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| Correctional employees stage protest to highlight work issues |
| By fdlreporter.com - Colleen Kottke |
| Published: 03/28/2012 |
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WAUPUN, Wisconsin — The air was filled with chants and calls for change as corrections workers gathered Tuesday afternoon outside the limestone gates of Waupun Correctional Institution to protest unfair policies and deteriorating safety conditions and staff morale inside of prison walls. Workers say the voices of the men and women working in Wisconsin correctional facilities have been ignored by politicians and Department of Corrections administration. "The silence is deafening," said Daniel Meehan, president of Local 18 at Waupun Correctional Institution, referring to a Feb. 24 letter drafted by union leadership from correctional institutions across the state that was sent to DOC Secretary Gary Hamblin requesting a face-to-face meeting to discuss work rules and new policies and procedures, staff assaults and staffing/vacancies. "We haven't heard a word," Meehan said. "We're just asking to work together like we did in labor/management meetings and talk about the security issues inside of the prison. They (administration) want no part of it." State union boss Marty Beil said the DOC administration has been non-responsive to serious concerns raised by workers about staff assaults and soaring position vacancies. Solutions sought "By blowing up work rules and local agreements that ensured smooth operations, they've created chaos and confusion. Worse, they obviously have zero interest in finding workable solutions to the problems they're creating," said Beil, executive director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24. Linda Eggert, public information officer for the DOC, said that for the past two months, WCI Warden William Pollard has asked supervisors to invite security staff members to attend his meetings. "At those meetings, staff and/or managers are free to raise and discuss any issue of concern," Eggert said. "Security staff are also free to forward any concerns they have to their supervisors so they can be discussed at these regular meetings." Meehan says the meetings are little more than a "dog and pony show." Read More. |
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