COs Hit the Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C.

National Steering Committee members of AFSCME Corrections United (ACU) honored their fellow corrections officers (COs) — killed in the line of duty — by lobbying Congress recently for three important bills. One would provide assistance to states for the purchase of armored vests for COs working in high-risk jobs. Titled H.R. 4215, the Wayne "Cotton" Morgan Bulletproof Vest Act is named in honor of an ACU member (Local 2173) who was gunned down while escorting a dangerous criminal to court. Due to lack of funds, the Tennessee Department of Corrections did not provide him with an armored vest.

Another measure, H.R. 2737, would focus on correctional employees' health issues, assisting states on such matters as HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis. The legislation authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants for screenings, immunizations and treatments.

ACU is also supporting a Senate measure that would institute collective bargaining rights for COs, firefighters, police and emergency medical services personnel in states where these rights do not exist.

"Given the chronic problems of understaffing and unsafe work conditions in correctional facilities, passage of these bills will definitely improve our situation," says Robert McLinn, an ACU member of Local 2216 (Wisconsin Council 24). "We put our lives on the line every day."

As part of National Corrections Week in May, ACU also honored Ray Stewart of Local 3921 (Texas Council 7) as Corrections Officer of the Year. Stewart led his Beaumont local in feeding over 3,500 COs and their families in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita.