GUARDS UNIONS - THE SEARCH FOR SOLIDARITY

• NCJ Number: 60845
• Journal: Corrections Magazine Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 25-35
• Author(s): J POTTER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRICE QUOTED IS FOR ENTIRE ISSUE. REPRINTS OF ARTICLES AVAILABLE IN LARGE QUANTITIES.

Annotation

FOCUSING ON THE PROBLEMS OF CORRECTION-OFFICER UNIONS, THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE NEW MILITANCY OF PRISON GUARDS, PARTICULARLY IN NEW YORK, MASSACHUSETTS, AND CALIFORNIA.

Abstract

DURING THE LAST 10 YEARS, PRISON GUARDS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING THEIR DISCONTENT THROUGH DOZENS OF STRIKES, JOB ACTIONS, WORK SLOWDOWNS, AND OTHER FORMS OF MILITANCY. ANALYSTS OF THE PRISON-GUARD LABOR MOVEMENT, WHICH IS SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE NATION, ATTRIBUTE THE MOVEMENT TO THE FRUSTRATIONS EXPERIENCED BY THESE LOWER-MIDDLE CLASS CITIZENS WHOSE JOBS ARE HELD IN CONTEMPT BY BOTH THE PRISONERS AND THE PUBLIC. GUARDS ARE EMBITTERED BY COURT DECISIONS WHICH IMPROVE PRISON CONDITIONS OR ADD TO INMATES' RIGHTS BUT, AS THEY PERCEIVE IT, UNDERMINE PRISON DISCIPLINE AND CORRECTIONAL GUARDS' JOBS OF CUSTODY AND SECURITY. COURT DECISIONS, SUCH AS THOSE EXTENDING INMATES' DUE PROCESS RIGHTS DURING DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AND ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS ESTABLISHING INMATE-GRIEVANCE MECHANISMS, HAVE PARTICULARLY DISTURBED CORRECTION OFFICERS. ALTHOUGH GUARD ORGANIZATIONS ARE WEAK IN THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS FORBIDDEN BY LAW OR BY THE STATE CONSTITUTION, JUDGES ARE OFTEN RELUCTANT TO IMPOSE FINES ON STRIKING UNION MEMBERS SINCE SUCH FINES WOULD PUT THE ORGANIZATIONS OUT OF EXISTENCE. IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES, THE ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE MOST CONCERN, ASIDE FROM MONEY AND SAFETY, ARE 'JOB BIDDING' BASED ON SENIORITY AND THE INCREASE IN PROGRAMS FOR PRISONERS. OVERALL, THE REDISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL POWER BROUGHT ABOUT BY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HAS GIVEN THE GUARDS MORE JOB SECURITY, MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR WORK ASSIGNMENTS, AND MORE PARTICIPATION IN DECISIONMAKING. PRISON GUARD WALKOUTS IN NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA THAT LEAD TO SUBSTANTIAL PAY INCREASES, AND THOSE IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT ENDED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, ARE DESCRIBED. NUMEROUS PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PROVIDED.