(Note: I consider this peripheral. pd)

GOVERNOR OKS RAISES FOR 2 WORKER GROUPS

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Pete Wilson's administration has reached agreements to
give state correctional officers and fire-fighters their first raises since
1995, administration officials said Tuesday.

The agreement with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association
would give 5 percent pay raises to 28,000 officers at 33 state prisons and
44 other detention facilities retroactive to July 1 and another 5 percent
Oct. 1.

The agreement with the California Department of Forestry Employees'
Association would give 3,223 state firefighters 5 percent raises
retroactive to July 1 and increase contributions to their pension plan
effective Oct. 1 for a total increase to take home pay of 7 percent.

Both agreements must be ratified by the Legislature and by the memberships
of the unions involved.

The deal with the correctional officers was reached Saturday, one day after
the Republican governor vetoed funds for a 9 percent raise for other state
employees from the state budget. Top pay for correctional officers would
rise from $3,852 to $4,236.

The fire-fighters agreement was reached on Tuesday.

Responding to questions, Wilson's spokesman, Sean Walsh, said it was
"outrageous" to suggest that there was any link between the raises for
prison guards and the $1.5 million their union has contributed to Wilson's
campaigns over the past decade.

Walsh said the raises stem solely from the willness of the correctional
officers and firefighters to negotiate in good faith, not the donations
they gave Wilson over the past decade.

"For the most part, the other unions refuse to bargain in good faith, and
are denying their members justly deserved compensation," Walsh said.

Perry Kemy, President of the 87,000-member California State Employees
Union, denied that his union has refused to bargain in good faith with the
sate. CSEA has objected to performance-based criteria for wage increases
demanded by Wilson.

The correctional officers, who like most other state employees have not had
raises since 1995, agreed to some contract changes that reduce overtime
pay. But they gained other changes that benefit officers, including pay
for an extra 12 minutes per day for the average time it takes officers to
get to their posts. The fire-fighters agreed to pay-for-performance
standards for raises sought by Wilson from all state employee unions.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan