New in CW 08.11.06

Prison guard talks break down--no contract likely until 2007 It has been more than a month since the labor contract between California and the state's prison guards expired and the union now says it is digging in and preparing to go without a contract until at least 2007. Discussions have stalled as negotiators face a deadline--which could be as soon as today--to hammer out a deal and have it ratified by the Legislature before the end of the year. The negotiating teams have not met for more than a week after a late July session when tempers flared and both sides walked away displeased. The state and union have yet even to agree on ground rules for the discussions, which began inauspiciously two months ago when the union demanded to videotape the proceedings. In response, the state negotiators walked out. "We are at a complete and total standstill. The last official meeting was at least a week ago and it did not go well," said Lance Corcoran, a spokesman for the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA). "The CCPOA doesn't have any confidence that a deal can be struck this year."