American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees

Bills and Resolutions

TX AFL-CIO E-News

AFSCME CEC/7
Legislative Wrap

We accomplished one of our major goals by getting the TDCJ Career Ladder passed. Now we await the Governors signature. The career ladder is attached to the Appropriations Bill and the Governor will sign it. We began the push for the career ladder back in the fall of 1999 with the Professional Respect Now Campaign. Our ladder was an eight-year plan where as TPEA's plan was a fifteen-year plan and TDCJ's was a twelve-year plan to get to the salary in the ladder. TPEA and TDCJ's plans were not considered by the Legislature because our lobby effort showed the 8-year plan was much more viable and would benefit the agency's needs right away. Obviously there wasn't as much money put into the ladder as we had liked. But under the circumstances of the lack of funds and the tight budget, corrections food service, laundry officers did not receive the largest share of the money for raises, but we ensured that other non-security employees did receive the 4% raise even though the Houses' version of the raise did not include them. The Hazardous Duty pay increase was killed by lack of funds, primarily due to the comptrollers not releasing the Rainy Day funds. Carole Rylander (the Comptroller), said that she did not want to relese these funds because she saw no crisis. My question is what planet is she on to not see the problems in TDCJ? Remember this Election Day. Also, the organization TPEA has admitted to not lobbying for the increase in Hazardous Duty Pay. They did not want Correction Employees to receive any monies other than what other State employees received. This showed that organizations short-sightedness and lack of concern for our safety. I had hoped other organizations would show courage by supporting us but not all did.

House Bill 3185 passed through the House and the Senate and it will now go to the Governor for his signature. He has indicated he will sign our bill. This bill ensures the Agency adheres to new policies in the Bill and makes them report to the Legislature on these policies. The Agency has been opened up like never before. This Bill will be heralded in the future as a visionary bill that changed the complexion of TDCJ and made it a better place to work. Representatives Bob Turner, Alan Ritter, Dan Ellis, Chuck Hobson, and Sylvester Turner are to be thanked for their support for this Bill. Without a doubt, we have a long way to go but we have cleared a large hurdle for the future Legislative Sessions.

Congratulations to the TDCJ Correctional Officers who are now Texas Correctional Law Enforcement Officers. Thanks to HB 3185. It may just be a title change now, but this is the first step in our strategy to professionalize this agency and put CO's into a Class D salary schedule in the future. We have a plan and it is working so stick with the union who is working for you, AFSCME. Non-security and medical need not worry, we are working for you as well and you will never be left out. It's time to organize and build our numbers to give us even more clout in the Legislature and future TDCJ, UTMB, and Texas Tech management negotiations. The dream lives on in you.

AFSCME/CEC 7
3011 11th Street, Suite 304
Huntsville, TX 77340
1-800-374-9772
Fax: 1-409-295-5853
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