Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Teamsters Oppose Tax on our healthcare

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today said the proposal to impose a 35 percent tax on insurers for individual health insurance plans worth more than $8,000 is unfair and unnecessary.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Holiday Cards and Care Packages for the Troops

Holiday Cards and Care Packages for the Troops

We will be making & addressing holiday cards and care packages for our troops and mailing them to deployed friends and colleagues from the Hennepin County Jail and to each branch of the military, to be distributed to others who need greetings and goodies around the holidays. If you would like to help by donating (a) cards, (b) items for care packages (See list of items needed), or (c) cash or a check to purchase items and pay for shipping, please contact Deputy Chris Mays before November 7th. Last year was a huge success, but we’d like to try to reach even more of our servicemen and women this year. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Former Deputy Brie Pileggi & Deputy Chris Mays

CARE PACKAGE ITEMS:
· FOOD: coffee, tea, hot cocoa, sugar packets, jerky, raisins, nuts, protein & granola bars, vitamins, koolaid mix, gum, hard candy, oreos, popcorn… (Please, no homemade foods, perishables, or items that will melt).
· CLOTHES (all sizes): socks, men & women’s underwear
· HYGIENE (compact, travel size): razor blades, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, combs, anti-bacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, deodorant, sunscreen, chapstick, shaving cream, kleenex, toilet paper, tampons, sanitary napkins, pony tail holders, lotion…
· WRITING SUPPLIES: pens, pencils, envelopes, paper, blank cards…
· ENTERTAINMENT: books, magazines, playing cards, CDs, DVDs, batteries, hand-held games, comics, puzzle books…


Friday, October 16, 2009

Sunday, October 11, 2009

H1N1 and Workers Comp

Must give the credit to Dave B. for uploading the file to our yahoo group:

In order for the flu to be a compensable event under comp, certain requirements must be met:
: the individual must be "in the course and scope of employment" when exposed to the virus
: the exposure must arise out of work (as opposed to being a totally random event)
: work itself must put the individual in harm's way

full story:
http://www.workerscompinsider.com/archives/001042.html

Saturday, October 10, 2009

H1N1

By now you've received the Sheriff's Office plan for the H1N1 procedure. It calls upon us to do things we've not done in the past. Like with the RNC we will rise to the occasion as the professionals we are. While the plan may not be perfect it is better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

I find myself in agreement with Bill Sturgeon when he writes in his "For Those in the Field" column, H1N1 virus may, like the Y2K alarm, turn out to be a big bust, or it may turn out to be the most significant medical event in recent memory. It is better to be prepared than to be caught unprepared.

For those who fall into the high risk group or have infants at home I urge you to notify your supervisor if scheduled in a "red zone."

Overall I think they did a good job putting together the plan. My only disappointment is the reversal on the decision to release without bail non-violent misdemeanors. If it gets bad and we are short of staff and high on inmate count it may be too late to enact that aspect of the plan that got scrapped, and make no mistake it was not scrapped by the committee.

Most of you know I am not exactly known as a company man. I'm not shy about criticizing when I see something I believe is wrong. But on this I think the H1N1 committee did a good job. I hope it's not necessary, but if this H1N1 actually does take off it's better to have a plan in place then just wing it.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Teamsters DRIVE Endorses Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher has been endorsed by Teamsters DRIVE.
He supported our Correctional Officers Bill of Rights, our Pension, our Blood Borne Pathogens Bill and is the only Sheriff to testify at the State capital for Corrections Officers. Congratulations Sheriff Fletcher.

Off-duty corrections officer shot near home

CHICAGO

Authorities in Chicago say an off-duty Cook County Correctional Officer has been shot outside his home on the city's southwest side.

Steve Patterson, a spokesman for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart identified the victim of the Wednesday night shooting as Correctional Officer Jacob Cano.
Patterson said Cano has worked at the Cook County Jail since 2003, and was leaving his home to begin his 11 p.m. shift when he was shot in the back by an unknown assailant.

The Cook County Correctional Officer's are members of Teamsters Local 714

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Arbitration Date

The arbitration date for the excessive discipline grievance is set for December 1st.

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Where are the bagpipes?

Corrections USA Demands Justice for Fallen Officers Family Highland

Highland Hills, Ohio: William Hesson, a 39 year old hero-Correctional Officer, military personnel, and dedicated family man was murdered in the line of duty at Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility in Highland Hills, Ohio. He is the first officer to be killed during an assault in the 28 year history of the juvenile detention facility. His murder was the result of a severe beating at the hands of inmates.

The county and administration have added to the trauma of the family by refusing to pay any death in the line of duty benefits to his surviving pregnant spouse and three children. It is the administration's position that Officer Hesson had not served as a Correctional Officer long enough for his family to be entitled to these benefits.

Corrections USA Chairman, Jim Baiardi, called the actions of the administration despicable and incomprehensible. "When Officer Hesson was asked to wear a badge to protect public safety, he was never told that seconds, minutes, or days mattered, he was just told to do his job. Correctional Officers are heroes the minute they put on their badge. The Officers deserve to be treated as heroes and their families deserve to be compensated for their loss, regardless of how long the officer has been on the job. Officer Hesson died a hero, doing his job while protecting the public."

Where are the bagpipes we hear and see everytime a police officer gives his/her life in the line of duty? Apparently Correctional Officers sacrifices don't add up. This man's family doesn't even merit death benefits.

Prisoners found drinking anti-swine flu hand gel to get drunk

Prisoners found drinking anti-swine flu hand gel to get drunk

Hand gels supplied to a prison to combat the risk of swine flu have been removed after inmates realised it contained alcohol and began drinking it to try to get drunk. Guardian UK

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Corrupt Politicians exposed on YouTube?

That's right some of our friends at the CCPOA have begun posting YouTube videos of corrupt politicians that relate to our profession, like these 2 corrupt judges on their CorrectionsUSA channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6OxzV_ud2M

They're looking for more submissions!