Kevin Raymond CCPOA Supervisory

From: CCPOA Supervisory Vice President,


Kevin Raymond

Subject: CCSO Memo Regarding HDSP, CCC and PBSP Recruitment Incentive

Dear Board Member,

A member recently forwarded me a memorandum authored by CCSO (attached) regarding the recruitment incentive currently being afforded to rank and file members at HDSP, CCC and PBSP. Most of the rhetoric from these guys I let pass. But I feel this little missive needs to be addressed. As a recruitment tool for membership, if that is what it is supposed to be, I believe it falls a little short.

We have never, and will never, hold anything against our rank and file members for what they’re able to accomplish at the bargaining table. After all everything and I mean everything we have as supervisors began with CCPOA bargaining on behalf of the rank and file. We are all Correctional Peace Officers and should never forget that. Vilifying the rank and file, our co-workers, our partners and in many cases our friends is not the way to go. Never forget where you came from.

The truth of the matter is without the rank and file agreeing to these provisions what exactly would CCSO be complaining about???? They would never even of had the possibility of attaining the benefit without CCPOA, as usual.

CCPOA made the argument on behalf of our supervisory members from day one to have them included in the distribution of these funds. The state refused, claiming the vacancies that existed at these institutions were rank and file vacancies not supervisory. We also have entire divisions of labor, legislative and legal employees to get ahead of these matters at the onset. We don’t act simply as an attorney referral service. As for meeting with DPA and the upper management of CDCR as is their claim to fame, well again we have done that since day one.

Now we understand being upset because you were wrong regarding the law. We can understand the frustration that must come with promising your membership something you can’t deliver. And I suppose some things, if you say them fast enough and often enough almost sound good. Seriously let other supervisors know that – “belonging to a labor association that has rank and file employees, and possesses collective bargaining rights is not in the best interest for them.” I changed my mind; you can’t say that fast enough for it to sound good. It just makes no sense at all.

As usual the exact opposite is true. Until all of us, as Correctional Peace Officers, regardless of classification, get on the same page under one flag these inequities will continue. It seems to me that if you want the same benefits that are bargained for by the rank and file, you would want to be part of the association that bargains for them in the first place. It would make obtaining those benefits a lot easier.

So what can you really do? Ask your fellow supervisors if they are good with where we are and what we have coming under these current conditions? If they are good with it we wish them well. They can continue to save forty dollars a month, and get an occasional attorney referral, and hope and pray they never end up on the wrong end of a case like the one Correctional Officer McGowan and his family is currently living through. It should be fine - after all it always happens to the other guy - right?