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CURRENT NEWS
Correctional Testimony
By: Brian Olsen - Executive Director
On June 4th 2008, in Austin Texas AFSCME/CEC7 was invited to testify in front of the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee. AFSCME was the only employee organization to be invited to give testimony.
This Committee was formed because of SB 909 which we helped sponsor and pushed to get it passed. This is a far reaching bill that does many things but allows Committee testimony off session to look into TDCJ activities. The House and the Senate have a joint committee made up of House and Senate correctional committee members on this committee. Representative Jerry Madden is the committee chair and Senator John Whitmire is the committee co-chair.
I spoke several minutes about pay, bringing the correctional officers up to the National average of $40,000.00 to $45,000.00. I also spoke with professional respect and dignity for employees on the job. We believe pay is a huge problem but the Agency as a whole needs to start treating their employees as professionals and we have many ideas on how to do so. This was a very important hearing and we got our say. I do believe the correctional employees will get a significant increase including non-security. Stick with us in this very important fight. Get a friend or co-worker to join. Each new member gives us strength in numbers. This fight has been tough over the last 17 years but we are finally looking for real change in TDCJ.
In Washington DC AFSCME sponsored a collective bargaining bill which has passed out of the National House and Senate by non-vetoable margin. The president will not sign it, but we are looking to have some answers by January 2009. Change is coming and together we will get there.
McCain, Republican Leadership Halt
Consideration of Public Safety Officer
Collective Bargaining Bill
This week, the Senate voted 69-29 to begin consideration of a bill (S.2123) providing collective bargaining rights for public safety officers, a key vote that showed widespread support for the bill. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) - who opposes collective bargaining for public safety officers - and Senate Republican leaders tried to attach an amendment to the bill which was a weak and watered down version of the new G.I. Bill proposed by Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA) and John Warner (R-VA) and major national veterans groups. AFSCME supports the stronger Webb-Warner bill.
One senator called the move by McCain and Republican leaders a "parliamentary gimmick," one that played politics with U.S. troops, police, corrections officers and first responders to delay the benefits they deserve. AFSCME will continue to push for passage of the collective bargaining bill.
! ! ! ! IMPORTANT NOTICE ! ! ! !
TO: All CEC and Locals
FROM: Toby Tobias and Brian Olsen
Subject: Disciplinary Probation - MAJOR VICTORY
Date: April 12, 2008, 7:00pm - Via Fax
Today, at the Labor Management Meeting, after six long years of negotiations, the Agency came full circle on what during the years was referred to as "Double Jeopardy". In short, any Correctional Officer who was put on Disciplinary Probation, for what ever period of time, after successfully completing the assessed probation and according to Policy and Procedure had to wait an equal amount of time before receiving the appropriate salary adjustments. The Agency referred to this as "dead time". Well, that's over! As of May 1st, 2008, there is no more disciplinary hold over time. All employees will, as of May 1st, 2008, be made whole, receiving the salary adjustment immediately upon successfully completing the assigned disciplinary probation.
The Agency has not e-mailed this bit of information out, as of yet, nor has the Policy and Procedure been modified to reflect this change. At least you have the information first hand - before May 1st - as it relates to those members who will come off any disciplinary probation after the 1st, and especially those who will be placed on probation after May 1st.
Special Notice Wage Increase
Brian E. Olsen / Director
Recently the TDCJ Board of Directors saw fit to approve a 10% pay raise for CO I and CO II positions as approved by the Governor. I sent a letter to the Governor January 17th 2008 asking for a 10% increase for all state correctional officers including, Food Service, Laundry and Supervisors, and an additional 10% for all state corrections employees in the 2009 legislature. Obviously the TDCJ Board did not consult with us before giving this partial pay raise, or I would have told them the "Fall out", they would have with this misguided decision. AFSCME still stands on a 10% pay raise for all correctional officers NOW! This partial raise is divisive and a morale buster for the Veterans. These Veterans have been the back bone of this Agency through these many years and I find it unbelievable that they would be left out. Shocked really. But I was at the April 2nd Criminal Justice hearing in the Senate in Austin, (AFSCME was the only Employee organization there), and it was disclosed that a comprehensive pay package is being drawn up for the Veterans of TDCJ for the 2009 legislature. Senator Whitmire, (who is the Chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee), is very concerned and a good friend who will help us with this plan. I do understand the rage and anger, but do not let your frustration ruin your career. Stick with us because we are not yet done. You have worked endless overtime to keep this Agency afloat and have done it as a professional. Do not give up, there is hope. That hope is the union beating down the doors of the Capitol Screaming "Professional Respect Now". We have strength in numbers and we are being listened too, but we need your help. Get your friends and co-workers to join so we can speak a little louder. Stand with us because we are close to the best increases this agency has ever seen but we need all CO's and Agency employees to get with us to get over the Hump. United we can have Victory. This is just the beginning.
"Open Letter To The Governor" by Executive Director Of AFSCME/CEC7
Texas Governor
Rick Perry
Governors Office
PO Box 12428
Austin, TX
January 15, 2008
Governor,
As the Executive Director of the largest employee organization representing state correctional employees (AFSCME/CEC7) I am obligated to send out this letter. In light of the state wide crisis in manning the state prisons it is incumbent upon me to ask you to help with this very important public safety issue.
Recently it has come to light that several units around the state have cut the number of inmates due to lack of correctional staff. This is just the tip of the ice berg. Those units are so understaffed many officers are required to work much of their "off" time under the mandatory overtime policy, and yet the units are still under staffed. This is a severe crisis that is only getting worse by the day.
What I am asking is that an emergency pay raise be given to the security correctional officers immediately of 10%. This would be a raise for all those that work in gray including Food Service, Laundry, and Supervisors. This shot in the arm of pay would do much to keep good employees, and bring in new professional employees. This raise must be done Now! Then during the Legislative session another 10% should be given to the entire agency just to get them to a respectable professional level. Too long this problem has gone on, and now we are in a dangerous situation for the public at large, let alone the officers and the inmates. Its time that Texas come into the 21st century with the rest of the country and work with the employees instead of against them. We also ask the Texas Senate Bill 909 be implemented by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. This allows TDC to enter into a partnership with its employees to make it a better place to work.
We must stop this massive turnover and with this two pronged attack, (Emergency Pay Raise), and (enacting SB909 as an employee Partnership), we can stop much of this hemorrhaging that is costing the Texas taxpayers millions of dollars. Please contact me at your convenience.
Respectfully,
Brian E. Olsen
Executive Director
AFSCME/CEC7
Office 936-295-5265
Cell 936-661-4610
**VICTORY**
Effective January 1, 2007- The Correctional Employees Council has negotiated the end of the banking of overtime.
Through continued negotiations and constant pressure AFSCME/CEC7 was able to make this dream a reality. CEC7 is proud to take sole credit for this change as we were the only employee organization to have negotiated with TDCJ.
The threat of a change through legislation became too great for TDCJ to continue their overtime policy. We have been successful in developing a coalition of State Senators and Representatives to support us in this policy, as a result, TDCJ knew it was time to step up to the plate.
We have worked long and hard to get where we are today and it has not been easy. This overtime process started in the 2005 legislative session when we had several Senators introduce our bill to stop the banking. Unfortunately, it was defeated--BUT WE WERE NOT!!
We worked during the special sessions to keep many of our issues alive, again we were the only union or employee organization to do so. But we didn't stop there, I have also given written and oral testimony to the legislative sunset advisory committee.
Stand with us to make this legislative session our most successful yet. We are having a great impact on the politicians.
Sincerely,
Brian E. Olsen
Executive Director AFSCME CEC/7
Contact Us Now!
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