By Jennie Rodriguez-Moore
The Record
STOCKTON — The union representing correctional officers at the County Jail has filed a lawsuit, saying San Joaquin County violated state laws when it forced contract terms on more than 200 officers.
State lawmakers last year passed a bill that changed public employees’ pension contribution rates, but the county Correctional Officers Association is saying the law prohibits the county from imposing the increases without the group’s agreement until 2018.
“That’s why we filed the lawsuit, to get that reversed,” said George Lauchland, president of the association. “We felt the contract they imposed was a retaliatory contract because we didn’t agree to their terms.”
The county implemented unilateral contract terms for about 217 officers following more than a year of failed negotiations. Officers are responsible for a larger share of the cost of their health care and retirement benefits under the new contract.
County officials have said the concessions were some of the county’s “key pillars” in keeping the county fiscally sound.
The concessions are expected to provide the county $2.5 million in annual savings.
Almost every other county employee has accepted increases to their share of costs since the recession, county officials have said.
But Lauchland said the imposed increases are harsher for the correctional officers.
He said correctional officers already had taken a big hit with layoffs.
Lauchland said officers deal with heightened safety concerns since the enactment of AB109.
Jail population increased as responsibility for certain felony offenders was transferred from the state to counties.
“Through realignment, now we have long-term inmates that are much more sophisticated,” Lauchland said. “People are manufacturing weapons. Those incidents have been on the climb.”
Prior to the imposed contract, negotiating parties had met 16 times, according to the county.
At one point they came to a tentative agreement, but members as a whole did not accept.
The county declared an impasse in October and mediation did not result in an agreement.
County Counsel Kristin Heggem said she believes the changes imposed were allowable under the law. Heggem couldn’t comment further because the county has not been served with the lawsuit, she said,
The association has, in addition, filed a grievance with the state Public Employment Relations Board.
The relations board is expected to begin hearing the complaint in December.