Release: OCSEA says AOCI prisoner escapes a result of understaffing and overtime
OCSEA released a press statement that the recent escapes from Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution (AOCI) didn’t have to happen, and were a result of too few staff and too much mandatory overtime.
“It’s a perfect storm. You can’t be 70 officers short and mandate entire shifts to work 16 hours a day over and over in a prison. It’s not safe for staff or inmates. It has consequences. And in this instance, serious consequences. We’ve said it before, and we’ll keep saying it. Something’s got to give,” said OCSEA President Chris Mabe, who worked for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction as a Correction Officer and Sergeant for more than 25 years.
AOCI is running 70 Correction Officers short, and staff are being mandated to work back-to-back overtime. Due to excessive staff shortages, posts are routinely closed, putting more pressure on staff to oversee more and more inmates.
“Minimally, ODR&C should be reducing the number of inmate programs, curbing inmate movement, reconfiguring visitation, all those activities that require extra staffing,” said Mabe. “We can’t continue to operate as if it’s business as usual,” he remarked.
Statewide, Ohio’s prisons are 2,000 officers short, a number that rivals the days before the infamous Lucasville riot at the Southern Correctional Facility that caused the death of Correction Officer Bobby Vallandingham and nine inmates. It was widely understood that understaffing was a major factor in that uprising. In fact, “staffing levels” was one of the main considerations in a commission report outlining steps to take to avoid future occurrences.
Mabe also said ODR&C's focus on purchasing new technologies, such as body cams for Correction Officers, has been misplaced. “They need to stop supplanting people with technology,” said Mabe. “First, technology like body cams is not going to stop inmates from escaping. It’s not going to keep officers from being tired. It’s not going to keep them safe. They’re not effective. Let’s spend our resources on what is effective: people,” he said. “Let’s focus on helping bring new officers into the field and supporting those already in the trenches,” he said.
The union says ODR&C specifically needs to incentivize Corrections jobs by increasing the wage and compensation and making the jobs more attractive. “We can’t get people in the door at the current wage rate,” explained Mabe. “Remember, just a couple years ago Ohio’s Correction Officers were staying in hotels, being exposed multiple times to COVID and working around the clock,” he said. “And don’t forget, they also were denied emergency pay. All these things have made it nearly impossible to hire and retain Correction Officers. And that’s made the system more dangerous,” said Mabe. “We don’t have a problem paying police officers. Why do we have a problem paying Corrections staff? It’s time to pony up and fix this issue,” he said.
Spread the word! There's so much value in being union!
There’s so much VALUE in being a union member, not just in our daily lives but over our lifetimes. And, we’re not just talking about take home pay and benefits (while that’s nice too). There’s also a lot of immeasurable value that comes with being a union member, like lifetime bonds and friendships, building skills that can be used throughout our lives (even outside work), and knowing we’re making a real difference in our life and in the lives of others (just to name a few).
But if money is where it’s at for you, there’s real value* in being union, and the numbers tell the story. For example, over a 30-year career, the average union member makes over $250,000 more than their nonunion counterparts, and that doesn’t even count the health care and benefits savings. If you add benefits and retirement that unions fight for, workers who spent their lifetimes as union members are projected to earn $3.4 million over their careers. That's $1.3 million over their non-union counterparts. Plus, union workers are more likely to retire earlier. (Business Insider October 2022)
Sometimes it's hard to wrap our minds around the valuable aspects of our lives, but the numbers tell the story and that's something to talk about. Now it's our turn to take those numbers and spread the word about the REAL VALUE in being union. Only once we all see the real value in being union can we all take a stand solidly to protect those benefits. Help spread the word! Let your union co-workers know. Share the VALUE IN BEING UNION flyer in your workplace and at union meetings. Download it at OCSEA.org/Value.
*All wage data is based on the 2021-2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
June Union Bulletin Board Network flyers available online
The June 2023 Union Bulletin Board Network (UBBN) fliers are here and available for download at OCSEA.org/UBBN. The virtual bulletin board gives OCSEA members access to union fliers with a click of a button. With some members continuing to telework, many working hybrid and others working 100% on site, the UBBN fliers give OCSEA members access to important union information. This includes OCSEA events, discounts and more.
Chapters are urged to place these fliers on their workplace bulletin boards, where applicable, and distribute at meetings. This month's virtual fliers include:
- Value in Being Union SHAREABLE flyer
- Zoombezi Bay member-only ticket discounts
- Kings Island June member-only ticket discounts
- Ohio Zoos member-only ticket discounts: Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo zoos
- Working Advantage member-only summer deals
Any chapter that needs assistance with printing fliers should contact the OCSEA mailroom at 614-865-4733.
OCSEA Steward Conference is this weekend. Get agenda!
OCSEA stewards and leaders will gather this weekend for the OCSEA Steward Conference. The annual event allows them to build union skills that help them better represent their union members across the state. Topics will include preparing for hearings, burden of proof and exhibits, and generations in the workplace. Three-hour steward trainings (all spots are filled) will also take place Friday evening.
OCSEA's stewards are the backbone of the union. These local union volunteers, in every state agency as well as local governments, work hard all year to represent their members and enforce their union contracts. We're so proud of all of our union stewards and leaders and can't wait to gather together this weekend!
The event, open to all members, will take place this Saturday, June 3 at the Hilton Columbus/ Polaris. The official agenda for the June 3 Steward Conference is available for download HERE or at the OCSEA Steward Conference website: OCSEA.org/StewardConference. Attendees are encouraged to bring their OCSEA ID badge to the event if they have one.
Kings Island Good-Any-Day price good through June 5
The early season OCSEA member-only Kings Island Good-Any-Day ticket deal is ending soon! So make sure you buy your tickets now to save $2 on discount tickets now through Labor Day 2023.
Tickets are currently available at $42.00 plus processing fees through June 4. On June 5, that price will go up to $44.00 plus processing fees.
All members need to purchase the tickets is to click the member-only web link at OCSEA.org/Extras. You will get the required Username and Password there.
Purchased tickets are valid for admission one day when the park is open to the general public through September 4, 2023 (Valid for anyone ages 3 and older. Ages 2 and under are free.)
OCSEA member-only Extras discounts are brought thanks to the numbers and power that comes with being union. See all the member-only summer deals here at OCSEA.org.
See Working Advantage member-only June summer deals
The Working Advantage Discount Program is the perfect place to find special and easy discounts on the items, services, and activities you already enjoy.
June Working Advantage deals include:
- Universal Orlando Resort: Buy 2 days, get 3 days free
- Water Parks: Save over 50% off tickets nationwide
- Rental Cars: Get up to 25% off the perfect vacation car
- Apple: Exclusive employee savings on select Apple products
- FitReserve: Get 30% off three months of premier studio classes
Don’t forget to enroll in the Working Advantage Discount Program. It’s cost-free and easy to enroll. Just visit workingadvantage.com and use the company code provided at OCSEA.org/Extras to begin receiving discounts on:
Electronics • Appliances • Theme Parks • Hotels • Movie Tickets • Rental Cars • Gift Cards • Apparel • Cars • Flowers • Fitness Memberships • Groceries • Special Events • And More!