Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey 2014-15 - Bob's 26th work in progress ...
What you're missing is that I support the CO's and agree that the REAL problem is DOCS and Albany (the CO's aren't granting the inmates rights and entitlements that are the envy of MOST of the working population - ask most non-governmental employees with a toothache for example).
*stands up and claps* okay you're getting it...
BUT - DOCS and Albany isn't going to change unless the union forces it to, the Joe Public's perception of the CO's is not looking great - the perception is the union leadership makes budget cuts and money the problem - when it is really mismanagement, waste and obscene inmate "perks".
Taylor Law, they have you by the ****. Isn't much of anything the Union (which is the employees) can do. We know the perception, and that's because crap like overtime numbers are spewed without knowledge of WHY. This isn't Teamsters and other Unions, maybe that's where you are going wrong. There is a lot of mismanagement, waste, and inmate perks....NONE of which NYSCOPBA has control over. Once again, NYSCOPBA does not create the jobs, give extra jobs, or put people in jobs. That's Building 2 (Albany). THAT is what you and Joe Public needs to understand. I understand the perception, and (tho sad to say) the Escape is putting a pretty bright light on all the cuts, procedures, perks that ALBANY let's convicts get away with. That was the big topic at work, what "good" will come out of this. BELIEVE me the majority of the BLUE LINE would love nothing more then Albany to open their jails up to the public so you could see where and what your hard earned dollars are going for. Unfortunately, its not just NY, its Nationally. Just today NYS adopted changes to their disciplinary policy that maximizes first time drug offenses (inside the jail) with a maximum of 30 days KEEPLOCK...not even in solitary confinement. It's also now the same 30 day max for assault on staff. Inmates can now kick the crap out of you, and as long as it's their first time they get to hang out in their regular cell for a maximum of 30 days. Once again, ALBANY NOT NYSCOPBA. I read the contracts that we have on our system for medical, construction, travel ect......if we cut those in half NYS would have millions of dollars to help schools and other necessary groups. But we can't, we have to give the states worst more and more and more while the rest of us scrape.
I'll say it again, if NYSCOPBA (which is nothing but CO's, voted by CO's, and ran by CO's) could change Albany, we would. Unfortunately once again, we don't make the rules, we just have to follow them.
The union is the key, but their leaders are more concerned with their relationships with the CO's than Joe Public - but don't underestimate the power of Joe Public - times are changing. Consider Republican governors like Wisconsin's Scott Walker and other Conservatives are just the beginning and are gaining power. Never say never - the Titanic sank and public opinion can quickly be swayed - and it doesn't need to be swayed by the truth, just charismatic politicians telling their constituents what they want to hear.
Once again, the UNION is CO's. You're right the public cheered when we had to give furlough days to NYS...guess what, you gave us more OT, thanks. They cheered when Cumo closed prisons and took away jobs, guess what, because you closed down some posts inmates were able to dig out right under the tower you closed down. How's that working for you now?
CO Overtime is the LEAST of the money wasting DOCS/Albany/Public should be worried about/change. If we had real jails with chain gangs, jumpsuits, 2 meals, community showers, 1 toilet, little heat, little air conditioning, paid medical, paid dental, paid prescriptions, non-contact visits, no free college education, ...you know the things Joe Public THINKS these mutts get. Instead they will be watching the latest Netflix releases Friday night, eating their Perry's Ice cream on their double stuffed mattress, but then it's decision time, Netflix or NBA Playoffs. But maybe they are too busy playing their own basketball on a full sized basketball court complete with regulation nets and wireless shot clock and complete scoreboard, but you're right...my extra 8 hour shift I got last week because an inmate swallowed a bag of K-2 that he got from his visit the day before and I had to make sure he didn't poop it out and swallow it again is much much worse. Or the shift I got the week before that I had to cover the officer who had his head smashed in by an inmate because he didn't like the officers tone. That's NOT NYSCOPBA's doing, that's ALBANY....once again.
