State gives raises, only to freeze them later

In reference to article, “Legislators sue for pay” (BDN, May 15-16). The state representative from Union and three other legislators are suing their leaders for back pay. They are looking to get $11,400 for 38 days of work in an emergency session.

This is the same legislature that voted to freeze step and merit increases for all state employees. The Institutional Services Bargaining Unit which covers both the Department of Corrections and Behavioral Development Services had reached an agreement with the state of Maine on a contract only to have the contract violated when these same legislators voted to freeze state employee wages this past year.

These legislators need to conduct a reality check. The work done by the DOC and BDS is work that provides a service to the entire state. The keeping of inmates and patients that cannot live amongst the public is not an easy job. It is not a job that you aspire to do as little children. It is a thankless job, but one that is needed to allow people to live in peace and feel protected. It not only affects DOC and BDS but the wage freeze affects every state employee.

The violation of the contract by the state against the employee unions will drag on and on. These employees are forbidden by law to strike, or create a work slowdown. What other recourse do they have? They do not produce a viable product and the only benefit they seem to provide to the state is the temporary housing of what the public deem unfit to live amongst them. Now they have been without a contract for almost a year and the state continues to insist they have no money to bargain with. They are now the lowest paid in the nation at what they do and in the states own DOC Talk paper have the fastest growing inmate population in the country. This does not add up.

I see in a recent employment advertisement that the Maine Department of Corrections is looking for officers and the starting wage is higher than what some officers make that work there now. On the very next page is a full-page ad for a Maine county that starts its corrections officers at approximately $2 an hour more and provides more benefits.

What are these legislators thinking? It is all right to take money away from the working man and woman but how dare the state take it away from them. Step up the plate and take care of your employees. Show them that you see how important their jobs are to the state and give them what they deserve. Get Maine employees out of the national basement.

Rep. Sukeforth stated that he would donate his money if he won. May I suggest that he donate it to the ISBU to help fund the merit increases that he and his colleagues voted to freeze this past year. Tell us why the state employees are expected to carry the burden of the states budget on their shoulders.

The state signed the contract and violated the contract by not giving the raises that were agreed to. It is that simple, live up to your word, it is exactly “a matter of principle.” I agree with Senate President Daggett when she stated that it is “extremely disappointing the lengths to which certain individuals will go in order to line their own pockets.” ISBU agrees that is it also a matter of principle in the freezing of wages also.

Why would the state agree to raises only to freeze them at a later time? If that contract was violated then how good will the next one be? Where would the state be without the Department of Corrections and Behavioral Development Services employee?

I for one don’t want to find out.

George Mele is president of Maine Corrections Officers Liberated Union.