Hundreds of employees correctional State hold rally on Capitol steps
SEATTLE, PRNewswire-USNewswire 9 December 2010 /-hundreds of workers corrections Canada, their families, allied community and other members of Canada is is magnet on the steps of the State Capitol in Olympia today to stop reductions they are endangering the lives of workers of the prison and our communities. Teamsters Local 117 represents more than 6,000 correctional workers of the State.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO)
Welcoming reading signs "Security, dignity and respect for correctional staff" of 13 institutions State of Washington, many are rendered on buses of cities as far as Monroe, Walla Walla, Spokane, Tri-Cities and Clallam Bay, marched Sylvester Park at Olympia and around Capitol Hill before assembling for a gathering of noon prison workers.
Contingents of corrections workers met with legislators in their offices for the day Thursday to inform them of the dangers of cuts. He also presented the Governor with a list of measures proposed savings that the State can implement to the Department of corrections (doc) without compromising security.
By addressing the crowd, legislators in the State correctional employees and leaders of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters denounced cuts as a danger to public safety and focuses on the critical nature of the work of corrections. "We are no less important than the police patrolling our streets and keep us safe, non-less important than firefighters run into burning buildings to save our loved ones,"said Carl Granger, a correctional officer at the Monroe correctional complex, who spoke to the gathering.""
"We will fight cuts which pose a threat to the safety of the brave men and women who work in the State prison system in our," said Teamsters Local 117 Secretary-Treasurer Tracey a. Thompson. "Here, your actions now send a powerful message to the Legislative Assembly that we are United to defend our rights to a safe working environment."
Correctional officer Matt Johnson, who has worked for two years as a sergeant in the kitchen at the penitentiary of Washington State in Walla Walla, expressed its concerns about the State plans to remove kitchens of prison officers. "With any officer in the kitchen, us is not able to effectively monitor inmates or ensure the safety of personnel non-garde."
In addition to the Elimination of agents in the prison kitchen, DOC reductions include monthly "modified" locks for offenders, the Elimination of counselling service, reduction of recreation for offenders programs and the reduction of drug offenders referral programs. The State also plans to close the Centre of corrections McNeil Island effective April 1, 2011.
Truck drivers Union sued lawsuit seeking an injunction in the superior King County Court in an attempt to put an end to the State of implementation of the provisions of its budgetary reductions. A motion for preliminary injunction hearing were tentatively scheduled on 14 December 2010.
SOURCE Teamsters Local Union 117
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