Update: March 15, 2009
Every year in the month of May, AFSCME Local 31 spends "thousands of dollars" on food and prizes at Sheridan Correctional Center, calling it "employee" appreciation day. The Unionized employees of Sheridan Correctional Center, and possibly throughout the Illinois Department of Corrections, are doing a job they volunteered for and are being paid to do. I think these employees should appreciate the fact they have employment with the way our economy is today. Someone should look at the wages they are receiving and the "lifetime" benefits for them and their families.
What is the State of Illinois contributing to "employee" appreciation day at Sheridan Correctional Center and AFSCME Local 31, by and through the Illinois Department of Corrections?
Below is my beginning employment experience at Sheridan Correctional Center. Sheridan Correctional Center is a prison providing substance abuse counseling to its inmates. My employment experience ended in May of 2008 when Sheridan Correctional Center's Warden Michael Rothwell bogusly took my security clearance, which is being addressed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission today. Warden Rothwell and WestCare Foundation, Inc. (the contractual employer taking over from Gateway Foundation, Inc.) conspired with malicious forethought to end my employment experience at Sheridan because I requested to be treated equally under the law in employment and being promoted to supervisor. I was passed over several times for a supervisory position when I possess a higher learning experience and academic status, and employment experience than others who were promoted ahead of me, who were white, female and younger than me. People were being hired straight off the farm with no counseling or human service experience. When I did make supervisor, I interviewed and explained the counseling processes to some of these people for employment with WestCare Foundation, Inc. at Sheridan Correctional Center.
June 6, 2006
Mr. Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor of Illinois
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Re:
AFSCME (the union) v. Gateway Foundation
Sheridan Correctional Center
Mr. Blagojevich:
On May 1, 2006 I began working for Gateway Foundation (Gateway) as a Counselor III at Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan). I was hired by Gateway in May 2005. It took me a year of writing letters to you and the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, Mr. Roger E. Walker Jr. to get the Illinois Department of Corrections to allow me access to the Correctional Center.
On June 6, 2006 Gateway employee “union” members of AFSCME decided to go on a strike, stopping their employment with Gateway and Sheridan Correctional Center. I am not a member of this union. Technically, this union does not exist. They are in the bargaining stages with Gateway. There is no union contract between Gateway and AFSCME. Nevertheless, I am not a member of this “union.” I decided I was going to work on June 6, 2006.
On June 5, 2006 I received a call from my superiors stating the Warden of Sheridan decided all “probationary” employees of Gateway would not be allowed in the institution during the strike. This is absurd.
Sir, it appears Sheridan has aligned itself with AFSCME. I believe Sheridan should be a “neutral” partner to Gateway and AFSCME in the bargaining stages and when and if a contract manifest itself. Sheridan should not take a position aligning itself with the union and against Gateway. This takes away from the bargaining processes of the union and Gateway creating disparities. The action taken by Sheridan and Warden is discriminatory.
I need to work. I am not a member of this union. I am not striking. I should be allowed to feed and take care of my family. I have a choice here. There is no reason why Sheridan should disallow access to those Gateway employees who decide to cross the “picket” line. Other Gateway employees are allowed to cross the “picket” line. How can the State of Illinois justify its participation in preventing employees from crossing picket lines? Apparently, there is no danger if some Gateway employees are allowed to cross the picket lines. The State of Illinois cannot take a position determining whether “probationary” employees meet any criteria for non-striking employees, especially when the employees are not State employees, as defined by the State of Illinois.
In May of 2006 I reported to my superiors a phone call I received from Mr. John DiNicola, Staff Representative, AFSCME, Council 31, 29 North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, Illinois 60606. I reported Mr. DiNicola threatened me suggesting consequences if I did not join the “union” in their activities of striking. I suggest the consequences Mr. DiNicola alleged are manifesting themselves.
On May 19, 2006 I received a letter at my home from AFSCME suggesting their strike and the bargaining processes they have incurred, before I became an employee of Gateway. I decided I would not take part in a strike against Gateway. I do not agree with a lot of their issues against Gateway. Sheridan is forcing me to take part in this strike.
Therefore, I am requesting an investigation from Mr. James A. Wright, Executive Inspector General for the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor into this matter of Sheridan preventing Gateway employees access to the Correctional Center who have decided not to strike.
Sheridan should not be engaged in choosing sides during this bargaining process between Gateway and AFSCME. Sheridan should not align itself with AFSCME against Gateway during the bargaining process. This alignment negates all good faith bargaining. Sheridan’s alignment appears to suggest a breach of contract.
Gateway is in the business of helping people through their addictions. I am dedicated to this cause.
I want to work. I do not want to strike. I believe this is my right. Please allow me to work to support my family.
Thank you.
Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc:
Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois (fax copies of this letter sent to Chicago and Springfield Offices)
Roger E. Walker Jr., Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections (fax copy only of this letter)
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
Gregg Dockins, Director Gateway Foundation Sheridan Correctional Center (fax)
June 30, 2006
Honorable Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor of Illinois, Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Sheridan Correctional Center Strike
Governor:
I, Fred L Nance Jr., wrote a letter to you on June 6, 2006 regarding my employment with Gateway Foundation (Gateway) at Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan). You have not responded, in writing or verbally, to my letter of June 6, 2006. In the letter of June 6, 2006 I report AFSCME union members working for Gateway decided to go on strike on June 6, 2006. AFSCME union members working for Gateway have developed a bargaining unit. The bargaining unit is in the negotiating processes with Gateway. I am not a union member. I did not sign a membership with AFSCME. I am not striking against Gateway at Sheridan. I am not participating in the strike in anyway.
The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and/or Illinois Central Management Services (CMS) has locked me out of Sheridan because I am not a union member and participating in the strike. I have written and fax letters regarding this issue to Mr. Roger E. Walker Jr., Director of IDOC and to Mr. Paul Campbell, Director of CMS. They have not responded, in writing or verbally, to my issues.
I have written Ms. Brenda Russell, Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) regarding my unemployment benefit claim pursuant to §604 of the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act stating I am not a union member, I am not participating in the strike and I was locked out of my employment by IDOC and/or CMS. She has not responded, in writing or verbally, to my letter.
I researched IDES contacting the Labor Dispute Unit. I called Manager Cheryl Howard leaving a voice mail requesting she call me on this issue. Ms. Howard responded expeditiously, calling me attending to my concerns regarding unemployment benefits. Ms. Howard reports she had to pass my case to the Labor Dispute Unit attorneys for review. The attorneys have not responded, in writing or verbally, to my concerns.
Sir, it seems to be a pattern here by you and the decision makers of your administration. First, you and your administration are not responding to the concerns of your constituents. Second, it seems they are catering to the goals of AFSCME creating an unfair bargaining practice between AFSCME and Gateway. It seems IDOC, CMS and IDES are purposely hindering the fair bargaining processes of this labor dispute. It seems IDOC, CMS and IDES are favorably treating AFSCME concerns by targeting and locking out specific employees of Gateway who want to cross the picket lines. At the end of the day, all employees of Gateway are your constituents.
All employees of the State of Illinois expect you and your administration to respond in a professional manner to their concerns, especially when there appears to be corruption and tyranny afoot. There is no legal basis or foundation for this lockout of targeted Gateway employees. This assumption is made because there is no response from you or your administration. It is not the responsibility of Gateway, participating in fair bargaining practices, to inform the targeted employees of reasons for their lockout status. Gateway did not lock their employees out of Sheridan. Gateway is welcoming any employees who want to cross the picket lines, which is a legal right. Is your administration engaged in illegal activities targeting and locking out specific employees of Gateway? Are you and your administration engaged in unfair bargaining practices with AFSCME?
Sir, I and many of my colleagues, who I am in contact with, want to work. We have a right as citizens of the United States of America to work without hindrance from our government and your administration. We have a right to cross the picket lines created by AFSCME. Your administration is denying citizens of the United States the opportunity to work to support of their families. Is this the legacy you want to leave? Where are our human rights? Where is our right to seek, gain and retain employment without illegal hindrances from our government?
Someone from your administration must respond to the need of your constituents. How can you or your administration justify denying citizens of Illinois the right to work because they do not belong to a union or condone specific union activities. I am not anti-union. I, along with many others, do not like oppression and tyranny. If a person does not want to strike against their employer, they should not be forced to participate in a strike, especially in the bargaining stages of the formation of a contract. AFSCME does not even have a contract with Gateway. My position would be completely different if the union was in place upon my hire. I am a team player. I did not come to Gateway/Sheridan to cause harm. I came to provide a needed service to the consumer. Sir, its time for us to go back to work if that is our choice. Your administration has taken choice away from us. What does Independence Day stand for in the United States of America? Sir, how do I feed my family?
Respectfully submitted,
Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc:
Mr. Gregg Dockins, Director Gateway/Sheridan
Mr. Jim Young, Right to Work Foundation
Ms. Brenda Russell, Director IDES
Mr. Paul Campbell, Director CMS
Mr. Roger E. Walker Jr., Director IDOC
Ms. Judith M. Boone, Field Examiner National Labor Relations Board
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
