COGFA VOTE

The COGFA commission will meet tomorrow morning at 10:30 am, May 1st in Room 212 of the Capital. Please generate calls to the following legislators and ask them to vote "No" on the Tamms CC, Dwight CC and IYC - Joliet facility closures:

SenatorSyverson            815987 7555

Senator Schoenberg       847492 1200

SenatorSchmidt              224 372 7465

SenatorMurphy              847 776 1490

Rep.Bellock                   630 852 8633

Rep. Riley                      708 799 4364

Rep.Tryon                      815 459 6453

Although this vote is only advisory, it will carry a lot of weight.

Thanks

Mike Stout

COGFA: New Facility Closure Decision Dates

COGFA has changed the dates for issuing their decisions regarding facility closures. Here is the new schedule:

Tamms C.C.: 5/11/12
IYC Joliet: 5/5/12
Dwight C.C.: 5/5/12

If you would like any other information you can visit COGFA on their website.

Governor Quinn's Proposal on Budget Changes

Governor Quinn has officially released a statement of his intended Pension Reform proposal. You can read a copy of his press release by clicking on this link- Governor Quinn Pension Reform Press Release

His proposal would do the following:

* 3% increase in employee contributions
* Reduce COLA (cost of living adjustment) to lesser of 3% or 1/2% of CPI, simple interest
* Delay COLA to earlier of age 67 or 5 years after retirement
* Increase retirement age to 67 (to be phased in over several years)
* Establish 30-year closed ARC (actuarially required contribution) funding schedule
* Public sector pensions limited to public sector employment

We will fight his changes on all fronts! We have been and will continue to work behind the scenes and on the front lines to safe guard your future!

Stay tuned for more information!

Pension Change Announcements to be made today

Governor Quinn will be making his proposed changes to the State Retirement Systems public today. We are not certain how specific he will be in what he announces today. However, there is a working group of Legislators and Unions that have been meeting with each other and the Governor's office and NO AGREEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. We do not understand why he is making this announcement today because the Committee that he assigned to meet with the Unions has not reached an agreement with the Unions. Do not be alarmed at this point.

REMEMBER- THE STATE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT ALLOW FOR LESSENING THE BENEFITS. ANY CHANGES MADE MUST BE CONSITUTIONAL.

NO PENSION CHANGES MAY BE MADE WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY!

THE PROBLEM WITH THE PENSION SYSTEM HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE STATE'S FAILURE TO MAKE PAYMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW!

ANY CHANGES MADE TO THE PENSION SYSTEM THAT ARE NOT DEEMED CONSTITUTIONAL WILL BE CHALLENGED BY THIS UNION AS WELL AS THE OTHER UNIONS.

The purpose of this email to keep everyone informed. We are constantly working behind the scenes and on the front lines to protect your rights.

 

Written Testimony - Closure of Dwight Correctional Center

March 27, 2012

Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg

Representative Patricia Bellock

Co-Chairs

Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability

703 Stratton Office Building

Springfield, IL 62706

Re:       Written Testimony- Closure of Dwight Correctional Center

Dear Senator Schoenberg and Representative Bellock,

Please accept this communication as my submission of written testimony on the above referenced closure which will be heard by the Commission on April 4, 2012. The proposed closure of Dwight Correctional Center is of great concern to Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 2002, Illinois State Employees Association and the Union members, employees at the facility who will be laid off or transferred.

It is on behalf of all of the affected employees at Dwight Correctional Center that we urge this Commission not to support the closure of this facility. Dwight currently houses female inmates in a maximum security level facility. The inmates at Dwight are those that create a serious safety issue to the employees and inmates at the other two (2) female correctional facilities. Dwight is a place to send the most serious of female offenders. Besides that, there are only three (3) female institutions in total. According to Department of Corrections’ plan, they intend to move the female inmate population from Dwight and put them in Logan Correctional Center, currently a male institution and move the male population to Lincoln Correctional Center. However, Lincoln currently houses female inmates which would mean that the females currently at Lincoln would all have to be relocated between Logan and Decatur Correctional Center. The entire female inmate population, approximately 2700, in the State would be divided between two institutions. This is terribly problematic. Furthermore, Lincoln Correctional Center cannot house all of the inmates from Logan Correctional Center which means the overabundance would have to be distributed amongst the other already overpopulated male facilities.

In addition to the reasons stated above, staff at Logan Correctional Center, which is currently housing male inmates, would have to go through a series of training as the training for male facilities and female facilities is extensively different. There is also the additional cost to Logan which is not now equipped to house female offenders. Logan’s budget would need to increase substantially to accommodate the incoming female population.

Furthermore, Dwight Correctional Center has a large medical center, hospice and a mental health facility to service the large population of female inmates. They also have staff and training in place for those offerings. The same is not true at Logan Correctional Center. Logan does not have hospice or a mental health facility and does not have contracts in place and staff to deal with the issues of hospice and mental health.

By closing Dwight Correctional Center, the Agency will now only have two facilities between which they can transfer female inmates. Currently, when a problem arises with a female inmate they are immediately transferred to another female institution. If the female inmate is involved in a problem at that institution there is currently a third option. In addition, for all female inmates there is the threat of going to Dwight, the only maximum security facility for female inmates. Like Tamms Correctional Center, Dwight is often used as a deterrent for female inmates who would likely otherwise create safety issues but for the threat of a maximum security setting.

Dwight Correctional Center is vital to the employees across the State whose daily safety is at risk, especially with options- only two female institutions- are so limited. It is imperative that this Commission think first of the safety of the employees and the inmates across the State of Illinois. We implore you on behalf of the employees across the State not to support the closure of Dwight Correctional Center.

Sincerely,

Steve Ruiz

President, LIUNA, Local 2002, ISEA

Cc:          COGFA Members and  Dan Long, Executive Director, COGFA

Written Testimony - Closure of Tamms Correctional Center

March 27, 2012

Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg

Representative Patricia Bellock

Co-Chairs

Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability

703 Stratton Office Building

Springfield, IL 62706

Re:       Written Testimony- Closure of Tamms Correctional Center

Dear Senator Schoenberg and Representative Bellock,

Please accept this communication as my submission of written testimony on the above referenced closure which will be heard by the Commission on April 2, 2012. The proposed closure of Tamms Correctional Center is of great concern to Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 2002, Illinois State Employees Association and the Union members, employees at the facility who will be laid off or transferred as well as the employees at other institutions where the population of Tamms will be absorbed.

It is on behalf of all of the affected employees at Tamms Correctional Center that we urge this Commission not to support the closure of this facility. Tamms was built with a specific need in mind- to house inmates that provided a serious safety issue to the employees and inmates at other correctional facilities. To every end possible, Tamms is fully accomplishing its intended purpose. Tamms is a place to send the most dangerous of inmates- inmates who posed risks to other inmates and employees at other institutions. No other facility has the means to accomplish the same level of security that Tamms was specifically assigned to These inmates are responsible for destruction of State property, injuries and deaths to other inmates, and injuries to employees working within other institutions. Tamms is the only Super-Max facility in the State. Besides housing the most dangerous of inmates it is also an effective deterrent for other inmates across the State. The very threat of being removed to Tamms has the ability to deter dangerous behavior from other inmates. When those threats are ineffective then Tamms becomes the institution that provides the relief of safety issues for other institutions.

By closing Tamms Correctional Center, the State will not only be removing the most effective deterrent to attacks and destruction of property in other institutions, but it will also be releasing the most deadly and formidable inmates back into those institutions. These inmates will be released back into inmate populations where they have already proven their capacity for menace and destruction. The safety of other inmates and especially for the employees that are charged with the duty of daily dealings with the inmates will be in great peril due to the lack of deterrent and the addition of these deadly inmates into the population. The inmates who were previously on death row are housed at Tamms.

Tamms is also located in an already severely economically depressed area. By closing this facility the State would be slashing approximately 300 jobs resulting in an uprising of unemployment in an area where jobs are already scarce. In such a time as this it is critical that employers such as the State find other ways to cut costs, not by cutting jobs. It is vital to this State that jobs are saved, not eradicated.

Former Government officials, former Agency officials, and politicians have spoken out against the closure of Tamms as well. They are right. The closure of Tamms would be detrimental to the community in Southern Illinois, the employees and inmates across the State of Illinois and the State itself.

Tamms Correctional Center is vital to the employees across the State whose daily safety is at risk when such abhorrent and heinous criminals are amongst their institutional populations- just ask the employees who were there before Tamms was built. It is imperative that this Commission think first of the safety of the employees and the inmates across the State of Illinois. We implore you on behalf of the employees across the State not to support the closure of Tamms Correctional Center.

Sincerely,

Steve Ruiz

President, LIUNA, Local 2002, ISEA

Cc:          COGFA Members

                Dan Long, Executive Director, COGFA

Written Testimony - Closure of IYC Joliet Correctional Center

March 27, 2012

Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg

Representative Patricia Bellock

Co-Chairs

Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability

703 Stratton Office Building

Springfield, IL 62706

Re:       Written Testimony- Closure of IYC Joliet Correctional Center

Dear Senator Schoenberg and Representative Bellock,

Please accept this communication as my submission of written testimony on the above referenced closure which will be heard by the Commission on April 4, 2012. The proposed closure of IYC Joliet is of great concern to Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 2002, Illinois State Employees Association and the Union members, employees at the facility who will be laid off or transferred.

It is on behalf of all of the affected employees at IYC Joliet that we urge this Commission not to support the closure of this facility. IYC Joliet currently houses the most at-risk and oldest youth offenders in the State. These are also the offenders with the most long term and repeated criminology in the State. However, IYC Joliet has been an active leader and has efficiently promoted and advanced pro-active measures to reduce recidivism, youth on youth assaults, and youth on employee assaults. Through the exceptional work of the employees at IYC Joliet they have also seen fewer incidences requiring use of force, use of restraints, and use of confinement. Bottom line- IYC Joliet is getting the job done and accomplishing the real goals of the Agency.

By closing IYC Joliet, the Agency will have to distribute the offenders back into other youth centers from where they have likely been taken due to escalated incidences. The strides that IYC Joliet employees will have made with this special group of youth will be diminished with their return to centers with other offenders that they may have had issues within the past.

It is imperative to vote against the closure of this youth center where they are specialized in taking care of the most dangerous youth offenders, striving toward turning around the future of this special group of youths. IYC Joliet is vital to the Agency because of its special strategies and efforts designed specifically with this particular group of youths in mind. It is of the utmost importance that this Commission consider first of the safety of the employees and the youth offenders across the State of Illinois. We implore you on behalf of the employees across the State not to support the closure of IYC Joliet Correctional Center.

Sincerely,

Steve Ruiz

President, LIUNA, Local 2002, ISEA

Cc:          COGFA Members

                Dan Long, Executive Director, COGFA