For years, nursing staff at Ironwood State Prison (ISP) relied on an established overtime process that ensured fairness, transparency, and equal access to voluntary overtime opportunities. Management posted known and anticipated overtime assignments monthly and updated them as opportunities became available through the Overtime Absence Report.
That long-standing practice was abruptly abandoned.
ISP Nursing Management failed to properly supply and utilize the Voluntary Overtime Roster (VOR) for BU 17 and BU 20 employees, creating serious issues for staff, including:
- Loss of overtime opportunities
- Confusion among supervisors and employees regarding coverage needs
- Increased Mandatory Overtime
- Lack of transparency and consistency in overtime assignments
After SEIU Local 1000 filed grievance regarding voluntary overtime scheduling under Articles 19.22.17 and 19.22.20, CCHCS ruled in favor of the union’s position.
Their response concludes:
“…it has been determined that ISP management shall provide the VOR assignments at least once per month and will assign voluntary overtime by BU17 or BU20 departmental seniority on a rotational basis, as outlined in Article 19.22.17 and 19.22.20 of the BU17 and BU20 MOU. With respect to the merits, therefore, the grievance is considered resolved.”
This outcome restores fairness, transparency, and contract compliance for affected nurses, and shows what happens when members and their union stand together and push back.
Congratulations to new Union Steward Jazmin Herrera for initiating and leading the effort in this issue!