A Message from the President
By: Esther White
I want to start out this article by thanking all the Stewards, E-Board and members for their participation in the
First Annual Awards Banquet. It was very nice and we are considering possibly having another event there, just
for the comedy. We also had a very special appearance at the banquet. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords
showed up. She did not stay long but did introduce herself to everyone that attended. In case you don’t know
her office has been instrumental and always available for us. Her district representative Ron Barber has been in
contact with us and continues to be in contact with us. Mr. Barber mentioned at the banquet that he would be
glad to help anyone who needs assistance with social security and veterans issues. If you need his information I
can give it to you.
The next event we will have is the annual Christmas party on December 13, 2008. Dave enjoys making all the
arrangements and he will be again. Lisa Moretti will be helping also, she received the "Volunteer of the Year."
award as Susan Mastin received the, "Recruitment Award," and the "Unionist Award." Mark Barnard received
the, "Steward of the Year Award." We plan to continue these awards every year.
On November 5, 2008 we had a long meeting. Mr. Thomas Muther, attorney at law, attended and was very
informative on what he could help us with at the local level. The members voted to retain him and I’ve already
began utilizing his advice and services.
When you see our Vice President Paul Morelli you can congratulate him on the hazardous duty pay grievance he
pursued and followed through to arbitration. The union won this arbitration.
We also have an election coming up for President, Executive Vice President and Treasurer and whatever
happens I have enjoyed being your president. We have come a long way in the last two years and we have more
plans to go forward and continue representing the bargaining unit.
Recently I attempted to secure regular days, at the encouragement of a manager, for my official time, thinking
and believing it would be better for everyone, management and the union. I also asked for it two years ago.
This request was not approved and I will continue to ask for official time on a case by case basis. I have had no
problems with my official time, I just feel it would be simpler if we could have set days to make appointments,
to follow up on issues and the regular days would be utilized by all of us on the e-board. I have found that
resolving issues does take time, its not something you can straighten out without time. It’s much quicker to
write a grievance or an Unfair Labor Practice than it is to sit down and try to work out something.
If anyone has anything they need to discuss with myself or any other representative, let us know we can arrange
to be available whenever needed.
I mentioned before about the benefits that are available on the AFGE website. I wanted to expand because I
realized that the, "Working Advantage," does not show up until you click on the entertainment benefits link.
You can get weekly e-mails of the benefits available to union members. If someone has utilized these benefits I
would like to hear about it and we can write about it in an effort to inform staff of what is available.
I have also been given the opportunity to participate in policy negotiations in Washington, D.C., I will be sitting
in for our Western Regional Vice President Tim Debolt, this will be the week of November 17-21. I will let you
know how it goes.
Executive Vice-President’s Letter
By: Dave Clifford
Once again, Annual refresher training and the total leave year scheduling is upon us. Because every department
is unique and conduct their own scheduling, it is impossible for the E-Board to know without your feedback if
issues arise. We rely on our members to be our eyes and ears to report any perceived wrongs.
Annual refresher training (ART) will start on January 4, 2009, and conclude the last week of March. ART will
not be scheduled during holiday weeks, rodeo break, and local schools spring break. We have been told that last
years agreements are still in play which allows annual leave to be scheduled during ART on a limited basis (at
least one slot).
The annual Union Christmas party is scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2008 and will be held at the FOP
lodge located at 3445 N. Dodge Blvd. Doors open at 6pm. It will be FREE to all dues paying members and their
immediate family and anyone else who joins at the door. A flyer will be put out shortly with more details.
Because of the growing popularity of this annual event and the expense involved, RSVP’s will be requested
prior to December 1st to help control food and drink costs. Please RSVP to:
dclifford@bop.gov.
Members who are unable to attend due to scheduled work will be treated to pizza and soda at each institution
the night of the party and will also be automatically entered into our door prize drawings.
Union elections are upon us once again and I encourage all who are interested to run for office. The last two
years have gone by fast for me and it has been an honor to represent you as an E-Board member. Our Union has
grown greatly in membership and in function and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our
success.
Chief Steward’s Voice
By: Mark Barnard
YOUR SICK LEAVE BENEFITS AND THE UNION
As the weather turns cooler, we are approaching the start of cold and flu season, so what better time to talk
about your sick leave benefits. Sick leave is a part of the benefits package that you receive along with your
salary, annual leave, health care benefits, etc. It is a benefit that you earn as a Bureau employee, not a privilege
granted to you by management.
As an employee, you have the responsibility to notify your supervisor that you are sick before the beginning of
your scheduled shift. However, during times of staff shortage, you may experience a situation in which your
supervisor discourages you from calling in sick. Please remember that you have the right to use those benefits
when you, or a family member are sick.
By no means does the union condone or encourage the abuse of sick leave by employees who are just looking
for an extra day off. However, it is incumbent upon management to consider your request for sick leave to be
legitimate, unless they have reason to believe otherwise. If you are out sick for more than three consecutive
days, your supervisor may request a medical slip to substantiate the leave. At this present time, there is
disagreement at the national level between management and the union over the issue of who pays the cost for
the visit to a medical facility if a doctor’s note is required by your supervisor for absences exceeding three days.
Please take the time to read and become familiar with Article 20 of the Master Agreement. This article outlines
your rights and responsibilities regarding the use of sick leave. If you receive notice from a manager or
supervisor that they want to counsel you about what they believe is an abuse of sick leave. Please contact a
union steward as soon as possible and let us assist you to ensure that your rights are protected. Remember we
stand together and there is unity in strength!!
Secretary/Chief Steward’s Corner
By: Susan Mastin
Hello Brothers and Sisters. The Local had its First Annual Union Awards Banquet on Wednesday, October 22,
2008, at Laffs Comedy Caffe. I was pleasantly surprised over the turn out. There were about one hundred that
attended and a good time was had by all. Awards were presented to those union members that have stepped up
and are involved as a union activist. Awards given were: Recruitment Award to Susan Mastin; Volunteer
Award to Lisa Moretti, Steward of the Year Award to Mark Barnard; Unionist of the Year to Susan Mastin; and
the Leadership Award went to Dave Clifford. Esther White was presented with the awards of Fastest Growing
Union in the West and Distinguished Leadership Award. These awards were given out at the CPL Convention
in Las Vegas. Several door prizes were also given out such as: Movie cards, Gas cards, Home Depot, Harber
Freight, Walmart, Barnes and Noble, Lowes, Blockbuster, Applebee’s, Target, Outback Steak House, Bath and
Body Works, Starbucks and Sportsman gift cards.
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her Director Ron Barber also attended the event. Mr. Barber was the
guest speaker and assured everyone that Congresswoman Giffords is committed to assisting staff at FCC Tucson
with staffing, and security issues we are having, especially in the wake of the additional staff stabbings and
deaths of Correctional Workers.
Questionnaires were passed out to get feedback from the membership regarding this event. Everyone responded
that they liked the idea of coming out to see brothers and sisters in a social setting at a good location. Some
suggestions for other types of events or functions were; Bowling night, Recruitment events - Pizza parties and
such, Hockey games, Gaslight Theatre, Movie night, Phoenix baseball/football games, and a Casino night.
These are all great ideas. If anyone has an idea for the good of the local, please let the Board know.
The Employees Club hosted another Monday Night Football event at Buffalo Wild Wings and was well
attended. Koodoo’s to the Employees Club. There was a Family Appreciation Day with professional photos for
staff and their families on October 18th and19th. The Employees Club didn’t stop there. They also sponsored a
Bake Sale on October 29th and are planning a Holiday Auction. Please, if you have for A reminder, dues are
$15.00, per year and fund raisers are being sponsored throughout the year. The Employees Club is for everyone,
so please come out and show your support.
With much sadness, I received news that on October 22, 2008, that Correctional Officer Mike Rutledge from
FCI Dublin was murdered outside his home when leaving for work. The Stockton Record carried the news. I
have attached the initial article: STOCKTON – The man killed this morning outside his north Stockton home
as he headed for work has been identified as a Federal Bureau of Corrections employee.
Mike Rutledge was leaving for work at Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin where he supervised an
inmate cooking crew when he was fatal injured outside his Montana Street home, police Officer Pete Smith, a
Stockton Police Department spokesman, said shortly after 11 a.m. today. Smith said Rutledge was in his mid-
thirties. Sally Swartz, a spokeswoman for the Dublin facility, said he had worked there the past eight years or so.
Smith had no other new details on Rutledge's death.
In the last issue of The Guardian, I printed the latest letter from the Director dated August 27, 2008. He stated
that the core of our management philosophy is the concepts of respect and communication. We communicate
with inmates regularly and directly and expect them to communicate with us, thereby addressing concerns and
avoiding problems.
This longstanding approach to inmate management has worked well, for most inmates. But we know there are
some who are confrontational, who resist and defy authority, who break rules, who antagonize other inmates and
who are violent to staff and other inmates.
We believe these inmates, though few in number, are largely responsible for the increases in inmate assaults, the
need for more frequent lockdowns, and the more serious nature of assaults on staff. Well, I hate to be barer of
bad news, but, this concept just "ain’t workin!" We communicate with inmates and they respond by stabbing
more Correctional Officers! Evidence of this: Coleman an Officer was stabbed 15 times. Thank God most
were superficial but he was hospitalized. Another officer at Big Sandy was stabbed 5 times on 10/22/08, and
also survived.
The agency has been opposed of providing stab resistant vests, and other personal protection. The agency has
lost their fight and have given staff the "option" of being fitted for vests. However, the Director has issued a
memorandum to AFGE with the mandatory rules and regulations of wearing the vests. My question to the
agency is this: "How many more staff have to be seriously injured or murdered before you wake up and see the
need to be FULLY STAFFED and personal protection no longer be an option!!"
Just so everyone is aware, the Council received the agency’s "Vest Implementation Plan." To sum up the plan;
The agency stated that if you receive a vest, all staff will be required to wear the vest while on duty and anytime
you are on the institution grounds where you can be called to respond to an emergency. This will include
Annual Refresher Training. Oh wait, it gets better.
For the first 10 days after issuance, employees will be given verbal warnings should they fail to wear their vest
to work. Should they fail to wear their vest, they will be provided the option of retrieving their vest on their
own time (LEAVE), or they will be provided a vest from the institution reserve for the day. After the initial 10
days, employees will be given a verbal warning for the first instance of not wearing their vest while on duty.
Any subsequent days where the employee does not wear the vest will be referred as misconduct to the Office of
Internal Affairs and the employee will be subject to discipline for not wearing their equipment.
An employee may turn in their vest at anytime, should they no longer desire to have the vest. Once the vest is
returned to the agency, the employee WILL NOT be provided a new vest at that location, should they request
one at a later date. Should an employee transfer to another institution after they have turned in their vest, they
will have ONE opportunity to request another vest at their new institution, however, this does not apply to
transfers within the complex.
Finally, should an employee lose their vest, they are to report it in writing to their direct supervisor as soon as
practicable, but no later then the next business day after they become aware of the missing vest.
A question that popped into my head was...if the vest are worn under our shirts, how will management know we
are wearing it??? Am I going to have to un-button my blouse or lift my sweater to prove I have my vest on?
Needless to say the Council was not very pleased with the implementation plan. The agency has taken things
one step further to punish staff. The stab resistant vest arrived at Atwater, however management there will not
pass them out to the staff blaming the "Union" because they filed a grievance against the agency for not entering
into negotiations for the vest.
I find it difficult to believe that grown men and women that are in leadership positions would pout and have
tantrums about staff safety, instead of supporting and embracing the idea of staff safety. My comment to
management is this: "I for one will play their silly games because I value my life even though they don’t." Also,
don’t be surprised if there aren’t managers standing in the lobby playing vest police.
There is also going to be sanctions for staff that are issued vests and forget to wear it. Initially you will be
charged leave to go home and get it for the first 10 days after issuing. Afterwards, disciplinary action will be
taken against staff for failure to wear protective equipment. This is the agencies way of punishing us for
pushing the envelope to ensure staff safety and making them spend money. I’m sure that the officer that was
stabbed 15 times at Coleman and another officer that was stabbed 5 times in Big Sandy would have been
thankful for the vests, prior to being violently assaulted!!
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HUMMMMM
"Leadership is solving problems. The day staff stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped
leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a
failure of leadership."
Stay Strong....Stay Safe.....Stay Union!!
DID YOU KNOW
This article was brought to my attention, so I thought I would share it with my brothers and sisters.
Justice Dept. Workers Visit Luxury Resorts
Federal Agency Hosts Conferences Costing Taxpayers Millions
By DAVID KERLEY
Oct. 29, 2008-
Should federal workers learn how to work with Congress while in Washington? While many think the answer
is yes, the Federal Bureau of Prisons seems to disagree. According to a new federal report, the Department of
Justice agency sent 15 employees to a Hilton village beach resort in Hawaii for a congressional seminar on how
to lobby the government effectively, on the taxpayer's tab, totaling $33,500. "When you're in Washington, it
would seem to me that you could have a seminar here on how to effectively lobby the federal government,
rather than shoot them four or five thousand miles away," said Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who spearheaded
the congressional report. The report, which was released early exclusively to ABC News, identifies thousands
of Department of Justice employees who have enjoyed food, drink and fancy resorts on the government's time
and the taxpayer's dollar.
Secretary/Chief Steward’s Corner - continued
By: Susan Mastin
According to the report's findings, the Justice Department sponsored a conference on gangs, nowhere near an
inner city, but at the exclusive Palm Springs La Quinta resort, famous for its golf courses and "death by
chocolate" body massages. The costs totaled more than $250,000. With the country in economic woes and the
government in the midst of managing a $700 billion rescue plan funded by taxpayer dollars to stabilize the
economy, Coburn says he found these trips extravagant. We are in a time in this country when we can't afford
excess, or double billing by workers who double dip," Coburn said. At a conference in Denver, 40 of nearly
100 Justice Department workers that were checked got reimbursed for meals, even though food was provided at
the conference. Coburn's report claims that, in 2006, a quarter of the Justice Department's workforce went to
conferences, which the senator describes as a "pattern of poor management." "We've found, over the last seven
years, $10 billion in pure waste," Coburn said. "We ought to be prudent with taxpayer money." Coburn also
acknowledged that it is Congress' responsibility to keep the federal agency in check.
"How does Congress let the Department of Justice mismanage $10 billion over the last six or seven years?"
Coburn asked of his colleagues' and his own negligence on the matter. The Justice Department calls some of
this report old information and told ABC News that conferences serve a legitimate purpose. "The Department
of Justice is committed to ensuring that policies and procedures regarding conferences are clear and consistent
and that spending is appropriate," they said in a statement to ABC News. "The Department has taken significant
measures to ensure we have adequate oversight and control in this area." Coburn questioned whether it was
appropriate for the Justice Department to charge for some of its services. The FBI advises Hollywood executives
on movies that depict federal agents, such as "The Kingdom," which made $50 million. "If they're going to be
advisory to the entertainment industry and they're going to use their technical expertise to do that, the
entertainment industry, the last time I looked, was making a lot of money," Coburn said. "Maybe they ought to
pay for it."
Managements in the Federal Bureau of Prisons want all the comforts and none of the responsibilities for the
mismanagement of this agency. Do more with less is a philosophy aimed only at the Bargaining Unit
Employee. There is no accountability in for management gross behavior in this agency. Please read the article
below and remind yourselves that every day in the institutions you're being deprived any addition staff
coverage. I encourage each recipient of the electronic transmission to write your Congressperson and Senator
about Fraud, Waste and Abuse at your institution.
SERVICE RECOGNITION
Congratulations to: Alan Negley for his 15 years with the Bureau.
AFGE Local 3955 E-Board
E. White Complex President
Custody
D. Clifford Exec. Vice-President
Food Services Ext. 7239/7240
P. Morelli Vice PresidentLockshop Ext. 5040
S. Mastin Secretary/Chief Steward/LMR
Psychology Ext. 6415/7384
M. Barnard Chief Steward, FCI
Medical Records Ext. 7155
G. Reid Treasurer/Steward Custody
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