* This will supposedly save $8 million…
Unionized nurses at a dozen Illinois prisons are being laid off and their jobs privatized, the Illinois Nurses Association said Tuesday.
The union released a copy of a letter from the Department of Corrections that 124 nurses represented by the association will be laid off effective June 15.
The layoffs will occur at a dozen Illinois prisons, including four at the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, eight at the Jacksonville Correctional Center and eight at the Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro.
The letter says the layoffs are the result of a “material change in duties and organization due to subcontracting of services …” […]
The letter sent by Corrections to the union says it notified the INA in June 2016 that it might privatize the jobs. The letter also says the union was told in January that the state was going ahead with the privatization and offered to meet with the union about it. The letter says the union declined to meet.
The IDOC letter is here.
* AP…
Alice Johnson, the association’s executive director, noted the notice came just days after the union filed an unfair labor practices complaint with state regulators, claiming the first-term Republican governor has reneged on his obligation to negotiate contract terms in good faith. She said members overwhelmingly rejected a tentative agreement last spring and Rauner is retaliating.
“It’s an attempt to bully and intimidate the nurses, and it’s not going to work,” Johnson told the AP.
She said the move is particularly troublesome because of a nationwide shortage of nurses that forces Illinois prison nurses to sometimes work 80-hour weeks while vacant positions go unfilled. […]
“Wexford is prepared to hire most of the nurses who will be impacted by the layoff,” [Nicole Wilson, spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections] said. “The department will work with those who wish to remain employed with the state and will … identify nursing vacancies within other state agencies.”
* Wexford was given a contract by the Quinn administration back in 2011 to administer health care services in state prisons. A 2015 Tribune report wasn’t exactly glowing…
The 55-year-old inmate with a family history of lung cancer was coughing up blood the day he arrived at the medium security Illinois River prison in November 2012.
A nurse sent him away with a container to spit in and told him to report back if it worsened. In a series of visits to the Peoria-area prison’s medical facility, doctors and nurses continued to miss the inmate’s classic signs of lung cancer.
By the time the inmate was finally diagnosed correctly and offered treatment in June 2013, it was too late. He died nine days later.
The details of the inmate’s potentially preventable death was just one example in a scathing 405-page expert report filed in federal court late Tuesday that alleged sweeping problems in medical care at the state’s prisons ranging from unqualified and incompetent physicians and nurses to woeful record-keeping and poor sanitation. […]
The experts found “significant lapses in care” in 60 percent of the cases they reviewed in which prisoners died of natural causes from January 2013 through May 2014.
…Adding… Press release…
Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael T. Carrigan statement following Gov. Rauner firing 124 correctional center nurses
“This action is unconscionable. First, the Rauner Administration makes it nearly impossible for these nurses to do their jobs by not filling vacancies and forcing 80-hour work weeks, then he lays them off to shift taxpayer dollars to yet another for-profit consultant.
“The list of Rauner carnage is growing every day and the citizens of Illinois are the victims. His priorities are wrong-headed and families are getting hurt.
“These nurses should be supported and celebrated for their extraordinary service under trying circumstances. For that they get a pink slip and a private company gets a bonus. Welcome to Rauner’s Illinois.”
…Adding More… Sen. Daniel Biss…
The Rauner administration is trying to privatize nursing in Illinois’ prison system, Senator Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) said Wednesday.
Biss’ comments were prompted by word that the Rauner administration is outsourcing the jobs of 124 prison nurses employed by the Illinois Department of Corrections to a private company. The unionized nurses are represented by the Illinois Nurses Association, and their layoffs are effective June 15, according to a March 18 letter from the administration to the association announcing the changes.
“This appears to be nothing more than a back-door attempt to get around Illinois’ ban on privatizing prisons,” Biss said. “Gov. Rauner is offering up another failed policy that looks like it came straight out of the Trump White House.”
Illinois banned private prisons in 1990. The General Assembly declared that “the management and operation of a correctional facility or institution involves functions that are inherently governmental.” However, the privatization ban does not apply to ancillary services, such as medical care.
“Just last week, Gov. Rauner tried to insist he had the best interests of state workers at heart. This week he’s laying off 124 nurses employed by the state,” Biss said. “The only interests I think Gov. Rauner has at heart are those of his business friends who can make money off state government.”
- A Non - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 9:40 am:
I don’t know what to say. Is it a shot across the bow to AFSCME that we’re next? Will he get away with it? Guess, as always, we’ll just have to wait and see. Hello anxiety!
- Brothers - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 9:40 am:
Isn’t Wexford unionized? So no net union jobs are being lost here.
- Brothers - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 9:43 am:
In fact, isn’t Wexford represented by AFSCME? http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/opinions/appellatecourt/2004/5thdistrict/july/html/5020560.htm
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 9:43 am:
In 2014, 2 of every 5 Union households voted Rauner over Quinn.
Sometimes the lessons learned aren’t the lessons that those teaching want learned… by them.
Decatur was the blueprint, this is like the “groundbreaking” of the destroying of unions and union workers.
- cdog - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 9:47 am:
Such a strange world in which we live.
On one hand, fewer state employees is beneficial for the out of control public pension problem.
On the other hand, these are individuals with families being affected. Good thing the health care sector probably has job openings for these folks.
Adding, there is no excuse for lazy diagnosis or care regardless of whether a public employee or a private one. Hopefully everyone sleeps well.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 9:50 am:
Found my new name.” Container to spit in”. This is the future of most union employees. We are but cups to spit in.
- Steward As Well.... - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 9:52 am:
Child like retaliation from the guv because the INA is standing up to him and his silly demands.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 9:55 am:
If you’re already coughing up blood, what’s the “worse” threshold that needs to be met so you can see a doc?
- CCP Hostage - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 9:57 am:
It’s clear that the actual work to be done and the quality of that work really isn’t a priority anymore. It’s just checking off the boxes. See group homes oversight, nursing home oversight, and now the privatization of nursing services in the prisons. I hope the prisoner’s families sue and sue and sue. Our only hope is the courts.
- Rogue Roni - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:00 am:
This goes to anyone on the fence saying they “can’t afford a strike”. Either strike or get your resume ready. If you believed JT when he said there was no plans to privatize you need your head examined.
- Yiddishcowboy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:02 am:
@wordslinger: Apparently, having a strand of actual lung hanging from one’s mouth. Pretty sad.
- Jack Kemp - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:04 am:
The other 1,200 or so prison nurses in the State are all Wexford employees. These 120 are the exception to the rule, not the rule.
Also, AFSCME is the exclusive bargaining representative for Wexford nurses. So what’s the issue? Tin foil not wrapped tight enough today folks?
- Springfield Since '77 - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:04 am:
Interesting take on Wexford all the way back to 2012…
https://wuisnews.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/prison-health-care-contract-in-illinois-raises-questions/
- Yeah - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:09 am:
65 thousand dollars in savings for each nurse laid off. Come on this is obviously a made up number for a press release. Please show your work.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:11 am:
The cut amounts to $64,516 per nurse, a vicious cut overall.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:20 am:
I recall George Ryan’s doc director being accused of the below:
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2007/dec/15/former-illinois-doc-director-former-prisoner-advocate-others-indicted-on-federal-corruption-charges/
Specifically, the federal indictment charged that Robinson had bribed Snyder with $20,000 for the Addus contracts, and that Sims had given Snyder $30,000 in kickbacks for obtaining contracts for Wexford Health Sources, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based health care firm.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:30 am:
Salaries for Wexford from Indeed.com:
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Wexford-Health-Sources,-Inc./salaries
- Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:33 am:
Willy is on point. Unions need to do a better job educating members on the ramifications of their vote.
P.S. Honeybear, “spit on” is probably a more accurate description.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:33 am:
Comparisons of Correctional Nurses’ salaries across the country-
http://nursejournal.org/correctional-nursing/correctional-nurse-careers-salary-outlook/
- Lynn S. - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:35 am:
While I appreciate everyone’s concerns for the nurses and their families, I somewhat stunned that so few are concerned about Wexford’s prior record of such poor card for prisoners.
The “$65,000 per position” saved per positions eliminated will be rapidly consumed by the cost of the lawyers to defend the State against lawsuits from prisoners and their families over the suffering caused by sub-standard care and preventable deaths, not to mention settlement costs.
Is one of Rainer’s kids in law school? Does one of the superstars have a buddy who’s an attorney looking for work?
Who failed to think through the consequences of this? It’s practically Trumpian in its stupidity and short-sightedness.
(I’m not aware of any family members in prison. I’m just the daughter of a retired nurse.)
- A Jack - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:36 am:
I couldn’t find any RN’s in the AFSCME contract, but a maximum security LPN 2 at step 8 only makes $60,252 a year.
So I find the $64 K a year savings claim per nurse by Rauner to be exceedingly inflated.
- Union proud - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:39 am:
Make no mistake this is to punish the nurses for voting down Rauner’s contract. The only contract so far that is anywhere similar to what has been offered to AFSCME. The governor loves to tout how fair his offer is. Well the nurses thought otherwise and voted the thing down. He was furious. Took them to court. Now this.
- illini - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:41 am:
@Anon221 - and how does this compare with the salaries they were earning? My suspicion is that they would not only be taking a reduction in salary, but also lose not only pension, but other benefits if they did hire back with this company.
- Finally Out (and now very glad to be) - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:46 am:
“The Illinois Department of Corrections in 2011 awarded Wexford a 10-year contract worth more than $1.3 billion to provide healthcare to Illinois’ adult inmates…”
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20150520/NEWS/150529989
Rauner seems to forget the cost of the privatization contract when figuring his fake savings. Hopefully some media outlet will grab this and run with it to show us the entire picture of what’s going on here.
- Harvest76 - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:48 am:
I’m calling it now: there will be no savings, the quality of care for the prisoners and the livelihoods and local economies of those nurses will be damaged, and BVR will get a big pat on the back from Wexford CEO at the next black tie affair for business leaders.
- Finally Out - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:57 am:
“The Illinois Department of Corrections in 2011 awarded Wexford a 10-year contract worth more than $1.3 billion to provide healthcare to Illinois’ adult inmates…”
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20150520/NEWS/150529989
Rauner seems to forget the cost of the privatization contract when figuring his fake savings. Hopefully some media outlet will grab this and run with it to show us the entire picture of what’s going on here.
- Robert the 1st - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:58 am:
I assume the savings come from benefits, especially pensions. Although the one nurse I know who got her lay-off notice is tier II, so not much savings there.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 10:58 am:
== So I find the $64 K a year savings claim per nurse by Rauner to be exceedingly inflated. ==
Add in benefits like health insurance and retirement, and the number seems reasonable.
- Hiring Freeze? - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 11:10 am:
I know this is off topic but has anyone heard that AFSCME agreed to a hiring freeze two weeks ago but did not inform their members? Vacancies will only be filled by laid off employees and contractual workers.
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 11:18 am:
Was Rauner affiliated with Wexford when he was with GTCR?
- A-Aron - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 11:20 am:
Wexford nurses are in AFSCME…. UGH don’t you people read!
- Robert the 1st - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 11:24 am:
No sure if they’re in AFSCME, but I doubt it. I am sure they don’t get state benefits/pension. A private 401k according to Glassdoor.
- Dr X - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 11:37 am:
If you are tryin’ to reduce costs - isn’t this what you would want to do?
“By the time the inmate was finally diagnosed correctly and offered treatment in June 2013, it was too late. He died nine days later.”
- DuPage - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 11:49 am:
By cutting the medical care, Rauner will reduce the costs. Giving someone a container to spit in certainly is cheaper then sending them to a hospital. Also it goes along with the governor reducing the prison population, one less prisoner to house and feed./s
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 12:08 pm:
illini- Don’t know the answer to that, but some of the other commenters have made some good points about Wexford’s record. My take would be, just because it may be cheaper now, doesn’t make it cheaper later.
- Derp - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 2:21 pm:
** LPN 2 at step 8 only makes $60,252 a year **
That’s more than any LPN in the private sector. So much for state workers being underpaid.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 2:27 pm:
===So much for state workers being underpaid===
Oh, please. You couldn’t pay me enough to be a nurse at a state prison. But hey, you go to school to get your certificate and then get in line to tend to murderers, rapists, etc. Make sure to send me a selfie.
- Theq - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
I worked at a state facility that utilized contract nurses due to a staffing shortage caused by threat of closure. The contract nurses spent more time trying to catch staff doing something outside of procedure than caring for the residents of the facility. I can think of at least two that were released from duty for negligence of their duty. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen….. well probably a whole bunch of them
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 5:53 pm:
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 2:27 pm:
===So much for state workers being underpaid===
Oh, please. You couldn’t pay me enough to be a nurse at a state prison. But hey, you go to school to get your certificate and then get in line to tend to murderers, rapists, etc. Make sure to send me a selfie.
================================================
Beat me to it,Rich.
Funny thing,those people crying about overpaid state workers don’t seem to be straining themselves to apply for the jobs now do they?
- Commenter - Wednesday, Mar 22, 17 @ 7:49 pm:
I know a few cases where nurses employed through Wexford were attacked by inmates and injured severely. In one instance the gal required reconstructive surgery. It is not an environment most people, including myself, would or could work and you don’t know if you will be subjected to danger.
- Robert the 1st - Thursday, Mar 23, 17 @ 1:49 am:
=Funny thing,those people crying about overpaid state workers don’t seem to be straining themselves to apply for the jobs now do they?=
Silly people. Trying to keep Caterpillar, Sears and countless others afloat as the state bleeds dry.