The California Correctional Supervisors Organization is celebrating our 30th anniversary this year! It’s hard to believe that the vision of a few individuals has made such an impact on supervisors and that we have thrived over these past 30 years. We may look different than we did many years ago, but our core values and mission have not wavered. Throughout the years, CCSO has helped thousands of members protect their rights and save their jobs with the strength of solid legal representation.

Although I am extremely proud of all we have accomplished, I still feel that we have a long fight ahead. Beginning my new four-year term, I have a long list of tasks to get done. I firmly believe that with all the challenges you have endured, especially over these last couple years, you deserve more recognition and benefits.

I believe it is time for CCSO to stand alone and be the sole representative of excluded employees. One of my top priorities is to establish precedent that a rank-and-file organization has no place dictating the working conditions of supervisors. It’s a conflict of interest and it needs to end.

We may look different than we did many years ago, but our core values and mission have not wavered.

Supervisor transfers and 1% longevity are also benefits I’m ready to battle. Why are we not given equal benefits to those we supervise? It’s absurd in my opinion. There needs to be a mechanism for supervisors to transfer without having to apply, interview and compete for positions. Supervisors face the same hardships and challenges as their staff, yet when it comes to obtaining a transfer, it’s quite a difficult process. And the longevity disparity is even worse. Why is their time worth more than ours?

Speaking of disparity, establishing our own health-care plan is one of my most important goals this year. One of the most frequent questions I get from our current members, as well as those interested in joining, is if we have a comparable health-care package. Currently, we are in initial discussion and development to complete this. I feel that if we can provide a health-care package, we will add another important benefit to our membership, and in turn have more members join and end their dual membership. The package we’re looking into is not just for medical; it will also offer dental, vision and many more benefits.

I also have many goals for our non-custody members. Please don’t feel as if you are forgotten. Supervising Registered Nurse IIs (SRN II) in particular lack basic equality in their working conditions. They are run by a health-care management that is inconsistent throughout the state prisons and fosters a culture that is very undesirable, lacks respect for supervisors and caters to those who don’t give any push back. SRN IIs experience staffing shortages, seniority issues and policy inconsistencies from one institution to another. We are establishing an SRN II task force to tackle many of these concerns and work with the California Correctional Health Care Services labor representatives and executive management to effect change.

As we start a new year and look back on the last 30 years, I have an extremely positive reflection of this organization. The mission of CCSO would not have been accomplished without the efforts and support of each of you. I look forward to the years to come, and I believe we can make huge strides. CCSO will continue to fight for our members and provide the best legal representation for all. We have many goals to accomplish, and together we will make a difference.