Thousands of state medical workers will get an unexpected pay raise -- as much as $2,114 more a month -- in hopes they won't shop for a better offer at another state agency.
Psychiatric technicians at the Department of Developmental Services will see $84 more a month while senior psychologists at the Department of Mental Health will find an extra $1,590. And psychologists at three centers serving the developmentally disabled will get $2,114 more.
The pay raises, retroactive to April, will take effect once Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs legislation already approved by the Legislature. The increase is expected to cost taxpayers more than $60 million a year.
State officials say the raises are being driven by court-ordered pay increases for medical workers at the beleaguered Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Citing the state's inability to provide adequate care for inmates, federal courts have mandated raises to help lower high vacancy rates within Corrections.
Unless the state provides "equity" increases to workers in similar categories at other departments, state officials say California could end up with dangerous shortages at its mental hospitals, veterans homes and centers for the developmentally disabled.
"There's no reluctance to provide increases," said Department of Personnel Administration spokeswoman Lynelle Jolley. "We don't want to end up draining state employees from one department to another."
Michael Bien, the attorney representing inmates seeking better mental health care, criticized the state for delaying pay raises until driven to court by lawsuits.
"They allowed this to happen because they're callous," Bien said. "I think they're playing a game with that. Unfortunately, there's lives at stake."
So far, the state has agreed to pay increases for about 6,500 mental health workers, such as psychiatric technicians and psychologists, whose monthly pay now ranges from $4,190 to $7,046. The tab is expected to grow as the state continues to negotiate with other medical workers such as nurses and doctors.
Although the Legislature has approved $60 million for the pay raises, the state Finance Department is projecting to spend as much as $119 million this fiscal year to deal with the ripple effects of the court mandates.
Social service agencies have already witnessed a small exodus to Corrections. When California was ordered last year to pay higher salaries to Corrections medical employees, dozens of workers from other state agencies began making their way to state prison facilities.
Between July 2006 and March of this year, the Department of Mental Health lost 58 psychiatric technicians, psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers to various prison facilities. The Department of Developmental Services has lost more than 100 such workers to the Corrections Department so far this year.
And the Department of Veterans Affairs reported that eight nurses have transferred to Corrections, although one nurse has since returned.
Some of those who are now considering leaving are being lured by better pay, shorter hours and what they consider to be safer working conditions.
"Corrections is hiring for more money, and they have armed officers with them, where we don't," said Tori Vargas, an employee of Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino for 12 years who was brought by State Employees International Union 1000 Sacramento to share her story. "We have roaming hospital police who are not armed that you have to beg to come to your floor when you need them."
Vargas, who makes $7,600 a month, estimates she could make $600 more at Corrections.
Taxpayer watchdogs worry that Californians will be the biggest loser.
"If we have gotten to the point where government agencies are in a bidding war to retain the same employees, taxpayers are going to lose that war every time," said David Kline, spokesman for the California Taxpayers' Association.
Sandra Foley, a 52-year-old registered nurse at the veterans home in Yountville, said workers aren't just leaving for Corrections. She said top pay for Yountville nurses is $72,408 a year while a nearby private long-term care facility pays a maximum of $94,680.
"We look at what our community pays," Foley said. "We are the employer of last resort. If a new graduate wanted a job, they're going to be turned down at quite a few places until they get here."
With the nation's largest veterans home in their backyard, Yountville residents have grown so worried about the loss of quality nurses that they got the Legislature to call for an audit of medical services.
While court cases have driven the state to increase pay for some medical personnel, others are still waiting for better pay.
Union officials say the disparity in pay is feeding a vicious cycle because as more people leave for better jobs, the ones who are left behind must struggle to maintain safety.
Nancy Lyerla, a representative of the state employees union, has been leading the effort to get pay raises for nurses at mental hospitals, veterans homes and developmental facilities. She said even though their workers don't fit categories in any of the current lawsuits, nurses in non-Corrections facilities are doing the same work.
Nurses such as Vargas say they often find themselves in dangerous situations with violent patients suffering from serious mental illnesses. A majority of patients at state hospitals are there because they have committed crimes, she said.
Vargas said she was attacked by a female patient in May. The patient, who was known to ingest non-food items, kicked and punched her in an attempt to get back to her room after being instructed to stay in a side room for the night, Vargas said.
"I believe a big contributing problem was that I didn't have regular staff," said Vargas, who has been on disability leave since the incident.
But Nancy Kincaid, a spokeswoman for the Department of Mental Health, disputed that the hospital was understaffed, saying the state has always met staff-to-patient ratios.
"We know how hard the job is for nurses," Kincaid said. "The patients are unpredictable. They (the nurses) face assaults more often than (Corrections) staff."
Rachael Kagan, a spokeswoman for federal receiver Robert Sillen, who is in charge improving medical care at adult prisons, said one of the reasons for taking over prison health care was the state's inability to pay enough to fill positions.
"That was the terrain we inherited," she said.
By Judy Lin, The Sacramento Bee