April 21, 2010
Supervisory Letter: “It’s Time”
Dear Supervisory Member,
It’s Time
It’s time to mend the fences. There seems to be a prevailing attitude throughout our institutions of us against them, and rightfully so. However, at one time it was easier to determine the us and the them of this statement. Not so long ago it was us (staff) - green and them (inmates) - blue. It seems we have digressed to CCPOA Vs. Arnold, CCPOA Vs. CCSO etc.
It’s time to bring all of our members together on the same page, be they R06, S06 or even M06. How many times have you heard “He/She has changed since he/she promoted?” Occasionally animosity grows from there. The truth of the matter is promoting does require a certain degree of change. The individual that promotes is now responsible for things that were someone else’s responsibility in the past.
It’s time to correct any divisions between the ranks and realize we are all on the same team. There are enough battles to be had without fighting each other. As we enter an eight-month stretch that may well be the most important time frame we have faced in the last six years this will become even more evident.
It’s time to stop referring to CCSO as that bunch that claims to be a union, or refusing to mention them by name. After all their custody members are still our comrades in arms. And they have the right to choose whomever they wish for representation, not that I understand the choice but it is theirs to make. I personally believe in the “You have to dance with who brung you” theory. None of us would have what we have today without CCPOA and the efforts of many that came before us – both rank and file and supervisors.
The hard truth is quite simple, without collective bargaining the supervisory classes must usually wait for gains by rank and file members to be passed down to them under the guise of management benevolence. The very same advancements in benefits CCPOA fights for – for all members.
This is why CCPOA’s ultimate goal has always been collective bargaining for supervisors. However, as long as two associations exist for the representation of supervisors achieving this lofty goal shall remain elusive, but not insurmountable. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. That being said I have no problem with the existence of CCSO. I wish them well with their representation of other classes within CDCR. The problem is, as far as I am concerned, our custody supervisors choosing to belong to any other organization.
Life presents opportunities for self-reflection as the norm. It’s time to ask why a custody supervisor would choose CCSO over CCPOA. The answer lies somewhere in that self-reflection. Just as poor performance by a subordinate is a direct reflection on the supervisor, as every individual is tasked with the responsibility of training those in his/her charge. So to is the choice by a supervisor to belong to another organization a direct reflection upon CCPOA. Poor performance in the past, whether real or perceived, has driven some custody supervisors to choose alternative representation, or none at all.
I have asked many supervisors over the years why they promoted and turned to CCSO. The standard answer is “Because when it comes to a dispute between a rank and file member and a supervisor CCPOA sides with the rank and file.” Interesting to say the least, but not based in fact. This ideology is a CCSO mantra. The truth is CCPOA spends a great deal of money securing outside representation for these issues when they arise, due to the conflicting interests argument. As a matter of perspective I must ask if a CCSO Sergeant and a CCSO Lieutenant end up in the same situation do you not have the same conflict of interest argument? What happens then, who does CCSO side with the Sergeant or the Lieutenant? Or perhaps this argument doesn’t stand up to the light of day.
The second response I’ve been given for choosing CCSO is “I called CCPOA with an issue and couldn’t even get a return phone call.” That scenario if true is totally unacceptable at any level, and subject to the above noted self-reflection. All dues paying members deserve an answer. Even if the answer is disliked or unpopular - they deserve the respect of a simple return phone call or e-mail.
It’s time to create an atmosphere that shows just how important supervisors are to CCPOA and one that makes all supervisors want to belong to this association.
It’s time to move forward with one voice as one profession – Correctional Peace Officers – period! As long as we have supervisory dues paying members we will strive to make CCPOA their representative of choice, as it should be. CCPOA has always made tremendous efforts to gain advancements for all of our represented classes including supervisors, and we will continue to do so.
Kevin Raymond
CCPOA Interim Supervisory Vice President
