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Vote of No Confidence in Parole Leadership
Press Release Issued by FOP Lodge #200 NJ State Parole Officers
Police and Law Enforcement News
Friday, January 27 12:05 a.m.
On December 22, 2005 Parole Officer
State Representative Joseph Martin sent an email to the State Parole
Board Chairman John D’Amico regarding three very serious labor
related issues. Those issues involved the State Parole Board
administration forcing parole officers to become essential status
without negotiation, the recent epidemic of involuntary transfers
against the negotiated contract, and the grievance procedure (a
recent grievance decision in particular). Later that same day, State
Parole Board Executive Director Michael Dowling scheduled a meeting
with the Parole Officer State Representative for 12/23/05 at 9:00am.
The following administration staff were present Executive Director
Michael Dowling, Assistant Executive Director Ed Bray, Director
Thomas James, Assistant Director Sean Asay, and Office of Employee
Relations Manager Jennifer Meyer-Mahoney.
The meeting
immediately began with Mr. Dowling telling Joseph Martin the Parole
Representative in a hostile manner, never to email the Chairman
again. Dowling repeated this directive several times. Dowling called
the emails absurd and fruitless as the Chairman would not read them
anyway. Dowling then went on to address each of the three emails /
issues. As each issue was read, Joseph Martin was sometimes given a
chance to respond, and other times was told not to say anything.
Intermixed in this discussion, Parole Officer Representative Joseph
Martin was berated, and the issues were laughed at, belittled,
mocked, and dismissed as fruitless and misdirected. The meeting
ended with none of the Parole Officer Representatives suggestions /
resolutions accepted, no resolutions offered. Joseph Martin was told
that he should give up on these issues and find other issues to
discuss. The
Parole Officers union considers this attack unprofessional, and
contrary to good faith labor negotiations and healthy labor
relations. The issues presented in the emails are extremely
important to all parole officers. They are issues defined via the
Executive Board, and by other parole officers in General Membership
Meetings, personal meetings, and via various correspondences. It is
precisely this type of treatment and general lack of respect for
parole officers and their issues that has led to the recent No
Confidence Vote dated 9-29-05.
The parole officers of the NJ Division
of Parole will not be intimidated and will not give up on these and
other issues that they define as important. They will not have
management define, or re-define our issues. They have a right, and
obligation, to represent the parole officer issues to the appointing
authority, the person who has the power to make the ultimate
decision in labor matters.
The Parole Officer State
Representative has filed an Unfair Labor Practice Complaint for
retaliation, bad faith negotiation, a corrupted grievance procedure,
and for ignoring many of the issues presented for discussion. They
have also notified Chairman John D’Amico they will no longer meet
with the administration unless the Chairman is present.
VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE
On this date the membership of Parole
Officers, of the New Jersey State Parole Board, did vote, by
unanimous decision, in a Statewide General Membership Meeting, No
Confidence in State Parole Board Chairman John D’Amico. We have
resolved that we have No Confidence in the Chairman’s leadership,
resulting policies, and general treatment of the officers. Whereas
the Chairman is ultimately responsible for all policies implemented,
appointments, and positive union / management relations; and whereas
these policies and appointments have led to a severe decrease in
morale, and ultimately poor union/ management relations, we have
voted No Confidence. Despite every effort made on behalf of the
Union, negotiations regarding the most major of issues have failed.
Despite every effort on behalf of the Union to have the Chairman’s
administration recognize the Parole Officers ability to
independently fulfill the mission of our jobs, and to treat the
officers with the dignity, respect, and fairness we deserve, this
has not generally occurred. As a result of Chairman John D’Amico’s
action, and inaction, we have voted, this date, No Confidence in his
role as State Parole Board Chairman.
Police and Law Enforcement News
Friday, January 27 12:05 a.m.
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