Alaska corrections officers seek new union membership

ANCHORAGE -- Alaska corrections officers, dissatisfied with the benefits provided by their current union, the Public Safety Employees Association, have organized to leave PSEA and to form the Alaska Corrections Union, a chapter of the Alaska State Employees Association.

Hundreds of corrections officers -- substantially more than the minimum number required for an election -- turned out to secure new union representation under the Alaska Corrections Union, the corrections chapter of ASEA-AFSCME Local 52.

"Corrections officers are fed up with the weak and ineffective representation provided by PSEA," said Dale Chubin, president of the new Corrections Union. "We have had enough with weak stand-alone associations."

Chubin is a corrections officer at the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center.

Corrections officers leading the AFSCME organizing effort held a news conference Friday at the Alaska Labor Relations Agency offices, in which the filing of AFSCME representation cards with the ALRA for a union election was announced. Officials also discussed why corrections officers are joining with AFSCME.

"By filing these cards, we will secure a new election and take back control of our destiny," Chubin said.

The next step is for the newly organized union to hold an internal election. Elections typically occur within 90 days of the filing. More than 700 corrections officers at 12 Alaska corrections facilities will be eligible to vote.

Sal Galvano, secretary for the Alaska Corrections Union, supported the move, noting that AFSCME is the only national AFLCIO union with a national presence in corrections, with more than 60,000 corrections officer members nationwide.

"AFSCME has more experience in representing corrections than any other union. AFSCME understands the unique issues we face every day," Galvano said.

Galvano is a corrections officer at Spring Creek Correctional Center.

The Alaska State Employees Association was founded in 1987 to represent rank and file workers in all departments of state government who, for bargaining purposes, were designated the General Government Unit.

AFSCME is the largest union of public employees and health care workers in the United States. It represents more than 1.3 million men and women throughout the country and its territories. Under their new arrangements, the Alaska Corrections Union will be required to adhere to AFSCME's constitutional standards for democracy, but will conduct its business affairs with autonomy.

"As members of AFSCME, we will be first class members, with equal rights," Chubin said.

Contact Daniel Spoth at daniel.spoth@frontiersman.com.