cwa informer winter 2015

7/21/2019 CWA Informer Winter 2015

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WV Corrections – “The Toughest Beat In The State”Volume 11, Number 1 Winter 20

Faced with dwindling reserve funds, PEIA must now come

up with $40 million in cuts ac cording to PEIA Executive

Director Ted Cheatham.

PEIA is proposing signicant changes and will present

several options at public hearings to be held in Novem-

ber throughout the state. Ways to make up the $40 millionshortfall include changes in drug plans and increased co-

pays, deductibles and the out-of-pocket maximum.

“For three years we’ve successfully fought premium increas-

es,” said CWA International Representative Elaine Harris.

“Now a variety of factors has created a perfect storm and

something will need to be done next year in order to keep

PEIA aoat.”

Local 2055 members are encouraged to attend the public

hearings.

“As a member of the PEIA Finance Board, I have the backs

of the Local 2055 members but I’m only one voice,” Harris

said. “PEIA wants your input and I can’t stress how impor-

tant it is that members show up at these hearings.

“But I recognize not all of our members have nine to ve

jobs. These facilities stay open 24/7 so it may be impossible

for everyone to attend a hearing,” Harris said.

Harris said those who cannot attend and who have access to the

Internet can let their feelings be known by participating in an

online survey by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/

s/PEIA2016.

Fellow PEIA Finance Board member and Secretary Treasurer

of the West Virginia AFL-CIO Josh Sword said he and Har-

ris will continue to stand up for public employees. “Union

members who are public employees in West Virginia have a

Input Sought on PEIA Changes

Monday, Nov. 10, 2014 - BeckleyTamarack - Ballroom AOne Tamarack Park, Beckley, WV

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014 - HuntingtonMarshall Medical School - Harless Auditorium1600 Medical Center Drive, Huntington, WV

Monday, Nov. 17, 2014 - MartinsburgHoliday Inn - Foxcroft Ballroom301 Foxcroft Avenue, Martinsburg, WV

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 - MorgantownRamada Inn - Grand Ballroom20 Scott Avenue, Morgantown, WV

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014 - WheelingWV Northern Community College - Auditorium1704 Market Street, Wheeling, WV

Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 - Charleston

Charleston Civic Center - Little Theater200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston, WV

Registration for the 6 p.m. hearings below starts at5 p.m. You must register to speak.

Customer Service — PEIA will provide customerservice in each location from 5-6 p.m. If you havequestions about medical, prescription or life insurancebenefits, come early and get answers. If you can’tattend a hearing in person, please submit comments inwriting to PEIA, 601 57th St., SE, Suite 2, Charleston,WV 25304-2345, or by e-mail to: [email protected].

collective voice in this process,” Sword said. “We can ma

that voice louder if people turn out for these public hearin

or take the online survey.

“Remember there is strength in numbers.”

Public Hearings



Safety Concerns at FacilitiesMembers of Local 2055 who work in the juvenile facilities

have a representative on the Task Force on Juvenile Justice.

CWA International Representative Elaine Harris was ap-

pointed to the board by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin in Julywhen the task force was formed.

“As we get involved with any of these task forces, there’s no

guarantee of the outcome,” said CWA International Represen-

tative Elaine Harris. “We’re focused on the front line — the

members of Local 2055 who work at these facilities — and

all of efforts revolve around them. Others can speak on behalf

of the residents or the administration.

“We’re concerned about the workers.”

The intergovernmental task force is responsible for develop-

ing and offering new policies in the area of juvenile justice

that address programs and problems and making recommen-

dations for improvements. Members of the task force will

also work with the Pew Charitable Trust to review West Vir-

ginia’s juvenile justice system and data as they seek ways

to improve outcomes for youth, families and communities,

enhance accountability for juvenile offenders and the system

and contain taxpayer costs by focusing resources on serious

juvenile offenders.

Last summer, Judge Omar Aboulhosn’s ruling in a case

brought against the state’s Division of Juvenile Justice by

Mountain State Justice, a Charleston based public inter-

est law rm, resulted in the closing of the Salem Industrial

Home for Youth and later the Harriet B. Jones Treatme

Center. Those juvenile residents were transferred to oth

facilities in the state with those having behavioral or men

health issues transferred to the Tiger Morton Juvenile Cenin Kanawha County and the sex offenders going to the Sa

Perdue Juvenile Center in Mercer County.

The Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center in Boone County b

came the new medium-to-maximum security facility for j

venile offenders.

Multiple problems have arisen at the Kuhn Center since t

transfer of more violent offenders into the center. Near

30 grievances have been led by Local 2055 members

the facility most citing the dangerous conditions the netransfers pose.

Harris said she views her role on the task force as being t

voice of the workers in the juvenile facilities. In additi

to participation on the task force Harris, Local 2055’s Ja

Ferrell, Vince Trivelli, lawyer for Local 2055, and membe

from the Donald R. Kuhn Center and the Gene Spadafo

Center have held, and will continue to hold, regular meetin

with Judge Aboulhosn to discuss the dangerous conditions

the Kuhn Center.

When Judge Aboulhosn issued his ruling he indicated

would closely follow the developments at the centers, sa

ing unsafe conditions were worsened by understafng a

underpaying the correctional ofcers and support staff.

The AFL-CIO created Union Privilege

in 1986 to provide union members

and their families with valuable

consumer benefits. With Union Plus

benefits, your union membership

“pays” at work and at home.

The CWA Members Only Benefits

is operated through the Union Plus

program. Members can save 15

percent on AT&T wireless phoneservice.

Members Only offers quality pro-

grams and services promote better

lifestyles for working families —

including scholarships, mortgages,

travel discounts, auto insurance,

financial services, legal service,

everyday savings, health clubs,

hardship assistance and much more.

Using the strength of unions and

purchasing power of more than 13

million union members, Union Plus

can negotiate good programs atcompetitive prices.

You can also get discounts on movie

tickets, theme parks, computers

flowers, pet foods, and much more

To see a list of all your union’s Union

Plus benefits, you can find them

online at www.unionplus.org/login

or call Elaine Harris or Jack Ferrell at

304-342-2023.

CWA Local 2055 Winter 20



Like CWA Local 2055’s facebook

page. Give us your feedback.

Let us know what’s happening inyour corner of the world.

facebook.com/Local2055

Got a Story to Tell?Let us know and we’ll put it on

the website. We’re looking for

member-to-member news to

share on our website.

cwalocals.org/sites/d2/2055/

Grievances ResolvedGrievances are a very important part ofthe work we do on behalf of our mem-bership at the different centers. The fol-lowing is a summary of the grievancesthat have been resolved at the differentlevels of the grievance procedure.

Level I Grievances:A grievant at the Division of Correc-tions received a two-day suspensionand loss of pay. Grievant received backpay and record was cleared.

Another grievant at the Division of Cor-rections received three different writtenreprimands. All were removed and re-cord was cleared of all three. Each rep-rimand was for a different incident.

A grievant at the Division of Correc-

tions received a written reprimand fornot calling in to the center on their dayoff and sick time abuse. The on-call wasremoved from the reprimand.

Level II Grievances:

Three Regional Jail grievants, who were

terminated at the Regional Jails, wereput back to work and received back pay.

Two grievants at the Division of Ju-venile Services received written rep-rimands. Both had those reduced to acounseling statement.

Level III Grievances:

A grievant at the Division of Correc-tions received a 10-day suspension withloss of pay. Grievant received back pay

and record was cleared.

Legislative Session Preview Looking torward to the 2015 legislative session, we’re hearinggood news coming from the Division of Corrections. DeputySecretary and Commissioner Jim Rubenstein gave a presenta-

tion at the September interim committee meetings where herolled out a proposal for pay progression which the union haspreviously proposed and fought hard to get. The pay progres-sion proposal includes not only Corrections but Regional Jailsand Juvenile Services.

Pay is our number one issue followed closely by workplacesafety. This year we’re at a critical juncture for pay raises.CWA International Representative began talking with legisla-tors nearly 10 years ago about pay progression. She was ableto get the media’s attention by bringing up the issue in meetingafter meeting. Finally, it appears the Tomblin administration is

ready to address the issue.

Attempts by inmates to disarm correctional ofcers and dan-

gerous conditions for all employees at certain juvenile facities motivate us to seek passage of legislation that would maassaults on correctional ofcers and support staff a felony

West Virginia.

Workplace safety remains a concern for members of Loc2055 and we will pursue legislation to guarantee your safewhen you go to work. A big part of the problem is the undestafng which is caused by the underpaying. We’ll continueillustrate to the legislators the dangerous cycle this creates fthose working in our correctional facilities, regional jails a juvenile centers. We will be looking for your stories to shawith legislators to highlight the dire situation that has arisenmany facilities.

As we approach the legislative session, it’s time to remind ywe need your input. We’ll need you to talk to your legislatoGet involved in Lobby Day. Details will be coming soon.

CWA Local 2055 PageWinter 2015



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C h a r l e s t o n , W V

Signup DrawingYou Could Win a Rifle or $350

There is strength in numbers and those numbers might make

your pocketbook or billfold a little heavier.

Any member of Local 2055 who signs up ten new members

this year will be entered into a drawing for a rie or $350.

The drawing will be held in December.

To ensure each member gets credit for signing up a new

member, they must write their own name at the top of the

new member’s application card. Results will be tracked at

the CWA Local 2055 ofce in Charleston.

Completed membership application cards are self-addressed

and the postage paid. Anyone needing additional application

cards should contact Jack Ferrell at 304-342-2023.

CWA Local 2055 Winter 20

cwa informer winter 2015

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