Spring 2011 ACU Newsletter The Assault on Our Basic ... - AFSCME

Photo: Joe Weidner<strong>The</strong> <strong>Assault</strong> on Our Basic Rightscontinued from Page 1Mexico, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,Washington and West Virginia. <strong>The</strong>semeasures, now in effect in 22 states,undermine wages for all workers anddestroy the best job security protectionthat exists: the union contract. Underthese laws, workers in unionized settingswould benefit from the union’svictories without sharing in the cost ofrunning the union.Now is the time to fight back likenever before. We have already started acampaign to recall eight GOP senatorsin Wisconsin and hold them accountableat the ballot box.But Wisconsin is only the beginning.We’re in this fight for the long haul.<strong>The</strong> attack against public service workers— wherever our sisters and brothersare threatened — is an attack againstAFSCME members everywhere. Visitafscme.org, to find out how you canjoin the fight.We’ve got to mobilize the powerthat comes from speaking with oneclear voice. Each of us must be fullyengaged in a unified effort for the goodof every AFSCME member, for thegood of working families and thegood of our nation.Verneta Clark, a member of AFSCMEOhio Retiree Chapter 1184, and the firstfemale employee at the Southern OhioCorrectional Facility in Lucasville, joinedher sisters and brothers at the Statehouserally on Feb. 22.tor collective bargaining a priority. Hehas threatened to fire striking publicservice workers and do away with bindingarbitration. In March, Kasich signedS.B. 5, which would eliminate collectivebargaining for state workers.Right-to-work laws – designed toweaken unions – are currently beingconsidered in Alaska, Connecticut,Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Maryland,Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,Montana, New Hampshire, NewPhoto: Greg DixonMarching in front of the state Capitol in Madison, AFSCME corrections officerswave to cheering supporters.Kentucky COs Gain RightsApproximately 5,000 Kentuckycorrections officers and employeeswho work in prisons and relatedfacilities (AFSCME Council 62) havefinally won their first union agreementwith the state. During a time whengovernors across the country work toeliminate collective bargaining rights,the victory is particularly important.<strong>The</strong> agreement, signed recently byGov. Steve Beshear (D), is even moresignificant because Kentucky stateworkers do not currently have the collectivebargaining rights, which allowworkers to negotiate wages, benefits andworking conditions. Now, at least, thoseworkers covered by the agreement willbe represented by a union steward ingrievance procedures, and in meetingswith management that could lead todisciplinary actions.<strong>The</strong> agreement also establishes a newlabor-management process allowingworkers to bring up issues and concernsoutside the grievance procedures.Meetings between COs and the wardenof the Kentucky State Penitentiary havealready resulted in concrete solutions tosafety problems, such as the purchaseof radios and other equipment, andimprovements to the telephone system.David Warrick, executive directorof Council 62 and an International vicepresident, commended the governorfor his strong support of collectivebargaining: “This is a tremendous stepSee Kentucky COs Gain Rights Page 32 <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong>

Corrections Officers Speak OutPhoto: Charlie WishmanState Workers are Taxpayers, Too! by Thomas BradfieldI’ve neverhad my headbashed with amailbox or trashcan. I’ve neverbeen stabbed orpunched so hardthat it requiredseveral surgeries to repair the damage.But many of my co-workers have.Every morning, men and women inIowa walk into a workplace and wonderif they’ll be going home that night.Danger stalks them even after theyleave. Many have ended up divorcedor consumed by addictions becauseof stress. Faced with constant threats,they always walk with a guarded eye.<strong>The</strong>ir stories seldom make front-pageheadlines because “What happens onthe mile, stays on the mile.” It comeswith the territory.<strong>The</strong>se are the officers of the IowaDepartment of Corrections. <strong>The</strong>yperform a public service many cannot.<strong>The</strong>y place their lives on the line toensure that the citizens of Iowa are safe.<strong>The</strong> people’s interests are always onour minds when we negotiate a contract.This past year alone, we votedto open up contracts to accept a weekof mandatory unpaid days and thetemporary elimination of deferred compensationallotments due to the budgetcrisis. This is unheard of.Yet, state employees continue to beused as scapegoats by politicians whoblame us for problems we have no controlover. <strong>The</strong>y begrudge us a 2 percentraise in salary and affordable healthcare. You’d think that’s the least theycan do for the men and women whorisk their lives every day.<strong>The</strong>se are the workers of Iowa whoproudly serve the public on the frontlines. Do not punish them for they aretaxpayers, too.Bradfield is a corrections officer at the Mt.Pleasant Correctional Facility in Iowa, and amember of Local 2985 (Iowa Council 61).Reprinted from www.press-citizen.com,Jan. 29, <strong>2011</strong>Photo: OCSEA Comm. Dept.Unions Care About Ohio by Gary ShepherdFor 13 years,I’ve been ahard-workingstate employeein the Dept. ofRehabilitationand Corrections.I know that oneof the biggest sacrifices of working inthe public sector is the compromiseand give-and-take involved.State employees’ ability to compromisein hard times hasn’t wavered. In24 years of collective bargaining, we’venegotiated for better wages and benefitsand other issues like health and safety.We’ve never taken a strike vote. We’veonly used binding arbitration or “conciliation”once and, when we did, thearbitrator did not go our way.My union has stood side-by-sidewith the state of Ohio for decadesworking to find solutions to the state’seconomic problems. Our latest contractsaved the state $250 million. We’veachieved hundreds of millions in savingsdue to joint quality initiatives, ashared approach to administrative servicesand a collaborative approach tokeeping health care costs in line.My union cares about Ohio and sodo I. That’s why I’m proud to come towork every day.Shepherd is a corrections officer in Portsmouth,Ohio, and a member of Local 7330, Ohio CivilService Employees Association (OCSEA).Reprinted from Portsmouth Daily Times,Jan. 15, <strong>2011</strong>Kentucky COs Gain Rightscontinued from Page 2in building a strong union,” Warricksaid. “As state employees, we now havewritten rules and rights that cannotbe changed unilaterally on any givenday at the whim of management. Thisagreement lays a solid foundation forexpanding those rights for years tocome.”Adds Derrick Lloyd, a CO at theKentucky State Penitentiary and a memberof Local 752, Council 62, “Thisagreement is very important to us,”he explains. “It’s not just the representationthat matters. But with avoice at work, we now have a measureof power to improve the livesof our members who make greatsacrifices every day on the job.”<strong>The</strong> agreement also covers some4,000 social service employees, includingfamily case workers and managersand social workers.Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) signs twonegotiated union agreements coveringapproximately 9,000 corrections andsocial service workers.Photo: Jon MelegritoNews From AFSCME Corrections United 3

Pushing Back the PrivateersPhoto: Jan Underwood/DaytonDailyNewsCorrections officers from Ohio’s Dayton Correctional Institution call their state representativesto protest Senate Bill 269, which would privatize half of the state’s prisons.Like corrections officers and otherpublic service workers across thenation, Ohio COs are in for a fight.With two of 31 state-owned facilitiescurrently in private hands, Sen. TimothyGrendell (R-Chesterland) introduced abill last year that would privatize at least13 more prisons. Although the bill diedin committee, Grendell is likely to bringit back again.When John Kasich won the governor’sseat last November, the situationgot worse. He vowed to target the prisonsystem as a way to save money. In histwo-year budget submitted in March, heproposed selling off five state prisons toNo-layoff Agreement RatifiedAFSCME COs at Illinois’ SheridanCorrectional Center, who had gonethrough a facility closure and a longbattle to get the prison re-opened, votedoverwhelmingly for a new agreementwith the state that will bar layoffs andfacility closures through June 30, 2012.<strong>The</strong> union and management agreedthat some $20 million in savings couldbe achieved by adopting some of theoperational efficiencies submitted byemployees, such as improving operationsin Corrections Industries andmaking energy-efficiency modificationsat corrections facilities.raise $200 million.Kasich has chosen a former officialof Corrections Corporation of America(CCA) to run the Ohio Department ofRehabilitation and Corrections. He hasalso threatened to do away with bindingarbitration and fire public service workerswho go on strike.But Ohio’s COs are fighting back, notonly against privatization but also againstattempts to end collective bargaining.<strong>The</strong>y’re taking on the governor and hiscronies, attending a series of protest ralliesand actions, testifying at hearingsand lobbying the state Legislature.Last year, when Grendell filed his bill,“Wehave forgeda groundbreakingagreementthat offersprotectionagainstjob loss forAFSCMEmembers instate government,”says Council 31 Exec. Dir.Henry Bayer, also an International vicepresident. “Later next year, we will getPhoto: Council 31S.B. 269, COs flooded state legislators’offices with phone calls to protest whatthey denounced as a “reckless plan.”Joined by other members of the OhioCivil Service Employees Association(OCSEA), COs pushed back, mobilizingmore than 3,000 members to writeletters urging their representatives tostand up against the private prison plan.“We will fight this with every resourcewe have,” said OCSEA Pres. EddieParks who is also an International vicepresident. “At a time when Ohioansare already hurting from the loss ofthe state’s manufacturing base, it’s thewrong time to eliminate good payingjobs and replace them with lowerwage work.”Among those who led a massive correctionscall-in day was Joanie Hunter,Chapter 5725 president of the DaytonCorrectional Institution and a memberof OCSEA. “Private prisons are not heldto the same standards as a publicly-runinstitution, so it would be devastating toour community,” she said. “For-profitprisons diminish safety because theyhave higher turnover rates and decreasedtraining as a result of the corner cuttingthat comes with profit making.”She adds: “Legislators who werepushing for privatization failed to provethat it would save costs. <strong>The</strong> two prisonsalready in private hands are not savingthe state any money at all.”down to work on a new collective bargainingagreement in one of the worsteconomic climates in which our negotiationshave ever taken place.”4 <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong>

Corrections Union Elects First Woman PresidentState Corrections Officer LisamarieFontano has become the firstwoman to head a Council 4 AFSCMEcorrections union since state employeesgained collective bargaining rights in1978.Fontano, 39, was elected recentlyby members of Local 387 – a partof Council 4’s 5,000-member NP-4corrections bargaining unit – whichrepresents nearly 800 COs and prisonemployees at the Cheshire CorrectionalComplex. <strong>The</strong> state facility includesCheshire Correctional Institution andManson Youth Institution.“I understand the significance of myelection, but I never looked at this as agender issue,” Fontano says. “We’re allon the frontlines, walking the most dangerousbeat in Connecticut.”Fontano has worked for theDepartment of Corrections for morethan 17 years. She has served on theunion’s executive board and on thenegotiating teams. An activist whoenjoys grassroots political action,Fontano has testified in the stateLegislature on numerous issues, includingcompensation benefits for workersPhoto: Larry DormanLisamarie Fontanowho perform hazardous duty.“Safety is always a huge challengefor us,” Fontano explains. “It’s our jobto protect the safety and well-being ofour institutions and the public, and toensure that workers who provide thesevital services are safe as well.”Fontano says it’s important for thepublic and elected officials to understandthe challenges faced by prisonworkers on and off the job. “We dopositive things every day that the publicis not aware of,” she adds. “At the sametime, people need to understand thestress and the dangers inherent in ourjobs. Nationally, the average life expectancyof a corrections officer is 58 years.We have a high divorce rate, morelong-term illnesses and injury issues.People don’t want to talk about that.”Married and the mother of threeyoung children, Fontano admits thatshe’s “excited and nervous at the sametime,” about her leadership role. “I’dlike to think I’m setting a good examplefor my children and the people whowill walk the beat after me. You shouldnever be afraid or intimidated if youbelieve in something.”Tennessee COs Win Seniority BiddingMore than 400 corrections officersand employees at the MorganCounty Correctional Complex inWartburg – members of AFSCMELocal 2173 – are hailing a recentagreement which provides senioritybidding in all areas of the facility. <strong>The</strong>state instructed Commissioner GayleRay of the Tennessee Departmentof Corrections (DOC) to sign theMemorandum of Understanding(MOU), despite objections of the formerwarden who was promoted to deputycommissioner this year.<strong>The</strong> agreement means COs andemployees may now choose their preferredwork shifts, days off and jobassignments according to tenure.“It’s all about getting a fair shake andhaving dignity on the job,” says Local2173 Pres. Bill Shillings. “We wereoperating under no such agreement afterwe moved from the Brushy Mountainprison, which was shut down more thana year ago.”But fighting for the MOU wasn’teasy. “<strong>The</strong> former warden wanted tobust our union and he kept stalling andspreading unfavorable statements aboutus,” recalls Shillings. “And with the midtermelections coming up, we couldn’twait any longer and allow a hostileLegislature to stop us. So we flexed ourpolitical muscle and went to battle.”Local members phoned and visitedstate representatives – mostly membersof the Democratic Caucus – who thenpressured the DOC to act promptly.As it turned out, Local 2173 timed itperfectly. <strong>The</strong> Nov. 2 elections returnedthe Statehouse to the Republicans, whoalso now control both chambers of theLegislature.“We’re the only union in state governmentthat was offered an MOU,”Shillings says proudly. “That’s becausewe’ve had a long history of fighting andwinning.”Since the 1970s, Local 2173 haswaged a tenacious battle against privatizationattempts. After moving to theirnew facility, the COs won a majorvictory when Gov. Phil Bredesen(D) issued an order directing all newemployees to be state workers. <strong>The</strong>yhave since increased the bargainingunit to 410 members, or 99 percent ofthe total workforce – a remarkable featconsidering that Tennessee is a right-toworkstate.News From AFSCME Corrections United 5

A Great Day for Maryland COsIn the midst of assaults against publicservice workers across the nation,corrections officers in Maryland havemade some gains. <strong>The</strong>y have defeateda 12-hour-shift proposal, reduced disciplineassignments for more than 100COs, reinstated roll call pay and wonstab-proof vests on the job. Last year,they scored a big win in the MarylandGeneral Assembly. Legislators passedthe Correctional Officers Bill of Rights(COBOR), which provides better dueprocess rights for COs when they aresuspected of wrongdoing.Recently, they ratified a new unioncontract providing new raises andeffectively ending furloughs. COs andthousands of other state workers arehailing the new agreement for protectingvital public services for Marylandcitizens.“We have proven once again whatpower and strength in numbers cando,” says Laura Blankenship, a CO atthe Maryland Correctional Institutionin Jessup and a member of Local 1678(AFSCME Maryland). “This is a greatwin for my fellow COs and state coworkerswho have been working hardto build the strongest union possiblesince we first achieved collective bargainingrights in 1997. We are now in agood position to build on this contract,ensure better working conditions andsecure a better future for our families.”<strong>The</strong> new agreement protectsMaryland’s public service workers fromfurloughs through the life of the contract,from <strong>2011</strong> to 2014. As a result,salaries will go back up to pre-furloughlevels and every state worker willreceive a $750 bonus, starting July 1,<strong>2011</strong>.During the past three years, 3,500state worker positions have been cutwhile employees have been forced tocope with furloughs, short staffing andincreased caseloads. This new contractis a welcome relief for the front-lineworkers serving the people of Maryland.<strong>The</strong> agreement also provides a 2percent salary increase, effective Jan.1, 2013, and a 3 percent raise, effectiveJan. 1, 2014, as long as the state hitsprojected revenue levels. In addition,workers will receive a one salary-gradestep increase as of April 1, 2014.While Maryland will continue toclose certain state facilities on five predetermineddays to save money in 2012through 2014, state workers will still bepaid for those closed days. Furthermore,employees at those facilities will alsoreceive five days of administrative leavethat can be used any time prior to theemployee’s separation from state service.<strong>The</strong> contract also includes a fairshare provision that all workers whoare covered under the agreement payfor representation. More than half theworkers who voted are not currentlymembers. <strong>The</strong>y endorsed the agreementand the idea that everyone shouldprovide their fair share of resources tostrengthen the union.“By voting in favor of our contract,state employees have spokenloudly and clearly,” said AFSCMEMaryland Exec. Dir. Patrick Moran.“This sends a powerful message thatwe are united and deserve respect forthe vital public services we providethat make Maryland happen. Now wehave greater resources to win upcomingfights in the Legislature, such asdefeating unfair efforts to slash ourhard-earned pensions.”Adds Rick Thomas, a CO anda member of the negotiating team:“AFSCME members worked hard toget the public on our side. Once again,when we fight together, we win!”Photo: Jeff PittmanMaryland public service workers, including corrections officers, vote to ratify a strong contract that puts an end to furloughs and pavesthe way for wage increases.6 <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong>

Jail Break Reignites Debate About Private Prisons<strong>The</strong> brazen escape last July of threedangerous criminals from a privatejail in Arizona, and the murder of twoinnocent victims – allegedly by oneof the escapees – have revived publiccriticism that private facilities are moreprone to security breaches because ofmismanagement.AFSCME has said for years that thecost-cutting measures of these for-profitfirms waste taxpayers’ money and jeopardizepublic safety. Critics of privatizedprisons agree – pointing to the breakoutand the tragedy that followed – makingit the state’s worst in 30 years.Operated by Utah-based Management& Training Corporation (MTC), the jailin Kingman has had security problemssince it opened seven years ago. Forinstance, a faulty alarm system gave falsesignals so frequently that guards simplyignored them.It was a jailbreak waiting to happen.No one was surprised when it finallydid. <strong>The</strong> inmates cut their way througha prison fence after an accomplicethrew tools into the prison yard, allowingthem to sneak out undetected. <strong>The</strong>escape sparked a three-week nationwideman hunt for the dangerous criminalswho were eventually caught, but notsoon enough to prevent the murder of avacationing couple in New Mexico.<strong>The</strong> jailbreak and the tragic deathsstirred a public outcry and muchhandwringing among state officials.<strong>The</strong>n-Atty. Gen. Terry Goddardchastised Gov. Jane Brewer (R), a fanof private contractors, for creating a“climate of permissiveness” in privateprisons. MTC “clearly breached thepublic trust,” he said.Department of Corrections Dir.Charles Ryan, citing “lack of confidence”in MTC, ordered an investigation. <strong>The</strong>report revealed several deficiencies atMTC, including poor staff training, highturnover, lack of control of inmates andmalfunctioning sensors. <strong>The</strong> report alsonoted areas of non-compliance in theprison’s security system and concludedthat many serious problems went unaddressed.“<strong>The</strong> reason the men were ableto escape is rooted in a culture of complacency,”Ryan said.MTC was forced to make fixes, butsix months after the escape Arizona officialswere still so dissatisfied that theythreatened to cancel MTC’s contract.<strong>The</strong> state also cancelled an initial requestfor 5,000 more private prison beds afterthe Legislature’s top supporter of privateprisons, Rep. John Kavanagh (R), saidthe existing state-run complexes shouldremain public, not be turned private asthe state has tried to do.Arizona presently houses 20 percentof the state’s 40,000 inmates in privateprisons.NEWS BRIEFSVeterans Benefits.For more than a year,the Veterans Initiativeof Minnesota Council5’s Corrections PolicyCommittee has beenraising funds to benefitresidents of the state’s fiveveterans homes. Throughcandy bar sales and directdonations, the committeehas collected $18,000 ofthe $25,000 they hope tohave by this fall.Meanwhile, correctionsofficers at Lino Lakes(Local 2728, MinnesotaCouncil 5) have “adopted”the family of Desert Stormveteran Nicole Groschen.Her husband, Chad, wasrecently diagnosed withinoperable cancer. <strong>The</strong>COs have donated $550 ingifts and cash.Agility Testing.<strong>The</strong> Texas Departmentof Criminal Justice hasadopted a training programto enhance theprofessionalism of theagency’s cadre of 26,000corrections officers whoare on the frontlines of thestate’s 112 prisons.AFSCME Council 7Exec. Dir. Brian Olsen,a former CO, applaudsthe physical test, whichinvolves push-ups, situpsand deep squats. “It’sessential that COs have thephysical agility to climbladders and walk downhallways so they can functionmore effectively onthe job,” he says.Medal of Honor.Michael Whitehead, aCO at the Connecticutmaximum-security prisonin Somers and a memberof Local 387, Council4, received the Medal ofValor recently, followingan incident wherehe risked his life to saveanother correctionsofficer. With “noregard for hisown safety,”Whiteheadjumped infront of aninmate whowas assaultinghisco-worker,preventingwhat could havebeen a potentiallyfatal injury.In Memoriam.AFSCME mourns theloss of corrections officerGary Chapin who diedlast November in theline of duty. Chapin, 49,of the Crawford CountyCorrectional Facility inPennsylvania, and a memberof Local 2643, DistrictCouncil 85, wasstabbed by aninmate whowas beinghandcuffed.Chapinhad beena COat thefacility formore thanfour years. Hewas married withtwo teenage children.News From AFSCME Corrections United 7

PRESORTEDFIRST CLASS MAILUS POSTAGE PAIDPERMIT #1937WASHINGTON DCAmerican Federation of State,County and MunicipalEmployees, AFL-CIOGerald W. McEntee, International PresidentLee A. Saunders, International Secretary-Treasurer<strong>The</strong> News From AFSCME Corrections United is produced bythe staff of AFSCME Works magazine. Postmaster: Send addresschanges to News From AFSCME Corrections United, 1625 L Street,N.W., Washington, DC 20036-5687.Assistant Director of Corrections: Mike MaretteNews From <strong>ACU</strong> Editor: Jon MelegritoTelephone: (651) 450-4990E-mail: <strong>ACU</strong>editor@afscme.orgFORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTEDFIRST CLASS MAIL<strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong>117-11Senate Republicans Block Bargaining Rights BillAfter corrections officers successfullylobbied the U.S. House ofRepresentatives last July to approvethe Public Safety Employer EmployeeCooperation Act (PSEECA), theymounted a similar effort in the Senate.But with mid-term electionsapproaching, Senate leaders were notable to bring the bill to a vote until thelame-duck session in December.GOP electoral victories fromacross the nation emboldened SenateRepublicans and blocked the measurefrom being considered. <strong>The</strong> 55 to 43vote fell short of the 60 needed toproceed. Business groups and state andmunicipal officials who opposed thebill argued that it would lead to budgetshortfalls in many localities.“It is disappointing and very frustrating,”says CO Ronald Bratsch ofNevada. “We’ve worked so hard for solong to push Congress to stand with uson this issue. Public safety officers inat least 20 states don’t have bargainingrights right now. Political leaders whofailed us will be held accountable.”Adds Ken Corzine, also a CO fromNevada: “Collective bargaining is stillthe only way we can sit equally at thetable and improve our working conditions.But we’re in for a tough fight.Anti-worker forces across the countryare threatening to privatize state prisons,take away our bargaining rightsand push through right-to-work lawsinstead.”“We will not give up,” declares CORicco DiPietro of Louisiana, one ofthe right-to-work states. “COs wantthe same rights and benefits thateveryone else has.” A member of the<strong>ACU</strong> National Steering Committee,DiPietro vows to continue this fightuntil the collective bargaining billbecomes law.SAVETHE DATE!PUBLIC SAFETY CONGRESSSeptember 16-18,<strong>2011</strong>Houston, TexasInformation and registration formswill be available soon at afscme.org.8 <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong>