Reasons Behind Impending Strike of Some of California’s Highest-Paid Public Employees – Orange County Register

By Kristen Hwang | CalMatters

A labor dispute is brewing between some of California’s highest-paid public employees and the Newsom administration, as they struggle with staffing shortages in state prisons and hospitals that pose risks to both patients and staff. The union representing doctors and psychiatrists in California correctional facilities have authorized a strike, citing non-competitive salaries, difficult working conditions, and an overreliance on higher-paid contracted doctors. Negotiations have been ongoing since March, and the union’s contract expired on July 1. However, the state and its physicians remain far apart in their positions.

The main point of contention is salaries. Although doctors and psychiatrists earn annual salaries ranging from $285,000 to $343,000, temporary contracted workers make twice as much. This pay disparity makes it challenging to attract and retain qualified staff physicians. The vacancy rate among on-site psychiatrists exceeded 50% in June, while the overall vacancy rate for all psychiatrists was 35%. Additionally, more than 20% of primary care doctor positions are currently vacant.

Labor Strife During Budget Crunch

This strike authorization comes at a time when the Newsom administration is facing multiple difficult contract negotiations amid a $31 billion budget deficit. State workers are increasingly dissatisfied with their salaries, as the rising cost of living, particularly housing, continues to strain their finances. Contracts for the state’s two largest unions, SEIU Local 1000 and the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, expired in July. These unions represent over 125,000 workers, and SEIU is demanding double-digit raises. State scientists are also demanding salary increases comparable to their counterparts in the private sector.

The state has offered the prison doctors’ union a 2% raise annually for the next three years, but this falls short of their expectations. The union is seeking at least a 15% raise in the first year of the new contract. While the prison doctors’ union may be small, representing only about 1,300 employees, they play a crucial role in California’s correctional medical system. These doctors are responsible for providing daily assessments, writing prescriptions, overseeing drug treatment, delivering behavioral and mental health interventions, and offering court testimony.

The challenges faced by doctors working in correctional medical facilities are greater than those in typical hospitals. Patients in these facilities are often severely ill and have been hospitalized for extended periods, sometimes decades. They can become violent and may require physical restraints. These demanding circumstances require highly skilled and qualified psychiatrists, but recruitment and retention efforts are hampered by the uncompetitive salaries offered by the state. Facilities like Napa State Hospital have experienced staffing shortages since 2014, with a 45% vacancy and 12 open positions.

Contract Prison Doctors Paid More

Out of the 12 open positions at Napa State Hospital, 10 are currently filled by temporary contractors who receive double the hourly rate of staff doctors. This significant pay difference indicates that the state is aware of what constitutes a competitive salary and has the financial means to provide one. The state spends around $100 million annually on contracted physicians. While contractors may not receive the same benefits and pensions as state workers, the higher pay makes it enticing for staff members to leave their positions and return as contractors. In fact, five psychiatrists recently quit their staff jobs to become contracting physicians.

The physician shortage in prisons poses a challenge for the state to meet court-imposed staffing mandates that have been in place for over two decades. Failure to comply with these mandates has resulted in significant fines, with a judge recently ordering the state to pay a $1,000 per day fine for failing to implement adequate suicide prevention measures. These measures include reducing the vacancy rate for psychiatrists and case managers to 10% or below. However, the current vacancy rate remains well above this benchmark. As a result, the state has been criticized for not adequately staffing its prisons with enough mental health professionals to provide constitutionally adequate care.

This labor dispute highlights the broader challenges faced by California’s public employees during a time of budget constraints. It underscores the need for competitive salaries to attract and retain skilled professionals and ensure the provision of quality care in vital sectors such as healthcare.