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Corrections Officers Turn Key to Membership
Lock down at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center. Steel bars clang shut, inmates retire to their cells and the lights go out. But correctional officers at the Jennifer Road facility near Annapolis, Md. are beaming with hope for better working conditions and, ultimately, better paychecks. Their rapidly growing independent union recently voted by a margin of 94 percent to affiliate with CWA.
The Anne Arundel County Detention Center Officers and Personnel Inc. is in the process of becoming a District 2 local and part of CWA's National Coalition of Public Safety Officers.
Moreover, their union of 119 officers eligible to vote on the affiliation this past August has already grown to more than 200 because of rapid hiring to staff a second correctional facility. It was in part this membership explosion that led the group to consider CWA, said its president, Cliff Thrasher.
The Jennifer Road facility continues to hold a mixed population of maximum, medium and minimum security prisoners. But female inmates, work release and additional minimum security prisoners are now housed on Ordnance Road in Glen Burnie, Md. That facility opened last year, with dormitories instead of bars.
"Our union went from 50 members to more than 200, overnight," Thrasher explained. "We needed some help in organizing. Going with CWA, we feel we've made the right choice."
"I have no doubt that we will face great challenges in the months and years ahead," said CWA's District 2 Vice President Pete Catucci. "But I also have no doubt that the affiliation of our organizations, and the building of a positive vision and pro-active program in the law enforcement sector, will be of enormous benefit to the members we represent."
"Several CWA sectors - working alongside the Detention Officers' determined, independent executive board - contributed to this affiliation," said Larry Cohen, CWA executive vice president and director of organization. "We'll see more and more of this kind of cooperation as our union continues to grow and diversify."
Inside Experience
Kathy Mulvey, administrative assistant to CWA Vice President Linda Foley, knows corrections work. In 1993, before she came to The Newspaper Guild-CWA, Mulvey wore a blue shirt and badge in Anne Arundel County and monitored prisoners' every move.
"These guys, and women, are truly underpaid," said Mulvey. "You have no weapons; you have nothing but what's in your mind to make the inmates do what you need for them to do."
A former local staff rep for the Office and Professional Employees International Union, Mulvey became a steward with the Detention Center Officers and, with Thrasher, served on the committee that bargained their 1995 contract.
She knew that past affiliations with the Steel Workers and with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees had not worked out for the independent union.
Says District 2 Organizing Coordinator Eduardo Diaz, "We started meeting with their members in November 1997. They were interested in our help in 1999 bargaining, and in developing a steward system."
Issues they identified included salary, discipline and concern about the growing trend toward privatization, as highlighted by research from CWA's public and health care workers sector. Mulvey, Diaz and CWA Representative Ed Schultz - and Catucci - attended several meetings to answer corrections officers' questions.
Mulvey's husband, Bob Brennan, a wage analyst and former union officer, ran comparative statistics on what corrections officers are paid elsewhere.
Thrasher, fellow officers and executive board members including Bob Gibson, Craig Rowland, Rhonda Williams, Kevin Chapman, Darius Keenan, and stewards set up meetings, talked one on one with members, posted information and did stand-up talks at roll call, building support for linking with CWA.
Made in the Shade
Previously, most of CWA's National Coalition of Public Safety Officers - some 20,000 - have been located in Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia and New Mexico.
"This affiliation puts us outside that Sun Belt region, which is great," said NCPSO Director John Burpo. He is looking forward to working with Diaz and to conducting training on grievance handling and internal organizing before the end of the year.
Schultz and Thrasher will spearhead bargaining in 1999, with Mulvey assisting. The officers' two-year agreement expires in June.
The Anne Arundel County Detention Center Officers and Personnel Inc. is in the process of becoming a District 2 local and part of CWA's National Coalition of Public Safety Officers.
Moreover, their union of 119 officers eligible to vote on the affiliation this past August has already grown to more than 200 because of rapid hiring to staff a second correctional facility. It was in part this membership explosion that led the group to consider CWA, said its president, Cliff Thrasher.
The Jennifer Road facility continues to hold a mixed population of maximum, medium and minimum security prisoners. But female inmates, work release and additional minimum security prisoners are now housed on Ordnance Road in Glen Burnie, Md. That facility opened last year, with dormitories instead of bars.
"Our union went from 50 members to more than 200, overnight," Thrasher explained. "We needed some help in organizing. Going with CWA, we feel we've made the right choice."
"I have no doubt that we will face great challenges in the months and years ahead," said CWA's District 2 Vice President Pete Catucci. "But I also have no doubt that the affiliation of our organizations, and the building of a positive vision and pro-active program in the law enforcement sector, will be of enormous benefit to the members we represent."
"Several CWA sectors - working alongside the Detention Officers' determined, independent executive board - contributed to this affiliation," said Larry Cohen, CWA executive vice president and director of organization. "We'll see more and more of this kind of cooperation as our union continues to grow and diversify."
Inside Experience
Kathy Mulvey, administrative assistant to CWA Vice President Linda Foley, knows corrections work. In 1993, before she came to The Newspaper Guild-CWA, Mulvey wore a blue shirt and badge in Anne Arundel County and monitored prisoners' every move.
"These guys, and women, are truly underpaid," said Mulvey. "You have no weapons; you have nothing but what's in your mind to make the inmates do what you need for them to do."
A former local staff rep for the Office and Professional Employees International Union, Mulvey became a steward with the Detention Center Officers and, with Thrasher, served on the committee that bargained their 1995 contract.
She knew that past affiliations with the Steel Workers and with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees had not worked out for the independent union.
Says District 2 Organizing Coordinator Eduardo Diaz, "We started meeting with their members in November 1997. They were interested in our help in 1999 bargaining, and in developing a steward system."
Issues they identified included salary, discipline and concern about the growing trend toward privatization, as highlighted by research from CWA's public and health care workers sector. Mulvey, Diaz and CWA Representative Ed Schultz - and Catucci - attended several meetings to answer corrections officers' questions.
Mulvey's husband, Bob Brennan, a wage analyst and former union officer, ran comparative statistics on what corrections officers are paid elsewhere.
Thrasher, fellow officers and executive board members including Bob Gibson, Craig Rowland, Rhonda Williams, Kevin Chapman, Darius Keenan, and stewards set up meetings, talked one on one with members, posted information and did stand-up talks at roll call, building support for linking with CWA.
Made in the Shade
Previously, most of CWA's National Coalition of Public Safety Officers - some 20,000 - have been located in Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia and New Mexico.
"This affiliation puts us outside that Sun Belt region, which is great," said NCPSO Director John Burpo. He is looking forward to working with Diaz and to conducting training on grievance handling and internal organizing before the end of the year.
Schultz and Thrasher will spearhead bargaining in 1999, with Mulvey assisting. The officers' two-year agreement expires in June.