Q: Our state is enacting budget cuts that threaten the safety of the public. How do we address this issue and still do our jobs? I take it as an insult that our budget is cut.
A: Take heart brother, I am with you. For those of you that don’t know, the Governor of California is proposing what amounts to a 5% pay cut for Correctional Officers, along with other cuts that could lead to a loss of pay.
I am just as frustrated as you are. I am tired of being looked at as a line item that can be under-funded any time the state budget gets cut. The bottom line is simple: we are public servants at the will of the people.
When I took this job, I realized at graduation that this was more than your average job. No longer am I simply an employee, I am now a servant of the public, tasked with protecting the public, even at the cost of my own life. What is often overlooked is the daily sacrifice we all make to serve the public: The Christmases without our family, the missed birthdays, the missed football games. No-one seems to remember those come budget time.
This is a hard fact of life that we have to deal with. There is no greater hero than the one that never asks for, or is given recognition for the sacrifices he/she has made. You simply can’t take it personal when the Governor takes part of your livelihood away. This sounds twisted, but it must be realized.
This does not mean ysaou have to idly sit by while your check goes to some crack head to buy drugs through our welfare system. It simply means that you will have to come in to work tomorrow and perform the same job you did at a higher level of pay.
There is a time and place for protest, but your job performance isn’t one of them. Work as hard as you always have, and realize that someday soon, you will save the life of innocent civilians through the work that you do. Pay will work itself out through Union representatives; and although a hard pill to swallow, you have no choice but to suck it up.
All of this is part of being a Correctional Officer. We are the “forgotten officers” and will probably always be that way. We will get what is due to us eventually, it just takes time.
Is it fair? NO
Is it reasonable? NO
Do we have much choice? NO
So all we can do is sit back and see what happens. Our budget will be cut, and we will loose part of our pay. But I know in my heart that any Correctional Officer, be it an Officer from Maine or California, will still perform their duties, no matter if it is convenient for the state’s budget.
Hang in there brother. We have been through worst times, and I am sure we will see more cuts in the future. Do what you can to keep the public safe, and make sure as many people as you can are aware of the issue. Use the union when appropriate, and contact your local state lawmaker and let them know what you think about the proposed budget cuts.
For those of you who live outside of California, here is a link to the proposed budget cuts as of 11-8-2008 : http://www.ccsonet.org/pages_news/Weekly Updates 2008/11.06.08 Weekly Update.pdf
As always, send me your questions at the link below and I will answer them as soon as possible.