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AFSCME Kentucky
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DOC STILL ISN'T LISTENING
Updated
On: Feb 03, 2010 (18:51:00)
They say food service is not a safety risk! 
AFSCME CO's Jim Cunningham from KSR, Dan Ball from EKCC and Matt Hughes from Northpoint listen closely as DOC officials testify for lawmakers. |
A delegation of AFSCME corrections officers attended the House Judiciary Committee hearing, where DOC officials were put in the hot seat about the causes of the Northpoint riot and ongoing security issues caused by Aramark-provided food service in Kentucky’s prisons. Corrections Commissioner LaDonna Thompson told lawmakers that Aramark food service does not pose a safety risk and that NO corrections officers have brought this issue to the attention of the wardens. DOC may not be listening to us, but legislators are paying attention-- in a big way. Throughout the hearing, they posed tough questions to the Commissioner, the Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, and an Aramark official. “We have people who work there who are telling us one thing and you are telling us another,” said Rep. Darryl Owens (D- Louisville). Lawmakers also demanded a copy of the full report on the Northpoint riot, which DOC has still not provided to lawmakers or the public. Representative Brent Yonts has introduced a bill, HB 33, that would sever Aramark’s contract with the state. “It looks like corrections officers need to turn up the volume to get DOC to take our legitimate concerns about safety seriously.”
-Matt Hughes, an AFSCME member and Northpoint corrections officer |
WHAT’S NEXT?? “This was an important meeting because now DOC and Aramark have to pay attention to our concerns about safety. And it is all because we brought awareness of this issue to the legislators ourselves. Clearly the lines of communication within DOC are not working. Corrections officers need to be heard,” said Dan Ball, a corrections officer from Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex. Thanks to our activism, AFSCME Corrections Officers will be meeting with Commissioner Thompson next week! Talk to your union steward if you would like to be involved in this meeting or you can contact us at info@afscmekentucky.org.
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We keep the pressure on lawmakers to TAKE ACTION!!
Updated
On: Jan 28, 2010 (00:28:00)
Lawmakers pledge support to keep us SAFE AT WORK!
AFSCME members April Tidwell, a Social Service Clinician from Madisonville, and Larry Simmons, a Social Service Aide from Louisville, testify to members of the House Health and Welfare Committee. |
Yesterday, we made huge headway in our fight to improve safety and working conditions for human service workers! AFSCME members April Tidwell of Madisonville, Lula Duerson of Hopkinsville and Larry Simmons of Louisville testified at the House Health and Welfare Committee hearing about workplace conditions and the state’s strained social service system. We urged lawmakers to: -Fulfill their promise to fully fund safety measures contained in the Boni bill -Improve caseload standards -Give front-line staff a voice in funding decisions in Labor-Management meetings
"It is just criminal that this legislature has not sufficiently funded the services you provide."
-Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D- Louisville |
Our testimony riveted legislators and was covered by press across Kentucky. Rep. Tom Burch, Chairman of the Committee, pledged his support and will soon be introducing a new and improved Boni bill to tackle some of OUR issues on the job. Make sure to SPREAD THE NEWS IN YOUR WORKPLACE!
We still have a big fight ahead of us to make sure this bill is passed. We need your support to make this happen- contact your AFSCME steward at work or contact us at 1-866-871-0646 or info@afscmekentucky.org to get more involved.
Click on these press clip highlights from around the state:
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Tell Lawmakers to
BE BOLD! | 
Call Senate President David Williams and House Speaker Greg Stumbo TODAY and tell them that before even thinking about making additional cuts to vital public services, they need to look at everything– like using existing state resources more effectively, reviewing management to staff ratios, and examining tax loopholes and other reform measures.
CALL: 1-800-372-7181 |
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