If any of you have been around Corrections USA for any amount of time then you know Henry Ruiz. Henry has been a member of the CUSA Board of Directors for 8 years and our webmaster since our inception. Henry is a true fighter for our cause.
While standing up for his brothers and sisters Henry, his fellow union officials and officers at Morris County have come under a rash of retaliatory tactics, many listed below. So Henry took the county to court. In a recent Corrections Professional Henry's case against Morris County is highlighted. Henry has sued the county for retaliation (Ruiz v. Morris County Sheriff's Department, et. al. No. 05-1825 (D.N.J. 01/05/06) Here is what the judge said when he dismissed the County's request for summary judgment.
"Public employers cannot silence their employees simply because they disapprove of the content of their speech." According to the Corrections Professional the ruling means that "A public employee has a constitutional right to speak on matters of public concern without fear of retaliation." What was Henry's crime? He spoke out publicly against prison privatization and against the Sheriff after he refused to order new protective vests when the old ones expired even though the funds had been allocated.
How many of us have lived under that very fear of retaliation for speaking out? For decades retaliation is how the DOC's across this country kept us in line and the politicians and public ignorant. How many of us have been disciplined for speaking out? Here is a chance to not only stand up for Henry and our brothers and sisters with the New Jersey State PBA and Morris County, but a chance to stand up for all correctional officers. It's a chance to let the public and politicians know that we don't check our Constitutional rights at the door. We can and WE WILL speak out.
MORRIS COUNTY CORRECTIONS OFFICERS
PBA Local No. 298
PO Box 510
Morristown, New Jersey 07960
FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE:
May 1, 2006 President Ronald Flammer: 973-219-3604
State Delegate Henry J. Ruiz: 973-479-3421
On behalf of the Morris County Corrections Officers Union PBA Local #298, representing over one hundred and thirty Morris County correction officers, and with the support of the NJ State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, Inc., Corrections USA, the Morris County PBA Conference, and the Superior Officers’ Association of PBA 298 we come together on May 1, 2006 at 11:00 AM, to rally at the Morris County Court House to call for changes in the management of the Morris County Jail, and end their abuses of power.
We (correction officers) take great pride in our facility, and in serving the citizens of Morris County so the decision to rally against management was not taken lightly, but there is a need to address issues of harassment, retaliation, and coercion of correction officers and union officials by the jail management.
Our grievances, EEOC complaints, unfair labor practices, and individuals filing several federal lawsuits have gone unnoticed by Sheriff Rochford and the Freeholders.
We need changes in management and we need them now!
STOP THE:
Routine use of threats towards union leaders and their supporters.
- Management has stopped the communication with our members: The Union is no longer allowed the freedom to use the inter-office mailboxes. The PBA is no longer allowed to address members in muster. The PBA is no longer allowed to speak to members on duty, including on grievance issues.
- Management has Dismantled our Emergency Response Unit
- Management has Dismantled our Gang Unit
- Attempts were made to eliminate Compensative time while certain individuals of high level management have cashed out thousands of dollars in compensative time.
- Racial and Gender Discrimination, and harassment
- Money wasted on Accreditation yet, our security systems and call boxes remain broken down.
- Verbal abusive towards staff.
- We have lost PBA release time for the Delegate and President, and the union office was taken away.
- The contractual right of officer mutual shift switches was eliminated, and then later returned on a limited basis.
- Seniority not being followed or recognized.
- Preferential jobs are not being bid out according to policy, but handed out to friends of management.
- Publicly making threats of layoffs and demotions as a way to circumvent the union winning the Sick-time unfair labor practice.
- Management has sent out memos to all staff, civilian, and sworn that the PBA is problematic.
- Discipline has increased considerably since our unfair labor practice against McGrane. (There were 8 suspension days for 2004, and over 70 suspension days for 2005)
- Retaliation towards union executives, and members who exercise their rights. (Using managerial prerogative as their means to punish staff, by changing their job assignments, days off, and shifts.)
- Staff forced to serve suspension days without a hearing.
- Threatening to fire staff for their contractual use of sick time, yet letting certain officers use terminal leave to exhaust their sick time before retirement.
- Using Psychological Evaluations as a form of punishment, and a way to force officers to use their earned sick time.
See you in New Jersey May 1, at 11:00 AM!
Brian Dawe
Executive Director
Corrections USA
Thayne, WY
307-883-CUSA
www.cusa.org
