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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
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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 2055Page 2 Winter 20
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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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W A L o c a l 2 0 5 5
0 L e e S t .
1 2 1 2
a r l e s t o n , W V 2 5 3 0 1
P r s r t S t d
U . S . P o s t a g e
P A I D
P e r m i t # 2 7 9 3
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 2055Page 4 Winter 20