Important Contract Information for FDOC Officers

The FDOC Teamsters Bargaining Committee has launched an officer-education program about the final proposed agreement by urging officers to review information and provide committee members with feedback in the coming days and weeks. 

The committee plans to meet with state officials in early April to review the final proposed agreement. At that time, the committee is expected to vote to either recommend ratification of the proposed agreement or not recommend ratification.

Before the Legislature adjourned its regular session on March 9, it approved a $70 billion to fund the state government and resolved contract articles affecting several unions.

As expected, the Legislature sided with the state on all articles at impasse. These articles have been combined with the articles the bargaining committee tentatively agreed to earlier. The package is now referred to as the “final proposed agreement.”

In December, the day after the Teamsters became certified as the new bargaining agent for FDOC officers, an initial set of proposals was submitted to the state’s representative.  When the governor released his budget for 2012-13, by law all unresolved contract articles were at impasse. Nonetheless, the Teamsters requested to negotiate a new agreement. Four face-to-face sessions were held where officers on the bargaining team sought to make improvements while attempting to safeguard areas the state wanted to change.

“We had a very short window of time to negotiate our first FDOC contract,” said Ken Wood, Acting President of Teamsters Local 2011. “As a result, we made some progress in a very limited number of areas. Soon, it will be up to the members whether we ratify the contract and take the progress we made and build on it, or reject the contract to send the state a message that the negatives outweigh the positives. Either way, we will be reaching out to officers in the coming weeks to educate them about this proposed agreement.”

All FDOC officers are encouraged to review the FDOC agreement and the information in a newsletter (see link below) and to contact your bargaining committee members with any questions.

(Read the newsletter here.)  

Bargaining Committee to Launch Officer-Education Campaign

The FDOC Teamsters Bargaining Committee will launch an officer-education program this week about the final proposed agreement by urging officers to review the document and provide committee members with feedback in the coming days and weeks.

The Bargaining Committee met today to discuss the next steps. There were many questions asked that require clarification on language for several of the contract articles. Teamsters Local 2011 is seeking clarification now and will put together language that will be made available in the next few days. The information will be posted soon at http://www.fdocteamsters.org and will be mailed to all FDOC officers.

The committee plans to meet with state officials in early April to review the final proposed agreement.

Late Friday, the Legislature voted to approve a $70 billion state budget.

As expected, the Legislature sided with the state on all items at impasse. These items have been combined with the items the bargaining committee tentatively agreed to earlier. The package is now referred to as the "final proposed agreement."

"We had a very short window of time to negotiate our first FDOC contract," said Ken Wood, Acting President of Teamsters Local 2011. "As a result, we made some progress in a very limited number of areas. Soon, it will be up to the members whether we ratify the contract and take the progress we made and build on it, or reject the contract to send the state a message that the negatives outweigh the positives. Either way, we will be reaching out to officers in the coming weeks to educate them about this proposed agreement."

(Read the newsletter here.)

Legislative Session Ends

The Legislature is set to approve the budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 late tonight, which includes previously unresolved contract articles covering Department of Corrections officers, as well as state employees represented by other unions.

Next, the portion of the budget affecting FDOC officers will become the final “proposed agreement.” The FDOC Teamsters Local 2011 Bargaining Committee will meet Monday, March 12, to decide whether it will recommend ratification of the proposed agreement. Later this month, the Bargaining Committee will meet with state officials to review the final proposed agreement. If it is determined that the language reflects what the union tentatively agreed to, and what the Legislature implemented at impasse, the parties will sign off on the agreement. Teamsters Local 2011 will then mail ballots to FDOC officers in April and officers will have about three weeks to return their ballots.

The Legislature is expected to vote to side with the state’s proposals for the seven items that were at impasse. The one remaining issue for discussion is the duration of the contract, which was exempt from the legislative process.

FDOC officers faced an uphill battle at the start of the Legislative session. Legislators wanted to privatize correctional facilities in Region 4, which would have eliminated 5,000 jobs and affected officers throughout the FDOC system. FDOC officers and their Teamsters Local 2011 representatives fought back privatization through keeping the issue in the press and on the mind of our legislators. We successfully fought off subsequent back-door efforts by legislators to sneak privatization language into the budget. The state Budget Director confirmed today that there is nothing in this budget that would allow for privatization.

FDOC officers are also making gains this legislative session, with the Legislature expected to vote today to allocate $300,000 for new body armor, $450,000 for new vehicles and $39,000 for new radios.

State Signs Another $300,000 Contract to Fight Pension Ruling

While FDOC officers hailed the court decision involving our pensions that was handed down Tuesday, March 6, the state’s top leaders were criticizing the judge and getting ready to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight the ruling.

(Read the newsletter here.)

Judge Overturns Pension Law

In a big victory for FDOC Teamsters, Leon County Circuit Court Judge Jackie Fulford ruled today to overturn a requirement that FDOC officers contribute 3 percent to their pension.

(Read the newsletter here.)

FDOC Contract Nears Final Stage

The negotiations process for the FDOC officers’ contract is nearing its final stage, with the Legislature to receive on Tuesday, March 6 the articles that are at impasse. As the Legislature prepares to consider the budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 before it completes its regular session on Friday, March 9, it will also be taking up the seven FDOC articles that are at impasse.
(Read the newsletter here.)

FDOC Negotiations Hit Fever Pitch

The FDOC Teamsters Local 2011 Bargaining Committee has reached consensus on tentative agreements covering 10 contract articles, but nine other articles were at impasse as of Friday, March 2. (Read the newsletter here.)

FDOC Negotiations Hit Crunch Time

The FDOC Teamsters Local 2011 Bargaining Committee and representatives from the International conducted an important strategy call today on efforts to secure a new contract. (Read the newsletter here.)

FDOC Negotiations Update for March 1, 2012

The FDOC Teamsters Local 2011 Bargaining Committee and representatives from the International Union conducted an important strategy call today on efforts to secure a new contract. By law, any unresolved contract issues will be decided next week by the Legislature as part of the 2012-13 appropriations to fund all state departments. While some progress has been made at the bargaining table, many articles were still open this afternoon, including a proposal by the state to limit how much money goes to officers who have accrued over 240 hours. Your negotiating committee will be working up until the last hour to secure protections for FDOC members.

The FDOC bargaining committee remains committed to the goal of improving working conditions and is striving to resolve all matters within the next 24 hours, so as to avoid action by the Legislature before the current session ends on March 9.

Contract Negotations Update

The FDOC Teamsters Negotiating Committee met with management representatives today and on Thursday, February 16, and Friday, February 17. On Thursday, February 16 management presented their counterproposals on:
 

• Article 5, Association Activities and Employee Representation;
• Article 6, Grievance Procedure;
• Article 7, Discipline and Discharge;
• Article 10, Promotions;
• Article 14, Performance Evaluations; and
• Article 23, Hours of Work and Overtime.
   

The FDOC Teamsters Bargaining Committee asked a number of questions to clarify what management meant by certain language in the proposals, and how they would apply the language to Corrections and Probation and Parole Officers. One of the biggest issues debated was the special compensatory time in Article 23, Hours of Work and Overtime. 

Our Bargaining Committee met again on February 17 with management representatives, and presented the union’s counterproposals. By law, any resolved issues will be addressed by the Legislature, and then submitted to all FDOC officers for ratification.

Negotiating Committee Addresses Numerous Issues Jan. 19-20

Next Sessions Set for February 16-17

The Negotiating Committee met with management representatives on Thursday, January 19 and Friday, January 20 and addressed numerous issues, and the next round of contract talks is scheduled for February 16-17.

On January 19, our committee presented proposals on five contract articles, addressing grievance representation and procedure, union dues deduction, special compensatory time, officer safety, and union activities and access to facilities.

Management seemed the most interested in our presentation about officer safety.  Team member Penny Reeder, Region 2, explained that vehicles used at her facility are not well maintained and could potentially put officers in danger due to frequent breakdowns. Probation and Parole Officers Jarret Jarvis in Region 2, Robert Sparkman, Region 3, and Kim Schultz, Region 4, stressed the importance of “P&P” Officers being issued bullet-proof vests that actually fit, and functioning radios to protect them on field visits. They also spoke about the need for officers to carry their weapons at all times while on duty.  

Management representatives appeared surprised to learn about the questionable measures to protect employees. Based on their questions, we are hopeful about making progress in this important area.

The Negotiating Team also wants you to know that they are actively working to protect your special compensatory time balances. In accordance with the online survey showing some support for 12-hour days, we are working on negotiating terms that would be advantageous to officers and show concerns for their individual needs.

The Negotiating Committee met again with management representatives on January 20. Besides the proposals discussed on the 19, and proposals listed at this website, the Team presented proposals on the topics of discipline and discharge, reduction of the workforce, reassignment/transfer/change in duty station, access to personnel records, performance evaluations, leaves of absence, replacement of personal property, and work hours.

The Team worked hard and spent a lot of time discussing and coming up with ideas about 12-hour days, and how to implement the concept in the best way for officers. The team also worked on crafting proposal language for the contract, and made sure that management was aware of all the issues concerning 12-hour shifts at the bargaining table.

One main goal of this session was proposing language in the contract that favors officers in the relevant articles of the contract. For example, better reimbursement rates for replacement of personal property, better access to personnel records, and performance evaluations by the appropriate folks instead of a “designated rater” picked by management.

The next negotiation sessions are on February 16 and 17, and again on March 7 and 8. We will continue to keep you updated.
 

Contract Negotiations Scheduled January 19-20

Teamsters Local 2011 is scheduled to begin contract negotiations with the state on January 19-20 following an initial informational contract session that took place Thursday, January 12.
 
During the January 19-20 negotiations, Local 2011 will exchange contract proposals with the state Department of Corrections. (Read more.)
 

Important Teamster Contract Proposal Information

The day after Teamsters Local Union No. 2011 was certified as the new bargaining agent for all FDOC officers, the union was required to submit contract proposals to the State’s Chief Negotiator. In addition, the State issued its suggested contract changes for the fiscal year covering July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. 

On December 19, 2011, a hearing before the Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining will take place in Tallahassee. By law, the Legislature must review any unresolved contract issues (i.e., those at “impasse”) involving State employees.

This is an important time to build Teamster power within the FDOC by recruiting members. Invest in your future—become a Teamster today and urge your fellow officers to do the same.

Local 2011’s legislative action committees (comprised of dues paying union members) will play a vital role in educating the Legislature and elected officials who will take on the budget and have an impact on FDOC wages, benefits and working conditions. Updates will continue to be provided as new information becomes available.

Please take the opportunity to review the following information. Submit your comments to FDOC Teamsters Local 2011 here.

Teamster contract proposals for 2012-2013

State’s contract proposals for 2012-2013

Governor’s economic recommendations for 2012-2013