"WTF!"

So let me see, once again we have an inmate lie and make false accusations against some of our members. The inmate recants, but yet our members must still be investigated. The last one, Philander Jenkins, ended up being acquitted of his charge of filing a false report, because apparently that only applies if they complain to the cops, not the "Sheriff's Office" internal affairs. But when an inmate exposes our members to blood and body fluids our impotent county attorney, Amy Klobuchar, can't seem to charge all but a fraction of the inmates, and even then the charge usually gets dropped or plead away or at best the inmate gets only 90 days for a felony 4th degree assault on a correctional officer. Speaking of correctional officers, after one of our members got exposed to an inmate's blood a couple of years ago and the inmate refused to give a blood draw, we, Teamsters Local 320 lobbied for and passed the Blood Borne Pathogens Bill. It took effect July 1st, 2006 and enables our facility commander to order a blood draw if the inmate refuses to voulntarily give one after one of our members has a significant exposure, but of course that hasn't been enforced either because they're not sure the phrase "corrections officer" applies to us. Why would it? We only wrote the bill!

Where is our protection? Why doesn't Amy Klobuchar charge out complaints when our members are assaulted? Why is it that even if you get falsely accused by an inmate you are in deep trouble, but when an inmate assaults you with shit, piss, blood or spit no one knows if the laws apply?

This is not over. It is not part of our job to be assaulted either physicaly or with blood and body fluids. It is not part of our job to be falsely accused of crimes. We are not the criminals. Apparently the powers that be fear violations of inmate's rights, well they better start being afraid of violating our rights or standing idly by and allowing that from inmates. We are working to get these laws enforced. As Chief Steward I advise you, do not give a statement to internal affairs without a union steward present. Do not talk to a supervisor without a steward present if it could result in discipline. These are your legal rights under Weingarten.

Do not talk to an outside investigator without a Team Legal attorney present. A statement to an outside investigator could lead to criminal and civil charges as well as internal discipline. Just say no! This is your 5th Amendment right. Call Team Legal. These are your rights as a union member.