 John Black and Dave Lockenour, both union representatives, explained
the situation. Black advised that, "We have been negotiating since
December on a new contract, and although we still have time, we are
far behind in where we normally would be with new contract
negotiations." Black stated that presently only 54 percent of the
new contract has been agreed upon by both parties.Lockenour
advised that normally this late in their negotiations, 85 percent of
the contract is done. The two principal sticking points in
negotiations are big ones, according to the two union reps.
The first is that the new contract proposal by the state will
increase costs of health care and co-pays, as well as increase
retirement premiums. When the additional costs are factored in, the
union officials say they are in fact being asked to accept a
contract that will have additional new costs that will in effect
negate the proposed raise, thus making it a "zero-sum proposal."
The second logjam in negotiations is that the prison system
currently has a mandatory overtime system that requires employees to
work the second shifts with little or no prior notice. These extra
eight-hour shifts have been created by the continued cutbacks in
manpower at not only our two area prisons, but in prisons statewide.
Employees who refuse the overtime are subject to disciplinary
action. "People have children. They have families. An unexpected
second shift can really be a hardship, plus it can be hard on us
working so much," Black said.
What makes this situation even less acceptable to union workers
is that the current Illinois budget has funding in place for hiring
additional staff in many agencies, including the Department of
Corrections.
State Rep. Elizabeth Coulson, R-Glenview, is on record as saying,
"We're finding that every state agency we've talked to so far has
funding for staff, but they have not been filled. The governor's
office is not allowing them to replace people or to fill open
positions."
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According to state records, the Illinois Department of Corrections
spent $24.5 million on overtime in fiscal year 2007, with employees
recording 686,215 hours of overtime.
Both union officials stated that the work force at the prisons is
down a full 25 percent from 2004 levels, with a drastic cutback in
sergeants and lieutenants on the job at both area prisons. It was
stated by Black and also by Lockenour that the wall of photographs
of Department of Corrections officials in both prisons' main lobbies
often outnumbers the staff at shift roll call.
Black wanted to make it clear, "All we are asking for is a new
contract that gives us a fair cost of living increase to keep up
with things over the next four years."
The problem with mandatory overtime might continue for a while.
Currently,
House Bill 5661, known as the State Facility Overtime Act,
provides that the director of the state agency responsible for the
operation of a specified state of Illinois facility may not require
an employee to work in excess of 40 hours per week. The bill,
originally sponsored by state Rep Lisa Dugan, D-Bradley, and state
Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, has been sent back to the Rules
Committee at the date of this report.
[By MIKE FAK]
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