July 28, 2000

Mr. Dave Cook, Director

Oregon Department of Corrections

2575 Center Street NE

Salem, Oregon 97310

Dear Mr. Cook:

I am compelled to write this letter to you so that you are aware of how the members of how AFSCME Local 2376 feel about the omission of the recommendation from the Security Differential Review Committee in the Department's reorganization plan that you submitted to the State Emergency Board.

You had all along assured me that the recommendation would be included in the reorganization packet, however, you did not include it. I understand that you were concerned about the possibility of an unfinanced liability creating problems within your budget and that this is why you did not ask for the money to fund the Committee's recommendation of $32 per point value for security duties performed by AFSCME Local 2376 Security Plus members.

We have talked about trust and the need to evolve past the era of mistrust that had caused misunderstandings and irreconcilable differences between Security Plus staff and D.O.C. management in the past. After the Security Differential Review Committee completed its' plan, Mike White (sub-local 2376-1 president) and I traveled across the state to inform our members of the results. We told them how the Department of Corrections had worked with AFSCME members to achieve a reasonable security differential offer and that we should have faith and trust in our D.O.C. Director and management because we had been assured by them that they would take the committee's recommendation to the E-board with their reorganization plan. Unfortunately, my members and I feel that actions speak louder than words.

I can assure you that AFSCME Local 2376 will not sign an agreement with the Department of Corrections that can in anyway be misinterpreted or re-interpreted at the pleasure of the reader again. We work hard and are dedicated to our jobs. We did not go out on strike just for fun or for the purpose of hurting the Department of Corrections. For far too long we have been left behind our counterparts in Security, not only in respect to wages but also in training. This must stop! We are inside the institutions working along side the inmates just as much as our security brothers and sisters. Quite often with more inmate contact for longer periods of time.

My members and I will not be mislead by empty promises in the future from the Department of Corrections. Bargaining in good faith, honest and open communication, and commitment from both sides is necessary to establishing trust between management and staff.

Sincerely,

Randall Ridderbusch, President

AFSCME Local 2376-Security Plus

C:    AFSCME Local 2376 Members

        John Kitzhaber, State of Oregon Governor

       State of Oregon Emergency Board

        Ken Allen, AFSCME Council 75 Executive Director

        AFSCME Council 75 Executive Board

        Roger Bouch, AFSCME Council 75 Staff Representative