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EDITORIAL: Hagar's report is an epitaph for prison reforms: Schwarzenegger abandons early efforts, leaving guards union firmly in control(Sacramento Bee, The (CA) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jun. 25--Prison reform in California, which looked so promising in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's first two years, is dying. A report from John Hagar, the special master appointed by a federal court, rightly lays the blame directly on the governor's office. Schwarzenegger began by doing the right things. He appointed a California Corrections Independent Review Panel, which found that management does not control the prison system. The 2001-2006 contract with the prison guards, said the panel, negotiated away traditional management functions and "resulted in an unfair and unworkable tilt toward union influence." Schwarzenegger brought in new leaders. He worked with the federal courts to make improvements. Prison guard union leaders were required to work with the Department of Labor Relations, as other unions do, rather than going directly to the governor's office or the head of corrections. Schwarzegger promised to end the "Capitol walk," where the union was allowed to walk away from state negotiators in the contract bargaining process and go directly to the governor's office in the Capitol to get what they wanted. However, following the appointment of Susan P. Kennedy as the governor's chief of staff, Hagar writes, "a series of disturbing developments have taken place." They signal a return to practices under Gov. Gray Davis "allowing the California Correctional Peace Officers Association to overrule the most critical decisions of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation secretary." Prison guard union leaders now are allowed to go over the heads of the people Schwarzenegger appointed to run the prison system. They show up in the governor's office to meet with Kennedy. The results are obvious. In a period of six weeks, the corrections system Secretary Rod Hickman and his acting replacement, Jeanne Woodford, resigned. Both, Hagar says, cited union influence with the governor's office as a reason for leaving. Hagar notes Kennedy has been "conducting regular meetings with CCPOA officials" -- without the knowledge of the corrections secretary. Hagar concludes that top-ranking leadership in the agency is "confused, understaffed, dispirited and, most important, uncertain who is really in charge: the acting secretary or the president of the CCPOA." The turnover in corrections leadership comes at a terrible time. The 2001-2006 prison guards contract ends July 2 and negotiations for a new contract are under way. Two people should be far, far away from contract negotiations. First is Kennedy. She was a backdoor contact in Davis' office for the management giveaways in the disastrous 2001-2006 contract. The second is Tim Virga, formerly a union chapter president at Folsom State Prison. He was on the team that negotiated the 2001-2006 contract and revisions in 2004 that gave prison guards a plum new retirement benefit and management giveaways on sick leave, overtime and post assignments. Hagar has called for a public hearing on these issues July 12. We wrote March 1 that prison reform was in its death throes and "federal receivership is looking more likely -- and more desirable -- by the day." Hagar's latest report confirms that conclusion. |