Updates
Click an update for more information.
1/17/11
Contact your Legislators to let them know that CO's do NOT want the move to 8's
1/17/11
Annual Meeting and Superbowl information is on the homepage!
1/11/12
ACOA files an Unfair Labor Practice on shift changes
1/6/12
Added Information on the "Going to 8's" rumor
12/16/11
Recommendations
for submitting Leave
Cash-in slips
12/14/11
View the results for the poll on "comp time" and "two week rotation" options.
12/12/11
The first round of contract negotiations were held in Juneau on the 6th and 7th.
"Going to 8's" Shift Change by DOC
- 1/17/12 - Contact Your Legislator
- 1/11/12 - Unfair Labor Practice Filed
- 1/6/12 - ACOA Email Update
Contact your Legislator
Let your legislator know that CO's do NOT want to go to 8's
Below are some thoughts and information that will help you if you choose to contact your Legislator. Remember it is not the Legislators who are responsible for you going to 8-hour shifts, it is DOC Management. We will be doing what we can in Juneau, but it is the voice of their constituents that Legislators listen to, below you will find information on contacting yours.
Not sure who your Legislator is, look them up here.
The facts are...
- The changes have nothing whatsoever to do with saving money or managing the Department better.
- The 12 hour week on/ week off work schedule has been in place for thirty (30) years and has worked brilliantly.
- Staffing is already an issue (the Legislative Audit confirms it) and now the DOC is giving away its best recruitment tool.
- The DOC is attempting to staff Goose Creek but will now lose many current Correctional Officers with this change.
- Many, who might transfer to Goose Creek to work 12-hour shifts, will not do so to work an 8-hour shift.
- The State is trying to change working conditions and a 30-year past practice without following the required process. (Link to negotiations page)
- Many years ago DOC had 8-hour shifts. When it did there was burnout and increased sick leave usage. O.T. costs were high.
- Best thing about the week on/week off is the majority of doctor appointments and other necessary personal needs are done on the week off, saving leave and overtime.
- The Commissioner’s math is flawed. By his math every one of you would have to take 385 hours of leave (average) this fiscal year.
- Most current C.O.s were enticed to become Correctional Officers by the DOC’s promotion of the week on/week off schedule. Going to 8’s will not only hinder recruitment but it also breaks the promise made to most Officers now employed.
- This will have a devastating effect on the morale of Correctional Officers statewide. Many rural Officers have subsistence life styles. Officers in Bethel and Nome count on subsistence harvests to offset the high cost of living and to provide for their families.
This is a reminder that if you are going to write an email to your Representative and Senator, you should not send it using the State's e-mail system either from work or from home. Using the State’s system to communicate with a Legislator on this issue could violate State policies and result in discipline.
Contacting your Legislator...
(If contacting the Legislator from your area – write a personal note. If sending something to all Legislators – probably short and sweet.)
- If you are writing to the Legislator that represents you, tell him/her that you live in their District.
- Explain in specific terms how you will be personally affected by the proposed change from 12-hour shifts to 8-hour shifts.
- First the State voids your contract, and now it is coming after your 12- hour shifts. When does it stop? The DOC needs to move on and stop attacking its employees.
- If you work at SCCC, and you live in Seward, explain that it is not fair to be discriminated against because you live in Seward (DOC told Legislators that local people could go to 8-hour shifts so that those who commute from Anchorage did not have too).
- If you work at SCCC, and you don’t live in Seward, explain that you will not be able to continue working for DOC if you are changed to an 8-hour shift because you cannot afford to commute 3 hours one way, five days a week.
- DOC is trying to say having people on 8-hour shifts already exists; not true, those on 8-hour shifts now are non security-shift personnel. On the most part, it is Officers in time accounting, property, and other non security positions.
- Explain that the leave (300,000 hours) that the Commissioner is accusing you of taking now and for the rest of this fiscal year is wrong. Will you use 385 hours of leave by June 30, 2012? (See ULP)
- Explain about any of the “fact” issues above and how you, your fellow Officers, your family, and your institution will be affected. (Example: if you live in Bethel or Nome, explain how not being able to subsistence harvest will affect your family and your fellow Officers’ families.)
Do what you can, where you can, when you can.
If you have any questions, please contact the office.
Find your Legislator...
This is a list of Legislators by district. If you live in rural Alaska this will be fairly easy to determine. If you live in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or the Mat-Su Valley, click on the following maps to determine who is your Legislator and then go back to the list of legislators.
Map of Anchorage Map of Fairbanks Map of the Valley
Find your Institution's Legislator...
| Facility | Representative | Senator |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | Les Gara | Johnny Ellis |
| Anvil Mountain | Neal Foster | Donald Olson |
| Fairbanks | Scott Kawasaki | Joe Paskvan |
| Hiland Mountain | Mike Hawker | Cathy Giessel |
| Ketchikan | Kyle Johansen | Bert Stedman |
| Lemon Creek | Beth Kerttula | Dennis Egan |
| Mat-Su Pre-trial | Carl Gatto | Linda Menard |
| Palmer | Eric Feige | John Coghill |
| Pt. MacKenzie | Mark Neuman | Charlie Huggins |
| Spring Creek | Paul Seaton | Gary Stevens |
| Wildwood | Mike Chenault | Thomas Wagoner |
| Yukon-Kuskokwim | Bob Herron | Lyman Hoffman |
