Corrections officers blast chief for agency's woes
Published Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE -- Corrections officers lashed out at commissioner Joe Schmidt on Tuesday during a meeting over allegations that he and other top administrators are mismanaging the state agency.
Guards said the administrators are not hiring enough guards and won't acknowledge dangerous health issues, like constant exposure to MRSA, a hard-to-treat staph infection.
The guards, who are members of the Alaska Correctional Officers Association made their complaints in front of a dozen lawmakers with 50 or so corrections officers looking on.
Corrections commissioner Joe Schmidt and his deputy commissioners, who have the support of Gov. Sarah Palin, claim the union is playing dirty to get what it wants: more control over the department and its management.
Schmidt says he has made many difficult changes since being appointed at the end of 2006 -- reducing overtime, promoting rehabilitation programs, and pushing aggressively for ways to reduce costs.
Some legislators at the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting listened impartially to what the heated dispute, while others, notably Rep. Jay Ramras, appeared to have already decided which side to support.
"I have never, never heard a commissioner speak so disparagingly of the people who work for him," Ramras told Schmidt. "It is hurtful to morale."
Schmidt, was a career corrections officer before Palin promoted him to the top post, told Ramras he "felt bullied" and wants the union to "come to the table" to discuss the issues.
The internal bickering between the union and administration reached a crescendo in April when the union passed a no-confidence vote against Schmidt.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, has called for an investigation by the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee to find the truth behind the union allegations.
Community Discussion
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Jay, the employees can say whatever they want about the comissioner and that is okay? You don't seem to realize that if the officers don't get what they want they will resort to any means possible to destroy anyone that gets in there way. Wake up Jay... you don't have to pander everyone. Wait for the facts before you make up your mind, don't cave to lobby efforts.
Asking for fair treatment and fair pay for the work they do, risks they take on the job, is something the employee's should not be looking for then? They should get less than the prisoners they care for?
A good boss may or may not be liked by the workers but, will get respect if they deserve it.
Money problems---appoint a housewife and mother to the position. She can and will balance the account and you will get what there is and no more..........end of story.
Mangagment in house bickering and condensending speaking?
Upper management have an immediate couneling session with ALL officers. From that meeting, make a decision for corrective actions or make the decisions for your lower level supervisors and enforce it and make that the "end of discussion" meeting. Clean up in house before it is taken public.
For the legislators to step in to this foray is inappropiate . It violates the seperation of govt. powers. This is an issue for the Governor to resolve and only the Governor. If we the public would like change then we change who is in charge.For the employees to go to their elected officals I feel is lowball at best . If they feel their job is dangerous or not paid enough then they have the perogitive to leave .
we love you Jay, your a very smart young leader in our community !!!
Well Niceguy, Jay, unlike the Majority of the Legislators, or even the Governor, actually visited a facility in the last week. He saw with his own eyes what only the few people who have bothered to listen have heard. And it obviously made an impression.
The Alaska DOC has already been under the Courts thumb once (Cleary Final Settlement) for the tune of of millions of dollars. Joe's leadership of the Department is setting it up to be under injunction. If you think Corrections is expensive now, wait until the court gets into it again.
This fight did not have to be public. It was Schmidt who decided to leave the table and stop communicating with the Union, though he claims publicly it was the other way around.
As far as the Governor solving anything, she had the opportunity. She chose to ignore the union when they asked her for help. Then she threw her "unconditional support" behind Schmidt when 500 members of a 700 member union publicly told her that there were serious problems.
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