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AFSCME wants apology from IDOC for blaming workers in inmate assault

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Illinois

* Background for this post is here. From Council 31…

The Illinois Department of Corrections’ attempt to lay the blame on injured employees for the August 21 outbreak of inmate violence at Pontiac Correctional Center is shameful and baseless, according to the union that represents employees at the maximum-security correctional facility.

“The department’s assertion that the employees involved in the incident failed to ‘follow workplace safety procedures’ was made without a shred of evidence before any investigation had been undertaken,” said Eddie Caumiant, Regional Director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31. “In fact, the employees’ actions that day were in compliance with departmental procedures.”

When AFSCME representatives met with management staff at the Pontiac facility on August 23 to review the details of the assault that occurred two days earlier, facility management did not provide any indication whatsoever that employees failed to follow IDOC procedures, Caumiant said.

“It seems all too clear that the IDOC statement laying blame on employees was nothing more than the department’s top brass trying to evade responsibility for the ongoing problems at Pontiac Correctional Center,” Caumiant said. “The IDOC director should immediately and personally apologize to each of the employees who were injured in the assault for besmirching their records.”

According to the union, three female employees (one lieutenant and two correctional officers) and three male workers (including one lieutenant) were assaulted by the prisoners.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 1:12 pm

Comments

I think those involved would rather have effective changes made for the safety and security of the institution than an apology.

Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Hard to see how either side is helping itself with these exchanges.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 1:20 pm
Given the current state of union/management relations, the chances of getting an apology are about as much as getting a raise.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 1:22 pm
Rauner trying to had the truth

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 1:23 pm
Any apology would be hollow PC words. Waste of time and ink to demand them. Spend those resources and energy on bringing about useful changes and not useless apologies.

Comment by Tony Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 1:24 pm
Rauner is known for passing the buck. Just ask Chris and Jim

Comment by Truthteller Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 1:41 pm
So 3 female COs were assaulted by inmates, and the superstars blame them? That’s a winning strategy.

Comment by Daniel Plainview Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 1:43 pm
I think an apology is a start. But really the “blame first, investigate later” kneejerk response from the administration says it all. Correctional Officers Safety means very little to them. They are a commodity, a line item cost, and nothing more.
It’s a betrayal of the very union members who have traditionally supported Republicans. Well I guess they know where they stand with this administration. Union CO’s stand in the way of profit and privatization.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 2:00 pm
Fixer - you’re absolutely right. I know when I’ve been blamed public for something that wasn’t my fault, I never want an apology from the glassbowl who made the statement.

Nutbucket.

Comment by Name Withheld Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 2:05 pm
Has the investigation been completed? If not, the union should refrain from saying with certainty whether or not the employees acted in compliance with department policies. The DOC should have refrained from their statement as well until a full investigation took place.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 2:05 pm
Looks to me the only solution is to privatize.

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 2:22 pm
Hang on Roberta, et al. It’ll be coming real soon.

Comment by Deft Wing Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 2:30 pm
Forby weighs in-

http://senatorforby.com/news/news-releases/317-forby-attack-on-pontiac-guards-a-direct-result-of-tamms-closure

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 2:31 pm
It’s really getting hard to escape the conclusion that, no matter what the reason, if AFSCME is involved, this administration will always go out of its way to demonize state workers.

This administration really needs to get a grip.

Comment by ILPundit Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 2:40 pm
“Looks to me the only solution is to privatize.”

- Blue dog dem, Please inform us on how prisons owned by private companies will keep prison guards from being attacked by the prisoners? You must be a Raunerbot.

Your statement makes on sense.

Comment by Mama Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 2:46 pm
Privatizing prisons is a bad idea.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 2:52 pm
Privatizing prisons is under fire right now from the DOJ, but the US Marshal’s Service is actually using them more. Backgrounders:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donald-cohen/the-dojs-decision-to-stop_b_11665542.html

http://www.businessinsider.com/prison-stocks-collapse-after-doj-memo-2016-8

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/justice-department-private-prisons_us_57bca9b1e4b00d9c3a1a7e19

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 3:17 pm
Name Withheld- you would take a fake apology from people who see you, as another poster put it, as a line item figure, over policy changes that prevent situations like this from happening again?

Bold strategy there…

Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 3:47 pm
First, an apology is in order because the staff, which is short-staffed, overworked and tired…are not to blame when the Governor refuses to address the budget and staff shortage in prisons(among all other areas).
Second, yes, the staff would love to see the governor and IDOC address the safety concerns, but again, that means ensuring there is a budget in place, more hiring/training for DOC, which, again, means a budget.

Comment by UnionThugGramma Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 6:57 pm
Snark. Please.

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 8:15 pm
I think privatizing prisons in Illinois is against state law

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 25, 16 @ 12:41 am
It is a catch 22 to be a state worker these days. In Corrections, we are so short on staff that management allows for cutting of corners, but never puts it in writing. Yet when something goes afoul, they point to the directives and procedures , and chide us for not following them properly. We are their scapegoats! If procedures were ever properly followed, being so short on manpower, that it would disrupt or not allow for the normal or proper function of operations and programs at any of the facilities. This is just as true for law enforcement in general.

Comment by nubbs Thursday, Aug 25, 16 @ 12:23 pm
The only thing that privatization will do is lower wages and benefits for front line staff, and enrich a few owners, managers and a CEO. Tax payers will still be hit with a bill, but the employees will have to take a huge loss as to allow for profits of a few.

Comment by 4_nubbs Thursday, Aug 25, 16 @ 12:33 pm