The State Worker

The union representing California Highway Patrol officers has reached a deal to amend its contract with the state, trimming officers' wages for the next two years, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today.

The California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP) agreed to amend its current negotiated contract deal with the Department of Personnel Administration and forgo a raise of 0.5 percent its members were supposed to get July 1.

But the raise money will be redirected to help pre-pay officers' retiree health benefits, the Governor's Office said.

Under the amended contract, which must still be ratified by CAHP members, officers will get no pay raises this year or next.

CAHP members also agreed to contribute pay raises their contract would have provided to help pre-fund their retiree health benefits.

The revised contract makes CAHP the first California union to start pre-funding its retiree health benefits, the governor said.

"California's Highway Patrol officers have one of the toughest jobs in this state, and I couldn't be more proud of their leadership today," Gov. Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

"In agreeing to this amended contract these officers are not only showing their responsibility in preparing for their health care future, but also proving their deep understanding of our state budget situation," the governor added.

"I hope that the great action by these men and women who put their lives on the line every time they put on their uniform will serve as an inspiration to others," he added.

CAHP spokesman John Hamm did not return a telephone call seeking the union's comment on the agreement.

The original contract would have given CHP officers a 0.5 percent raise effective July 1, based on an average of the salary raises received by five other major city and county police forces across the state - a tough sell when other state workers faced furloughs that left them with a 14 percent pay cut.

Instead, the raise - plus another 0.5 percent deducted from their paycheck - will go toward retiree health care costs once the agreement is ratified.

The union also agreed to dedicate its raise in 2010 - no more than 2 percent - to help pre-fund retiree health benefits. The cash-strapped state will match the 2009 and 2010 contribution rate, but won't make that payment until until July 1, 2012.

Schwarzenegger, who clearly is hoping other unions follow suit, said California has made billions of dollars of unfunded retirement health-care promises to its employees. He noted he's pushed for employee contributions like those the CHP union agreed to since his Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission called for them.