists several examples.  My personal favorite is that sick time counts toward overtime. (!)  Their rumored pay level of over $100 K for the average guard (including overtime, sick time, etc) is also beyond comprehension.

I've long said to Dan that the government needs to get out from under the prison guard union.  Now that they've official withdrawn from negotiations, maybe we'll have the chance.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not against unions in general (too many family members in unions for one thing...and for another, there are many times that management over-reaches).  What I am against is a powerful union, running amok with political contributions, overpaid workers on the State payroll, and contributing to the inefficiency, cruelty and inhumanity of California's prison system.

I'll be interested to see if Arnie is strong enough to bring the union into line before he leaves office.  If he does, I'll have to retract my anti-Arnie sentiments (at least in part).

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