Security Labor Management

Meeting Minutes

March 28, 2002, 6:15 am

Attending:      Frank Thompson, Brad Heath, Ted Long, Mike Malizio, Kim Olerich, Greg Smith, Jim Steiner, Scott Campbell, LeRue Edwards, Elizabeth Mancino, Sally Neal, Harvey Smath, and Carl Bramlett

Issue:              Review of previous minutes.

Discussion:    The minutes of the February 28, 2002 meeting were reviewed and approved.

Action:            As above.

Issue:              Security Staffing:  How many security staff (FTE’s) are budgeted at CRCI?  What is the current number of security staff vacancies?  How many temporary hires are employed now as security staff?  How Many security staff are currently on long term leave or otherwise unavailable for work?  How many security staff have yet to attend DPSST?

Discussion:    Report of staffing presented to local union (see enclosure (1)). The Local Union inquired into the time frames when decisions would be made to return one Lieutenant from the South Fork Forest Camp and when the current Lieutenant vacancy would be filled permanently. Management has taken the position that non-represented personnel issues are not official labor/management agenda items for discussion.

                        Position                      Number                      Vacancies

                        Sergeant                          7                                     0

                        Corporal                           9                                     0

                        GF Officer                       49                                    0

                        GF Work Crew                 4                                     0

                         OF Work Crew                4                                     3

                        Temporary Hire                3

                        Long Term Leave             0

                        Pending DPSST              7

Remain on Agenda

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Issue:  Control of Unscheduled Leave:  Superintendents will work through their Labor/Management committees within their institutions to define the indicators that will enable this group to address unscheduled leave, how it might be controlled and what is reasonable in terms of beginning the supervisor/employee dialog on unscheduled leave. 

Discussion:    Jim Steiner began the discussion by stating this issue needs to be a DOC-wide discussion, and the policy need to be DOC–wide.  Conversations at the State-Wide Labor/Management Meetings will drive this policy.  Jim wants a consistent policy department-wide.  Frank Thompson said Kris Kautz wants institutions to look at the primary drivers for unscheduled leave, and that CRCI might have to address this issue before a decision is made statewide.  Brad Heath said he has contacted SRCI Staff Deployment to gather their thoughts, and he is developing an Attendance Plan format.  The format has been shared with the CRCI Management Team.  

Action:            Frank stated he wanted a copy of the Attendance Plan format delivered to labor, and to have discussions on the format after labor has a chance to review.  Scott Campbell also asked Brad to check with EOCI on their incentive based approach.

Remain on Agenda.

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Issue:  Staffing Standards Report:  The Agency is nearing completion of this report.  The Local Union requests a copy of this report.

Discussion:    Scott Campbell reported his thoughts on the recent MINIMUM staffing standards meetings held at CCCF.  He felt the small groups did not allow all views to be discussed (number of toilets/showers per inmate, open space per inmate, per ACA standards).  A one-size for all solution does not fit all institutions.  It appeared the budget was a primary driver, but it should not be. Mr. Heath stated the decision trees to be used should be distributed the first week of April.

Action:            Frank Thompson asked Scott to submit his thoughts/concerns to him.  Frank stated CRCI needs labor input at every opportunity, and he will use this information in later discussions with the Assistant Directors.

Remove from Agenda

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Issue:              Travel Expense Reimbursement for DPSST:  There has been a change in the method of reimbursing travel expenses.

Discussion:    Frank Thompson said his understanding of the case Scott Campbell has spoken of was non-precedent setting. Scott then said CRCI has a past-practice of allowing staff assigned to DPSST to travel back and forth once per week.  LeRue Edwards said he would give Frank information on past-practice on this issue.  Scott said any change to this issue needs to discussed with labor.

Action:            Frank asked Scott to hold this discussion over until the next Labor/Management meeting to give him a chance to review the grievance and resolution.  Frank also said he hoped to have an answer to AFSCME on some areas of this issue by the end of the day.

Remain on Agenda

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Issue:             Overtime Assignment Procedure

Discussion:    Brad Heath had asked Scott Campbell to go over language in the procedure with Nok Smith.  That was completed.  The updated procedure is now formatted and ready for Frank’s signature.  After Frank signs the procedure it needs to go to the DOC Rules Administrator, Dave Schumacher.

Action:            Management will implement the procedure as soon as Mr. Schumacher approves it.  Brad Heath will ask Mr. Schumacher to complete his review within a two-week period. Local Union is not adverse to the immediate implementation of the procedure as it adds clarity to the procedure.

Remove from Agenda.

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Issue:              Monthly Discipline Logs:     The 2001-2003 collective bargaining process modified Article 50 – Discipline and Discharge language.  The Local Union requests a monthly agenda topic in which a Monthly Discipline Log is provided to the Local, but not discussed.

Discussion:    The number for this month’s meeting was presented on the Security Staffing Update (Enclosure (1)).  Frank Thompson said management has developed a coding system that will create a log of disciplinary reports completed.  Each disciplinary report will have a sequential coding number printed on it, and labor will receive a copy of each of these reports.  Mike Malizio will be keeping this log.

Scott said he has reservations about this system as the Union has no way of knowing if they get all disciplines issued if there is only one issued each month.

Action:            Frank Thompson stated he can’t stand behind a number printed on the Security Staffing Update, but is comfortable with a coding system that creates a sequential log. If labor thinks they are not receiving copies of all disciplinary reports they need to bring up this issue with Frank.

Remove from Agenda.

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Item:                Housing Unit Chair Placement:  Confusion seems to exist regarding placement of chairs in the housing unit dayrooms and television rooms. Brief discussion and clarification is requested.

Discussion:    Frank asked if Scott had talked with the responsible manager about this issue before placing it on the agenda.  Scott said he has talked with different OIC’s and has received conflicting information.  Frank asked if labor has a preference on this issue, and Scott stated he just wanted consistency.  The general consensus of represented staff present was to stack chairs against the wall when not is use. Greg Smith added that over the years the stacking of chairs has seemed to work the best .

Action:            Frank tasked Brad Heath with developing a consistent policy.  Frank said there would be a 60-day timeframe for him to make a final decision.  DOC is changing to incentive-based programs, and possibly honor unit concepts, which may impact the decision.

Remove from Agenda

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Item:    Institution Air Quality:  Members of the Local Union feel institutional air quality is below OSHA standards. The Local Union requests the location of air filters, how often the filters are changed, when air ducts were cleaned last, and what is the fresh air exchange rate.

Discussion:    Frank asked if Scott had talked with the responsible manager about this issue before placing it on the agenda.  Scott said no, not personally, but many staff have.  He gave examples of sick inmates and sick staff.  Carl Bramlett said to look at the air vents in the units; there was a black film around each – but not in the administration area.  Frank stated that the responsible manager needs to have an opportunity to respond to questions such as this, and labor can then bring it to Labor/Management meetings if they do not get an adequate response.  Jim Steiner then mentioned his problem with the air in the conference room during and after the last Labor/Management meeting.  Scott said he views this meeting as a starting point for issues such as this.  He stated that a staff member might be forced into retirement, and the institution air quality might be a contributing factor.  Frank said if this is the case, then this Labor/Management meeting is the correct forum.  Greg Smith then answered the questions concerning the location, number and schedule for changing air filters.  Air filters are changed every two months. The fresh air exchange rate varies between 15% and 100% depending on the outside air temperature. He received this information from Plant Maintenance staff.  Mr. Smith has been asked by maintenance to purchase a vacuum system and thirty feet of hose to clean air ducts.

Action:            Frank Thompson will report back at the next Labor/Management meeting on a management review of air quality in CRCI.

Remain on Agenda

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Item:    Housing Unit Regulations:  The Local Union is reviewing the inmate housing unit regulations. Hopefully, recommended changes may be submitted at this meeting. No discussion is necessary.

Discussion:    Frank asked if Scott had talked with the responsible manager about this issue before placing it on the agenda.  Scott stated that input from labor on issues such as this has been lost before, and he wants to use the Labor/Management meeting as a forum to presents labor input.  The Union is recommending a total rewrite of the regulations as there are numerous inconsistencies and duplications.

Action:            Scott was asked to give labor’s input to Brad Heath and Linda Heldstab.  Labor input was important, and will be considered as housing unit regulations are updated.

Remove from Agenda

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Kim Olerich asked that a change be made to the minutes of the February 28, 2002 meeting under the “Other Fund Positions” item.  She said to change ……”staff would only be bidding on Other Fund positions”… to “four general fund were on the bid”.

It was decided to have the next meeting on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 at 6:15 AM.