Delegates Boost Corrections Profile in Union; Say ‘Never’ to Prison Privatization

Delegates to AFSCME International’s Biennial Convention, held in Honolulu in August, threw their overwhelming support behind three resolutions of importance to COs. One, an unequivocal resolution opposing prison privatization, calls for aggressive strategies and mobilization to fight it. It points particularly to increasing political activity to stop the spread of private prisons.

Another highly significant resolution demonstrates the importance of corrections concerns at AFSCME: Delegates created the first standing committee in the union’s history, the AFSCME Corrections United National Steering Committee. This new committee, which replaces the Corrections Advisory Committee, will report directly to the International president. The members will be the top statewide leaders in corrections from 30 states where ACU is the leading voice in the profession.

The third resolution passed by delegates instructs “AFSCME to work for legislation which would provide for mandatory testing for serious transmissible diseases of incarcerated persons in correctional facilities whose bodily fluids come into contact with COs.” It also calls on AFSCME to work for federal legislation that provides financial assistance for higher education for dependents of all COs who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.

Two additional resolutions of importance to COs were referred to the International Executive Board for action after partial reports on the Convention floor. One calls on the International to explore ways to deal with the growing population of mentally ill among inmates, while the other proposes that the union fight the use of inmate labor where other workers are being displaced or where job creation for non-inmates is hindered.