Overrun by Ex-Captains

Council 31 and the Illinois COs it represents are fighting a move by the state to put former captains into positions left vacant by the lay-off of more than 300 members.

The situation arose because the Department of Corrections eliminated the rank as part of Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s plan to save money in the state budget. The scheme passes the suffering along to council members: Some 150 former captains were demoted to fill vacancies at the prison where they work. There they usurp not only the jobs of COs who’ve been laid off but also many open lieutenant positions, which are part of the bargaining unit.

The move takes away opportunities for 451 COs to qualify for promotion to lieutenant, notes council Executive Director (and International vice president) Henry Bayer. He characterized as "outrageous" that management "would ignore the 451 employees who played by the rules and studied and worked to earn a promotion."

Adding insult, the state wants the ex-captains to move in with seniority, giving them bumping rights over council members. From the standpoint of sound management, there is also a danger of understaffing at the command level.

Unfortunately in this case, Bayer says, the state’s "wisdom or lack thereof ... is not something we could bargain for."

The way the plan is being implemented is, however, fair game for union activism. The council has not only protested strongly to the governor’s office but has also filed three grievances over what Associate Director Mike Newman calls "a multitude of contract violations. We have good contract language. For example, they can’t offer jobs to non-bargaining-unit people if we have people on the recall list. We’re sure they’re in violation."

Newman acknowledges that the rank of captain was greatly overstaffed — "a lot of people had gotten political promotions" — but emphasizes that putting that problem on the backs of COs down the line is indefensible.

The disputed plan took effect on Aug. 1. A union-demanded arbitration session, addressing the union’s claims of contract violations, was scheduled to take place on the 18th; two more sessions are expected to follow.