un-official site: September 2009

It sure would be nice to say, "What a nice smooth week". but I can't yet. Yesterday OSHA was called on our CMO. He decided to make a call on his department without even notifying his AW, Capt. or the Warden. Main Medical ran out of paper towels. So instead of asking someone for help, the CMO went and got a terry cloth towel and told all medical staff (all 100) of them, here is your community towel to keep your hands sanitary. I can say I personally talked to him and personally saw the "community towel" in medical. And this dude makes how much $$ ?. The business services A.W. was so shocked he was embarrassed. What a freakin joke!!!

We made $1,500 on our bake sale for Hranak and Veitti. What a turn out!! Thank you to all that helped and made this happen. I am still receiving $ from staff. Hopefully Steph and myself will make it over to both officers house by tomorrow to give them the money. I am challenging all board members to match my $50.00 to put in the pot. Both officers have CTB.

Bollie and I sat in with Administration on our quarantine issue. I basically told them that every time we put a dorm/building under quarantine, they act like it is the first time we are going through this. And we all run around with our heads in the sand. We requested that the Administration come up with a policy so down the road we have guide lines to go by. The proper people would be notified, we would have ample amount of sanitary supplies and we would try to contain the problem instead of spreading it. It's all common sense. I guess that is why it is so difficult to do it the right way. It sounds like the medical staff are not sure about the swine flu. This is a new strain of flu and there is not enough information out there on it. I atleast got him to admit that. One thing I cannot stand coming from the medical department is, "its just the flu, you don't need to over-react on it". That drives me batty!!! Because this is a new virus and nobody knows anything about it except that some die from it.

There was issues with the roof abatement. There were reports of tools and such blowing over the edge and falling on the ground. One incident a 20 pound tool box fell off the Main Gym roof. There was an officer standing in the spot were it landed (luckily he moved) and the tool box left a good size hole in the asphalt. I got with IDL and they marked off the ground area where they are working and put fall fencing on the Gym roof. Again, a common sense issue that should have been handle prior to the union having to step in and get the LRA involved.

There is talk about medical changing jobs/hours around on the first of the year. I do not have any details at this time, but there is talk going on. They do have to sit down and meet with us prior of them doing anything, so we will see if it does happen the right way.

Also there are other issues with medical going on. I talked to the Medical Capt. today on LMT issues. They really need a second transport team on 2nd watch. Right now LMT is getting hammered on the transports to and from Main-Lassen. It has gotten to the point were write ups from administration are coming down the pipe line. Another issue, we HAVE to hire behind any medical transports, even if there is no work-load. I am being told that this is coming down from the receivership. So hopefully the Medical Administration can work something out so we are not wasting manpower and money. I have talked to other institutions and somehow they are able to re-direct their medical staff when there is no workload.

I have spent the last two days working on duel appointments. Trying to solve the hiring order that is going on right now. I am contacting every duel appointment and doing a survey on how they want it done. It is pretty much unanimous. Go by seniority and hours. I think we are up to almost 40 duel appointments. Hopefully they step up when the o.t. gets really bad.

I should have the Conditional Bid grievance completed by Monday. I found another job that probably should have been posted as a continuous bid (R & R). Right now, we have B-low, OSC # 5 and R & R. I heard rumor there is one in Arnold Unit, but have yet to find it. When this all comes out in the wash, it will be a major mess for personal assignment to clean up. If you know of any other possible jobs that should be on the bid, drop me a note.

There are about 13 staff that want to transfer to CCC. Most are from HDSP. Somehow they are being held up. By who? We don't know. But we are filling on it. If we get those staff, that will help us alot. Then we might be able to send some folks back to camp.

I had a heart to heart talk today with one of the higher ups. I AGAIN expressed my concern on how some lower management are treating staff. I am so sick and tired of, when a cop makes an honest mistake, they come after us like wolves on a dead animal. But when they make mistakes it gets shoved underneath the rug and nothing happens to them. And yes, I gave those people up. This has got to stop. Our moral is down with the furloughs and the Department changing rules every other day, we don't need some with a heavy set of bars treating staff like crap.

Today at 1350 hours I find out that the Delta Unit alarm light has been out for three days. The poor tower cop who was frustrated as hell finally got ahold of me. I went off on the WC. But it turned out, she didn't even know about it. Yes there was a work order done, but it was put in the Captains box last night (who happens not to be here today) and I wasn't notified by one of my peeps. I apologize to the Sierra Staff for this. Obviously our chapter has to do a better job in communicating with each other. So again, I apologize to the Sierra Staff. If you have a safety concern, call me on my cell. I will get it handled.

If anybody is interested in stepping up and helping out the board. Let me know. I am starting to get a list of staff who are wanting to get involved (with all the b.s. going on). The more folks involved, the more power we will have in our pocket. Our Job Steward list has been growing like crazy. I think this is the most stewards the local union has had in years. Knowledge and communication is our only tool we have now until we get a contract.

Until next time. Stay Safe and Sane.

Lori