CAPT organizes events to draw attention to budget cuts and layoffs

California Association of Psychiatric Technicians:

WHY: The California Association of Psychiatric Technicians is continuing a series of weekly informational pickets at state hospitals, developmental centers and prisons, this time at three locations: Coalinga State Hospital, Lanterman Developmental Center and Metropolitan State Hospital. The events will draw attention to ongoing state budget cuts that are not only hurting employees, but also the vital services Psych Techs provide to Californians in their care.

As licensed and certified level-of-care nursing staff specializing in therapeutic and medical care for people with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses, Psychiatric Technicians’ concerns are threefold:

• For clients and patients – Layoffs at Lanterman and Sonoma Developmental Centers last week, continuing hiring freezes and unpaid furloughs throughout the state are impacting Psychiatric Technicians’ ability to provide adequate staffing, which can affect quality of care in 24-hour state facilities.
• For staff – As with many Californians, ongoing pay cuts are hurting members’ families as well as efforts
  to recruit and retain a quality workforce.
• For Californians – Increased mandatory overtime to cover staffing gaps means increased costs
  to taxpayers, while unpaid furloughs mean less patronage for local businesses.

CAPT is seeking to lift the state’s hiring freeze at 24-hour facilities, the reduction or elimination of furloughs, and an end to the layoffs of nearly 90 employees. Union counsel filed recently filed a lawsuit outlining how Governor Schwarzenegger’s unpaid furloughs violate several labor laws and orders. The document is available online at www.psychtechs.net.