Thursday, March 27, 2008

10% pay hike for Texas prison guards approved - will TYC follow suit?

The Texas Board of Criminal Justice approved a 10% pay hike for new prison guard hires at its meeting today in Austin, reports AP, boosting starting pay and eliminating what is currently the third salary step for COs, meaning guards will get pay increases faster:

The changes, effective May 1, will boost salary of a starting officer from $23,046 to $25,416 and compress seniority requirements to allow new officers to achieve higher pay grades in fewer months.

In addition, the agency will be offering a recruitment bonus of $1,500 for new officers who go to work at state prisons considered understaffed. Typically, about 20 of the 106 prisons fall into that category.

"Our correctional officer staffing situation is the most urgent operational challenge we face as an agency," Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad Livingston said.

As of the end of February, Texas prisons had 22,765 officers and 3,594 vacancies, about a 14 percent deficit.

In the most recent year, statistics showed 43 percent of officers quit in their first year, compared with the overall turnover rate of 24 percent.

"One of the things we attempted to do in these changes is address the early turnover," Livingston said. "Clearly I think it's fair to say turnover always will be higher in the first year than will be in the entire group. Our goal here is to close that gap."

The changes essentially eliminate the third step of a nine-step salary scale for corrections officers. For example, in their ninth month on the job, an officer now will be making $28,546, a level previously achieved at the start of the 15th month. Future increases likewise come six months sooner, meaning on officer reaches top scale of $33,946 in his 91st month on the job rather than his 97th.

The pay hike represents an emergency measure to combat crippling staff shortages, and the TDCJ board is spending money that isn't actually budgeted for their agency, about $20 million per year extra, the Statesman reported:

"It's money we don't have," Livingston acknowledged. "Clearly the adjustments will require moneys for salaries above and beyond what we have budgeted, but we still have an obligation to try to make our budget work."

He said one option that would require approval of the governor's office and the Legislative Budget Board was transfer of money from his department's 2009 budget into the current budget.

Unanswered in the coverage so far, the Lege just increased Youth Commission JCO pay to match salaries at TDCJ, but now with this increase there's a disparity again. Will the TYC conservator boost pay to match TDCJ's salary move (that money isn't budgeted, either), and if not, won't it worsen the problem of employees at youth prisons leaving to work at adult facilities?

The boost in guard pay is necessary, long overdue, and arguably even more needed at TYC. It's just a shame that the state lets itself get forced into these situations through crisis rather than planning for them responsibly when the Legislature is in town.

UPDATE: See fuller coverage from Mike Ward at the Statesman. According to his account, only COs in their first 16 months on the job will receive pay hikes. Pay scales for veteran COs will remain the same.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

The question here is: Will this pay increase effect the pay scale for the officers already employed, or is it just for new hires? I think we need more incentive to stay on the job, with increased assaults, unnecessary uses of force, burn-out, stress, and other job-related problems for the officers already working. Some rewards for the people who have given so much time to the system would be greatly appreciated.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone suggest one or more attorneys who have represented employees against TYC?

Gritsforbreakfast said...

They said it would affect 8,000 COs, so that means it has to impact quite a few already there.

However, streamlining the scales appears to mostly benefit those who've been there a relatively short period, not the long-timers. The goal is to keep people from quitting in droves in the first year or so.

Anonymous said...

I'll believe it when I see it. The person who asked who were the attorney's that represented them against TYC, well it depends on where you live. If you are from the area by the Al Price unit, send out another e-mail and I'll hook you up with the info. There is a federal class action lawsuit against TYC that is about ready to go to trial.

Anonymous said...

10% sounds like alot but they still don't make enough money to live on.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to switch topics, more info on the class action against TYC please. Which class of employees does it relate to?

Thanks in advance!

Anonymous said...

in addition to my first comment, it's already widely known that Texas Correctional Officers are among some of the lowest paid in the nation, and it's true, that monthly paycheck is hard to live on. I also believe that paying the officers every two weeks would help some situations greatly.

Anonymous said...

Increasing pay for those already employed should be one of the first things to look at. New hires need to earn theirs by years of service as we have had to do. It would also help morale a little. Tenured JCO's where I work are actively looking for new jobs and the ones who are being hired are leaving after 3 months.

At one point the JCO VI's were doing the interviewing of prospects and the majority of those stayed after being hired. The process now is to have an outsider to the campus come in ask 7 or 8 questions and hire the person. "If they have a pulse hire 'em"

JCO VI's are no longer allowed to interview because they were being TOO picky.(and were told this)

Interviewees who weren't selected by VI's were hired anyway. They have since quit, most without notice and the thousands of dollars spent on training is down the drain.

People are tired and have no confidence in management. JCO's are being required to supervise areas of campus they have never had to cover in the past thus making line staff have to work 12 hour shifts to provide supservision of youth in living quarters.

Please send us a new asst. supt.! WE NEED HELP! Before we have to shut down because of riots and lack of JCO's...we need someone who listens to those with experience and have been on campus for 20 or 30 years instead of listening to "yes men" (and women). 2 riots in less than 3 months on a campus that has never had a riot? Gainesville needs help and Haider needs out.

I am sorry if this isn't written correctly, I am exhausted and sleep deprived because of long hours worked and stress

Anonymous said...

10:04

I feel for you. Haider was horrible at San Saba and it looks like he is hasn't done any better at Gainsville. Hopefully he will be demoted like King at Mart or better yet fired.

Anonymous said...

Hey Gainesville, where is your Supt.? Your problem lies with the Supt. Alot of facilities are quick to place issues on the Asst. Supt., and why they do have responsibility in ensuring the Campus runs well, the ultimate responsibility lies with the Supt.

Anonymous said...

I feel sorry for Gainesville unit and for it's association with that trick ass Laray Wilson, and yes I called it exactly like I see it. That's about the most sorriest excuse TYC ever hired!!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to keep changing topics but to answer the question 3/27/08 11:27; Well the class action lawsuit was filed for wrongful termination and was filed by Mr. Jude Iwuchukwu (counselor) and was assigned to the 136th District Court in Beaumont, TX Judge Milton Shuffield will be preseiding. The website is setexasrecord. com and just type in TYC in the search block. I sure as hell TYC gets burned to the core for this case!!

Anonymous said...

10:43

Get a Job and quit posting negative comments, this person was not fired for reporting abuse, he was fired because of other reasons and should have been fired because he barely came to work

Anonymous said...

3/28/08 11:19 WHATEVER!! He did more than you ever did including coming to work!! I hope he sues the hell out of TYC and rightfully so. I can't wait for his day in court and the truth will finally be told of how crooked TYC and especially the Al Price unit is!!

Anonymous said...

This rase is a slap in the face for the officers that have been warking there butt off for TDCJ-ID for years. The CO5's get 'o' at the same time the big shots get a 4% rase every year.

Anonymous said...

There are quite a few attorneys around the State that are handling TYC cases. What campus are you from, if you want to say?
There are attorneys handling Crockett cases, Austin C/O cases, Al Price cases - some good attorneys in Dallas area that know all about the TYC games.

Anonymous said...

For starters, Crockett cases?

Anonymous said...

"The website is setexasrecord. com and just type in TYC in the search block."

I did, and you're full of shit. Your little site doesn't exist dipshit.

Anonymous said...

11:48 p.m.

I was able to find it. If the url doesn't seem to work "google" the site.

The whole "full of shit" and "dipshit" remark are a little harsh.

Anonymous said...

the site does exist idiot.

Anonymous said...

Whoever this dipshit is that is posting all of these derogatory comments about not being able to find a website called www.setexasrecord.com is obviously a real "Einstein"!! I don't know why you have so much anger in you in refence to this website--oh I know, probably because you are part of this federal lawsuit and you have been summoned by the grand jury itself. HA HA--the joke is on you!!

Anonymous said...

It is NOT A RAISE!! It is only money they would have eventually received arriving sooner than expected. Kinda like being sold something we already owned!!

Anonymous said...

TDC Co's our having a Gray Flu sick out on April 7th and the 14th Maybe that well wake up HV and Austin.TYC needs to do the same.We are all in this together,TDC get's a raise and TYC well get one too.

Anonymous said...

What's the question 9:49? Didn't you notice that every single administrator and department head has been hired in the past 9 months? Do you think that is just by chance?

Anonymous said...

Not at all, my question is, who are the attorneys handling the Crockett cases? Who has filed anything from Crockett?

Anonymous said...

TDCJ placed a hiring center in Crockett.

Read between the lines people.

Anonymous said...

Huh, TDCJ has a lot of vacancies??
It's not like an employee cant figure out how to get hired by TDCJ without being in Crockett.

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised there hasn't been a lot more lawsuits filed against TYC by employees. TYC has been such a closed shop with the tight little group keeping everything under control (that is, until a bit of the truth came out).

When Lydia got caught the whole game suddenly changed. We saw through the crack in the wall. How many of you would like to see more of what is still hidden? Just for fun, could someone tell me what the real relationship was with Lydia and Dwight. I've heard plenty of rumors. We can start there.

Anonymous said...

keep giving the new staff perks and leave the tenured staff left out in the rain and you will have the new hires running the facilitys.

And we think things are JACKED UP NOW!!!!!

Anonymous said...

TYC has plenty of rumors, always had, does have, and will have...but rumors are just that and should be left at that. Time to move forward. The old guard, the good and the bad are either gone or decimated. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Anonymous said...

Yep
All we have now is a new set of bedpartners.

Anonymous said...

It's that way with all businesses, someone is doing someone else either figuratively or literally. Somebody is someone's buddy, or doing them a favor. Unfortunately, in government it is often brought to light easier and left under the microscope longer by the mass media. Our newspapers, (DMN, Chron, etc)are just as responsible for keeping the embers stirred and occasionally throwing another log on the fire in the TYC mess. The DMN just got a major award for the pile of garbage, and alot of lies that they printed about TYC. It's all about the moral degradation of society and we all are apart of it.

Anonymous said...

Here is what we are still faced with. For years the old guard threw crumbs to the loyal ones and that was enough to ensure their undying loyality. The old guard kept their foot on the throat of all those who wouldn't go along with the TYC culture.

The ones who got rewarded remain happy to this day and they will say lets not talk about this any more. Well, when did they ever talk about it? It's like the old incest family, everybody was/is afraid to speak and they were/are warned to keep quite even though everything is hidden in plain sight.

The problem was not only the behaviors - the real monster was the networks that were set in stone. Those networks are still as active as ever but even more hidden.

We have lived a lie and now we are encouraged to forget all that. Maybe some would like to explore those networks and how they are still dominate. Look at just one important member of the old guard and how many current employees did he/she groom and promote? Look how the culture is still being promoted. For each member of the old guard that got caught we have 20 of their followers in position of influence today. How much change have we really had?

Finally having a sense of what our history is may not be a bad thing. How long should we keep shoving it under the rug? That foot is still there and it could step on any throat that decides to talk or buck the tide. The people who have recently come in to run things don't know or understand the history and the remaining members of the old guard have their ear.

Anonymous said...

To 08:46
I would like to know more about the "federal class action lawsuit against TYC that is about ready to go to trial."

Anonymous said...

4:37, be sure to keep one eye on the grassy knoll and the other in that secret hangar at Wright Patterson!

Anonymous said...

4:37,

You must be Jay Kimbrough. Watch out for the silos, be very afraid of the silos, the silos are taking over again. Hey Jay, stay in Aggieland, the only silos I know about are on the farm. BTW, don't take this as a threat, but if we could get a sanctioned boxing match or MMA event, would you be interested in a match between you, the elderly war hero v. me, the middle-aged, out of shape hippie? Let me know your thoughts. Peace.

Anonymous said...

I know at least 2 from Crockett have been filed. One attorney is in Bryan/CS and one in Dallas. There are probably more.

Anonymous said...

In the media, both in television and print, there are two things that generate attention and thus revenue: content and fill.

The content is the advertising, such as the ads run in the papers and commercials on television.
The fill is the drama, whether it’s realist or not, and on what surfaces to support that story, regardless if those facts are real or not. Lately, they haven’t been.
Maybe Mike Ward had better be fishing for leftovers in the dumpster behind Which-Witch across from the BHB as opposed to supporting his irresponsible journalism. I’d throw him a left-over tuna sandwich. It’s all he’s worth.

The Austin American Statesman, Mike Ward in particular, has been filled with miscues, misquotes, and a total lack of regard concerning what facts are readily available, and which any reasonable person could/should be discounted solely on the perception as being factually biased because they trusted some unreliable source , when the fact is, he has no reliable source.

Anonymous said...

Who filed in Crockett? What's their story?

Anonymous said...

None of your business.

Anonymous said...

Just what I figured another, blowhard.

Anonymous said...

New TDCJ Cadet Pay Increases/ Veteran Officers None!!!

Effective May 1, 2008, The Texas Board Of Criminal Justice approved a 10% increase in the starting salary for newly hired correctional officers “Cadet Rookies/ New Boots”, as referred to by some seasoned officers.
Being a 25 year veteran officer for the agency, I feel that the Texas Board of Criminal Justice has slapped us veteran officers in the face with this salary increase. Do not get me wrong; I am happy to see a TDCJ employee receive a salary increase such as this one. However, the Board did not go far enough. They should have included us veteran officers with a ten percent salary increase also.
What will this do for the morale of seasoned, veteran officers who have seen very few and small percentage pay increases over the last several years. Not much for the morale, or the retention of experienced staff I say.
The TDCJ-CID has many 10 to 20 year veterans who have endured the financial strain of meeting our bills each month with our salaries over the years; not to mention the dangers of our job duties, such as offender assaults, and etc. We veteran officers have made the Texas penitentiaries safer for new cadets to walk the hallways, and cellblocks inside a prison. Maybe someone will recognize the value of us veteran officers and the contributions that we have made to this agency, the communities, and public safety over the years, and persuade the Board of Criminal Justice and the Texas Legislators to include us in a salary increase.

25 Year Veteran Officer
Glen Ray Goodman Unit
Jasper, Texas
TDCJ-CID

Anonymous said...

Back to the original question - perhaps that is what Senator Whitmire is afraid of - thus his suggestion to abolish TYC. Put the scare into those pesky TYC employees so they won't demand like treatment. Heck, there is no parity as it is. TYC JCOs do not get the same retirement benefits as COs. Significantly less retirement benefit. That's because they just work with kids. And everyone knows that kids are not dangerous...

Anonymous said...

Whitmire's an f'in political genius! The voters in his district think he walks on water because he has saved their tax dollars from coddlihg young criminals who just need a good whipping.

I think we should bring back the stocks and the dunking ponds. Put the little darlings in the stocks, and subject their lazy, no good parents to the ducking pond. We don't need to give them lashes, we can spray them with pepper spray if they don't do what we tell them.

I think the great Senator should run for Governor. We the people of Texas applaud his enlightened thinking. Those lazy guards at TYC are not worth what they are paid today, why should we give them a raise with our hard-earned money? Heck, if they don't like babysitting kids, they should get a real job.

Anonymous said...

To me it is a form of age discrimination, trying to save money by pissing off the veteran staff, pushing them out and while paying higher salaries for new staff, not nearly as high as the tenured salaries.

Anonymous said...

Eleventh hour vinyard workers.

Anonymous said...

Shame on you and shame on Texas. How about focusing on solutions for TDCJ & TYC instead of purported problems and rumors. Thank God for seasoned officers/management, and their families. If it weren't for a handful of dedicated employees, who are willing to make sacrifices, we would really be in a fix. The big problem is not the youth or offenders. The big problem is self indulgent back-bitting employees. What kind of example do you think these back-biters are giving to those who are incarcerated? Step up and be real Texans. Raise the expectation levels for yourself and others. Get involved in the solution. Stop spreading rumors and agravating old wounds. Ask yourself. "What can I do to make things better?" Consult with your peers and supervisors in an adult manner. Develop some purposeful goals you can achieve together. Start rebuilding trust. Thank you TDCJ employees for helping me learn to lead a purposeful life.
Strength & Valor,

Bill k.
Ex-Offender

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Bill.