Governor selling us ?

[jnram]

Ok. I've had a few days since I first heard the news for the shock, frustration, fear, feeling of betrayal, blah blah blah to subside. Somewhat. I'm gonna stick it out and see where it all goes. The Department has been fairly good to me, and this may all just be a game of political poker after all. If that's the case, things'll balance out. If not, I still have plans to make myself as marketable as possible for a potential future employer. So for now guys, my finger is off the trigger....

[Iowa #1603]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping ALL options on the table. The way things are now days, If I was a bit younger, I would do things a lot different that I did.

I don't know if it is a game of poker or not. I did find the bill online and skimmed it------------it looks like the legislation authorizes companies to file bids to buy the facilities but gives the state the option to LEASE the facilities back.
The net result of that type of transaction would
1. Keep the institution as a state run facility with state employees
2. Put the property on the tax rolls , generating revenue
3. Generate revenue from the sale of state property
I think there also was an option for the private company to actually run the facility.........................


I don't know the makeup of your legislature but I really find it strange that a Democratic body would pass such legislation AND that a Democrat Governor would sign it .........................As HACKINIT stated, it sounds more like a Republican move.

Interesting times...........................................

[jnram]

Iowa - You got it hook line and sinker. The horrifying part of that piece of legislation is the option for the Privateers (pirates) to run the prisons. That means we're all out, and scabs come in. Like I stated previously, I'm not going to go off the deep end, and I'm just gonna watch and see how things progress. All the while continuing to build the ol' resume of course. Arizona did have a Democrat governor in Jan Napolitano but she went to be Secretary of Homeland Defense. (I believe) The current Governor is Jan Brewer. She's a Republican sitting in office unelected due to the formers' hasty departure. Another politition of note in all of this is Russel Pierce who I believe is a Republican out of Mesa, Az. Not sure which district he represents. Not a slam on Republicans, as I tend to vote that way, just saying.

[COSpitfire]

Originally Posted by jnram

Ok. I've had a few days since I first heard the news for the shock, frustration, fear, feeling of betrayal, blah blah blah to subside. Somewhat. I'm gonna stick it out and see where it all goes. The Department has been fairly good to me, and this may all just be a game of political poker after all. If that's the case, things'll balance out. If not, I still have plans to make myself as marketable as possible for a potential future employer. So for now guys, my finger is off the trigger....

good move on your part. i'll be hanging in there as well, i am still hoping and my hope is greater than my concern. i am ticked at the governor though, what a traitor to sell us like that. it will be remembered during election time, that's for sure.

[FLDOCLT]

Holy cow... when are they going to learn? privatization does not work. The corporation gets the loyalty and any profit from the backs of the workers. The tax payer is the biggest loser. Not to mention the lower paid employees tend to have a higher instances of falling victim to inmate manipulation and contraband introduction.

[Iowa #1603]

Originally Posted by jnram

Iowa - You got it hook line and sinker. The horrifying part of that piece of legislation is the option for the Privateers (pirates) to run the prisons. That means we're all out, and scabs come in. Like I stated previously, I'm not going to go off the deep end, and I'm just gonna watch and see how things progress. All the while continuing to build the ol' resume of course. Arizona did have a Democrat governor in Jan Napolitano but she went to be Secretary of Homeland Defense. (I believe) The current Governor is Jan Brewer. She's a Republican sitting in office unelected due to the formers' hasty departure. Another politition of note in all of this is Russel Pierce who I believe is a Republican out of Mesa, Az. Not sure which district he represents. Not a slam on Republicans, as I tend to vote that way, just saying.

There is simply no precedent for a department to privatize an institution and displace workers. I can't remember any time it has happened. There have been a couple institutions that were privatized AFTER the DOC had closed them (a couple years earlier).

your master contract should allow transfers---------and bumping rights should the institution be closed. I know that means moving to another area/town........but that is what the system allows and sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

I knew Napolitano left (and yes it was DHS) and the Lt Gov took over. I just assumed they were of the same party. Our Gov/LtGov run as a team.. There you go, that is what happens when you assume!!!!!!!!


As far as the Democrat / Republican stuff. It is a fact and his historically significant that Democrat Adminstrations favor the "workers" and Republican Adminstrations favor the "bosses". Every few years we have a politician try to bring up privitization. It is ALWAYS a republican.

[AZCorrections84]

It's my belief and understanding that the private companies are really not doing much better than the state, if at all. Buying us out would cost them money, and they know with some units/complexes they are going to lose out.

MY personal opinion is that if they DID decided to privatize, they would hit up the 'out yonder' units like Picacho, Globe, maybe even Winslow or something. Remember Kingman? I don't, but I think someone told me it used to be DOC and it turned private some years ago (to the best of my knowledge, I could be quite wrong).

I too am going to see how it plays out. There's no sense in making brash decisions at the moment. However, the 3-5 year rotation thing is seriously starting to tick me off. I've heard that there could be flipping/flopping between Florence and Eyman. Ugh..

[Iowa #1603]

Originally Posted by AZCorrections84

However, the 3-5 year rotation thing is seriously starting to tick me off. I've heard that there could be flipping/flopping between Florence and Eyman. Ugh..

Out of curiosity, what is the rotation you are talking about?

[AZCorrections84]

Well, each Complex has different units. For example, Florence Complex has Central Unit (And Cell Block Kasson), North Unit, East Unit, and South Unit. Out of the Academy you are assigned to that complex and to one of these units. For the longest time you were just kept there and didn't really switch units. Now with the new Director, he's implementing rotations.

Example, staff with 5 years (they haven't decided yet on 3 or 5 years) or more on a particular unit will be moved to another unit. We hear they are going to TRY and have people keep their same shift and days off. You never know though.

The thing that bites me is you have some people with 10 years on an open, low level yard who will be moved to a lock-down cell block or unit. To me, that's a recipe for disaster.

Florence and Eyman are just a couple of miles apart, and like I said, they could be flopping us over there too.

[Iowa #1603]

Originally Posted by AZCorrections84

Well, each Complex has different units. For example, Florence Complex has Central Unit (And Cell Block Kasson), North Unit, East Unit, and South Unit. Out of the Academy you are assigned to that complex and to one of these units. For the longest time you were just kept there and didn't really switch units. Now with the new Director, he's implementing rotations.

Example, staff with 5 years (they haven't decided yet on 3 or 5 years) or more on a particular unit will be moved to another unit. We hear they are going to TRY and have people keep their same shift and days off. You never know though.

The thing that bites me is you have some people with 10 years on an open, low level yard who will be moved to a lock-down cell block or unit. To me, that's a recipe for disaster.

Florence and Eyman are just a couple of miles apart, and like I said, they could be flopping us over there too.

Ok understood.
I thought you meant moving you across state or something like that!

Here, you are hired at a unit.............and you stay at that unit until you ask for a transfer.

We don't have "complex's" (and I do understand what a complex is) but do have a couple institutions that have different (separate) units( such as a minimum unit at our maximum penitentiary). All jobs are union bid positions..............and at the most they can make you rotate within your unit.

We had a warden at another institution that tried rotation between jobs on shift for a few years and he eventually lost the grievance in arbitration.