Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens Unresponsive to Concerns of COs
Correctional officers employed at Augusta State Medical Prison are fed up with a lot of the shenanigans happening at the prison. Because some of the problems stem directly from their warden, they decided to let the commissioner know what was going on.
After a couple of meetings to discuss the issues, a letter was drafted from the union to the commissioner that included not only the problems COs were encountering, but also constructive solutions to those problems.
The letter, which was sent on June 12, included issues like:
- No pay for standby
- Equipment maintenance
- General disrespect of correctional officers
- Disparate treatment
- Low leave policy
- Requiring employees to take FMLA in lieu of sick leave or annual leave
- Tracking "comp" time
One of Commissioner Owens' strategic goals is "continuing to focus on the professional development, education and well-being of our most important asset, our nearly 15,000 unsung heroes in the Georgia law enforcement community." That is a commendable and necessary goal. By opening up better communication with the correctional officers, he would better be able to achieve the level of "best practices" that he aims for.
By correcting the problems at ASMP, he could be building towards this goal as the correctional officers need to be treated like professionals by their superiors, need to be given their pay and benefits as earned in a tough job that many would not even attempt to do, and be treated fairly and with dignity and respect. The DOC has had a high turnover rate. There are qualified FORMER COs who are no longer with the Department because of the issues mentioned above.
We suggested the formation of a Labor-Management Committee within the Department of Corrections because while the ASMP letter refers to specific problems at a specific prison, similar problems or additional problems are happening all over the state.
If the Department is serious about reducing turnover (and thereby costs incurred due to continuous recruitment and training) and retaining a well-educated, and high-functioning workforce, it would make sense for the Board of Corrections to meet with rank and file correctional officers, not just wardens and directors. The union staff offered to help coordinate such a committee if the commissioner was willing to form one.
There has been no response from the commissioner and no apparent changes at ASMP. But this matter should not rest. We are urging correctional officers at other prisons to contact the union so that we can add your voices to the problems facing all COs on the job. Call the union office at (888) SEIU-YES to discuss this. Calls can be confidential if you so desire.