A New Day, A Better Way
MAY 2011 SPECIAL EDITION
Kansas Organization of State Employees, AFT, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
State workers throughout
Kansas are tired of blatant
attacks on the services we
provide day after day.
It’s time for us to
speak out with our collec-
tive voice and promote the
work we do on behalf of all
Kansans.
In the following
pages you will meet some
of the most hardworking
and inspiring people Kansas
has to offer—dedicated citi-
zens and KOSE members.
Officer Gerald
Dennison is a Corrections
Officer II at the Hutchinson
Correctional Facility where
he has been employed for
over thirteen years to pro-
tect our communities.
Dale Thompson,
Salina, has been a store-
keeper specialist at KDOT
for six years and he keeps
our roads open for travel.
KOSE Members
Speak Out:
We are Corrections Officers, Social Workers, Road
Crews, Administrative Assistants, Investigators,
Custodians and Caregivers.
Our Jobs Make Kansas Work!
Wally Roberts,
Topeka, is a fire investiga-
tor and has been with the
Kansas Fire Marshall for a
decade protecting public
places from bomb threats
and unlawful firearms.
Officer Richard
Short is a Corrections
Officer II at the Topeka
Correctional Facility and
has served our state for
eight years making a
positive difference in the
lives of inmates.
Proudly Created by Union Labor
As State workers
we offer our talent, guid-
ance, and leadership to our
jobs every day. We are by
no means selfless, but the
quality of the services we
provide always come first.
In today’s climate
we must support ourselves,
our fellow workers, and the
services we provide. We
must speak out against
those who would mischar-
Wanda Handy,
acterize our motives and
substance abuse counselor
disparage our intentions.
at the Kansas Juvenile Cor-
We serve the citi-
rection Complex in Topeka,
zens of Kansas: we protect
has committed six years of
communities, children and
her life to counseling at-risk
the vulnerable, we strive to
children.
meet the needs of the less
Michelle Walters,
fortunate while in a poor
Topeka SRS, is a human
economy, and we uphold
service specialist and has
the institutions of Kansas so
made it her mission to push
that every citizen has a state
our social welfare system to
government they can rely
work for those who need it
on and be proud of.
and to discourage those
who cheat it.
Volume 3, Issue 2
We’re Entering a New Era for Kansas State Workers
On March 16 KOSE members
joined together from across the
state to lobby their legislators.
According to the
Topeka Capital Journal 400
workers attended the event.
The KOSE Lobby Day
is held every year, but this year
in particular we launched a new
era for Kansas state workers.
In years past our lobby
day was reserved for our most
dedicated and steadfast mem-
bers; however, this year KOSE
membership decided to invite
our brothers and sisters from
other Kansas unions to join our
lobbying effort.
Union brothers and sis-
ters answered our call and many
unions such as other AFT
Kansas Locals, the Teamsters,
the IBEW, and the IAM
attended our lobby day as well
as many more.
Page 2
KOSE LOBBY DAY 2011:
KOSE members also Workers held firm on
sponsored non-members who the issues, but always remained
wanted to attend lobby day and respectful to legislative leaders
were interested in our union’s and Statehouse security.
policies and practices. Kansas unions stood up Top: group photo in
KOSE members arrived for their issues and together front of Statehouse
early at the Statehouse ready to workers all through the state are Bottom: the gauntlet
outside the Senate
protect the services all Kansans energized and ready protect our
Chamber.
depend on. Many workers had jobs and services.
multiple meetings with their For more pictures please visit
legislators throughout the day. www.koseunion.org/
KOSE members and lobbyday2011
supporters, equipped with fliers,
declared: “Don’t Gamble with
my Future!” They presented the
Legislature facts and figures
which displayed the dangers of
pay cuts and benefit reductions.
KOSE members were most con-
cerned over our retirement and
whether it’d be available for
future generations.
Workers formed gaunt-
lets outside the Legislature’s
chambers to ensure that every
legislator got our message.
Page 3 A New Day, A Better Way

2011 Kansas Legislative Summary The House demanded even more cuts to vital
state services as the Session dragged on in an attempt
By Jane Carter, Executive Director to boost the State’s ending balance. In an attempt to
‘flat fund’ the budget, the House actually cut more
The 2011 Legislative Session was a long, hard fought battle on all fronts. from services and programs than the Governor. The
budget eventually passed with these cuts and
We faced devastating cuts to the services we provide and that so many Kan- ‘adjustments’:
sans rely upon. In addition to the Agency cuts, state workers faced proposals of  An across the board 1.193% cuts to all Agencies;
deep pay cuts, “surcharges” on our health insurance, and complete dismantling  Elimination of market adjustments for FY 12 and
of our pension system. Ultimately, KOSE members had some big wins! We FY 13 – leaving no debate future budgets;
successfully defeated some of the most egregious attacks on our pay and
 2.5% TAX on state workers’ health insurance;
benefits. We expected the worst, but our voices fought back!
 “Sweep” all employee travel rewards.
KPERS
We all know that an across the board cut is
The Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) was one of the big
not only devastating to the Agencies, but means we
topics of the 2011 Legislature. Both the House and the Senate proposed differ-
will continue to work just as hard as before with less.
ent changes to KPERs; both proposals varied in compromise and sustainability.
These cuts mean we will continue to do our jobs for
The final “compromise” includes the following provisions:
less than both the private and public sector. Even
 Establishes a 13-member KPERS Study Commission to consider other
worse, this also means we could face lay-offs and
fixes to the current plans, including defined contribution plans and hybrid
deeper cuts.
plans that could include a defined contribution component. The Commis-
State workers had a hard fight this Session,
sion would be required to report no later than January 6, 2012 on its rec-
but we had our voice heard. With record-breaking
ommendations, which would then be introduced as two identical bills in
attendance at Lobby Day, Legislators heard from state
each chamber of the Legislature.
workers more than ever. Unfortunately, we still have
 After each Chamber votes on the proposals of the Commission, the many more battles during the interim and we must
following provisions and changes would be implemented: build our power for next year. KOSE members, our
The employer contribution annual rate cap of 0.6 percent would families and neighbors, need to stay in touch with our
increase to new annual limits as follows: legislators while they are at home in their districts.
0.9 percent in FY 2014; Make sure they hear from you! They need to know
1.0 percent in FY 2015; that the work that we do matters!
1.1 percent in FY 2016;
1.2 percent in FY 2017.
KPERS Tier 1 members would have two options:
Employee contribution of 6% with a multiplier of 1.85%for future years
of service (default). Remain at the current 4%b but reducing the future
multiplier to 1.4%.
KPERS Tier 2 members would also have two options:
Employee contributions remain at the current 6% with a 1.75%
multiplier, but the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) would be elimi-
nated. Freeze the current contribution rate at 6%, reduce the multiplier
from 1.75% to 1.4% and retain the COLA.

The Budget
In one of the worst budget years, the House decided to dig in its heels and
require an arbitrary ending balance of $50 million. The Senate held strong on
our market adjustments and services until the early morning hours at the end of
Session.
Volume 3, Issue 2
KOSE KDOC Employees Speak Out at
House Committee
Kansas corrections employees
presented testimony on March
16 to the House Corrections and
Juvenile Justice Committee.
The employees are as follows:
Bruce Miller, CIM1, Hutchin-
son Correctional Facility
(HCF); Officer Laura Calhoun,
COII, Lansing Correctional Fa-
cility; (LCF) and Officer Rich-
ard Short, COII, Topeka Cor-
rectional Facility (TCF).
In Brother Miller’s tes-
timony he addressed the high
turnover rate for public safety
jobs and stated:
“Most turnover for jobs
in public safety is due to the
pressure that one is faced in
corrections. At HCF the turn-
over rate is 21.14% and the
average turnover rate for all the
correctional facilities is around
18 to 20 percent.”
Brother Miller also ad-
dressed the growing concern for
corrections staff safety and how
budget cuts have led to a pro-
jected inmate to officer ratio of
10 inmates to 1 officer.
“With the decrease in
staffing we can expect it to be-
come more difficult to manage
emergencies,” stated Miller.
Brother Richard Short’s
testimony was more blunt in its
description of the dilemmas
facing KDOC employees.
“Currently, there are
108 inmates to a dorm with just
one officer on watch; times
have never been more hostile,”
stated Short. “Offenders are
getting younger and their sen-
tences are getting longer; many
don’t see light at the end of the
tunnel and quickly resort to vio-
lence and misbehavior for con-
flict resolution.”
Sister Laura Calhoun
focused on the well-being of her
fellow officers and cited how
33.5% of all assaults in prisons
and jails are committed by in-
mates against staff. On average
an officer will live only 18
months after retirement. Offi-
cers have a 39% higher suicide
rate than any other occupation,
and have a higher divorce rate
than the general population.
During all three testi-
monies the biggest concern was
over the future of KDOC and
how constant budget cuts, strug-
gles over employee pay equity,
and retirement fights create
more difficulty in attracting and
maintaining quality workers.
Page 4
EDCF Officer Wins Big!
In April Officer Margret Roberts of the El Dorado
Correctional Facility (EDCF) filed a grievance in-
volving the use of the Family Medical Leave Act
(FMLA) in relation to a performance evaluation or
the Performance Management Process (PMP). Sister
Roberts’ supervisor had counted FMLA as time lost
for her PMP. To use FMLA as time lost is a clear
violation of the KOSE Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA).
Sister Roberts’ grievance quickly moved to the third
step of the grievance process and when it reached
the Kansas Department of Corrections Secretary’s
desk, he ruled in favor of Roberts and complied with
the MOA. The KDOC Secretary has now ordered a
review of Officer Roberts’ PMP (and any other
EDCF staff affected) and to eliminate all references
to lost time under FMLA. KDOC HR will be ad-
dressing the situation as well.
“This is a clear win, which strengthens the morale of
all EDCF staff,” says Sister Roberts. “It is especially
heartening to know that the new
Administration is adhering to the MOA.”
Volume 3, Issue 2
KOSE Members Support WI
Union Sisters and Brothers
KOSE members Chandra
Green, Kansas City SRS, and
Tammy Monk, Topeka KDHE,
participated in a union educa-
tion and mobilization effort for
Wisconsin AFT members who
were recently stripped of their
rights to collectively bargain
with their employers.
Union sisters Chandra
and Tammy volunteered to
travel to the Badger State from
May 1-6 to help Wisconsinites
protect their union security and
prepare for future battles to
regain their bargaining rights.
Chandra and Tammy
spent six days working in Madi-
son conducting worksite meet-
ings, house visits, and other
member-to-member contacts.
The actions of our
KOSE volunteers were impor-
tant because WI union members
didn’t just lose their rights to
bargain, union members must
now re-sign membership cards
to continue belonging to their
union.
Chandra and Tammy
also worked long hours mobi-
lizing union members to take
part in the upcoming recall
elections of anti-union state
senators as well as to re-commit
to their union.
“If I had to describe it
in one word…‘Amazing’,” says
Chandra. “To be at a place
where the community supports
the union and to be part of the
fight for human rights no matter
religion, race, color or political
affiliation, was amazing. It was
an honor to be a part of some-
thing that will undoubtedly be
the beginning of a movement
that will become a part of labor
history!”
Page 5
Tammy says her experience in
WI was: “informative and eye
opening.”
Both Tammy and
Chandra brought back many
stories and observations from
their trip and were excited to
have spent time helping the
cause of working families in
Wisconsin.
“People will write
about it, read about it,
and possibly watch mov-
ies inspired by it,” says
Chandra. “I’m so glad we had
an opportunity to volunteer to
help our brothers and sisters in
Wisconsin.”
Volume 3, Issue 2 Page 6

Making a Difference Every Day!

A Guest Column by Pierre Sutphin
On April 2011 KOSE member Pierre Sutphin attended the Joint AFT Healthcare/AFT Public
Employees Conference and accepted the Legislative Action Award on behalf of KOSE.

“Making a Difference Everyday” was the theme of the 2011 Joint AFT Healthcare/AFT Public Employ-
ees Conference held March 31 - April 2, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The attendees were formally in-
troduced to the opening conference on Thursday morning, with opening remarks by AFT President
Randi Weingarten where she shared: “This is the fight of our lives, sisters and brothers. We are facing
well-organized, well-funded, no-holds-barred attacks on our very existence in dozens of sates across the
country.” From my observation, there were representatives from every state in the Union.

From Greg George, President of the Wisconsin Professional Employees Council, and the Wisconsin
delegation sharing in-depth reports and pictures of what is going on there—along with a little live dem-
onstration which I ended up being a part of—to various workshops conducted to the remainder of Satur-
day, attendees were offered a wide range of topics. These topic workshops covered many items from
using media, to handling angry constituents, to legal updates, to mobilizing for power at the worksite.

It was a chance to make connections, exchange ideas, and gain insight.

At one point in the Conference, I was reminded that labor unions brought us from working six days a
week to the standard five that we enjoy now. Before strong unions, the average working day normally
ranged from 10 to 16 hours for six days a week, until the 40-hour five-day working week became na-
tional on January 1, 1948, becoming the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Looking back from the Conference and arriving home in Kansas, I can clearly observe many of my
sisters and brothers working hard in state service who are not realizing what is going on around them,
like being in a bad marriage: workers are getting bruised or slapped around (metaphorically speaking)
because they choose the “comfort” of staying in familiar surroundings governed indirectly by fear —
the so-called “what ifs” — and are not progressing. Those on the outside can see. Only when we as state
employees individually realize there are healthy choices that affect our lives and those around us, such
as being active in our union, will we see the light.

I truly am thankful our union is here.

Volume 3, Issue 2 Page 7

KOSE Leadership Attend KOSE Members Make Presence at

MLK Legacy March Larned Sante Fe Trail Days
KOSE members from the Larned area made a pres-
ence at the Sante Fe Trails Day Parade April 30
with a KOSE booth to demonstrate KOSE mem-
bers’ involvement in the community.

KOSE members Scott Towery and Sherry

Colglaizer operated the booth for most of Saturday,
meeting with other KOSE members, state workers,
and their families.

The city of Larned and Pawnee County are home to

KOSE President Lisa Ochs and Executive
Director Jane Carter join AFSCME Int’l Secre-
tary Treasurer Lee Saunders and AFSCME Iowa
President/Int’l Vice President Danny Homan at
the 43rd annual march honoring the legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, TN.
The event was held on April 4, the anniversary of
Dr. King’s 1968 assassination. On April 3, 1968,
the night prior to the assassination, Dr. King gave
his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”
speech to the striking sanitation workers at Mason
Temple in Memphis
many state employees who work at the state hospi-
tal, mental health correctional facility, juvenile cor-
rectional facility, KDOT and the SRS field office.
This year’s Sante Fe Trails Day entertainment in-
cluded sales vendors, food vendors, a car show,
parade, Pump it Up – Jumpees, a petting zoo, face
painting, balloon art, Trick Roping, Musicians, a
Magic Show and Ventriloquist, and a Motor Cycle
Demonstration.
Scott Towery of Larned State Hospital said of the
event, “It was great to meet some of our members
and share our work with the community. I had no
idea we were so famous. Next year will be even
bigger and better for the state workers of Larned!”

The march was sponsored by AFSCME Local

1733, the very same local of AFSCME sanitation
workers who went on strike in 1968 and enlisted
the support of Dr. King.

In Dr. King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”

speech he defended the rights of public workers
to collectively bargain and said, “let us keep the
issues where they are. The issue is injustice. The
issue is the refusal of Memphis to be fair and hon-
est in its dealings with its public servants, who
happen to be sanitation workers...Well, I don't
know what will happen now. We've got some dif-
ficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me
now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And
I'm happy, tonight. Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord.”
 To contribute to the newsletter, send your submission to
gus@koseunion.org.
Member Submissions Encouraged!

Connect with KOSE online!

Kansas Organization
of State Employees
AFT, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
Phone: (785) 354-1174
Toll Free: (866) 518-8267
Fax: (785) 354-1921
Email: info@koseunion.org
Find helpful member resources Be the first to know news affect-
on our website: ing the union and state employ-
www.koseunion.org ees by following KOSE via twit-
ter at twitter.com/KOSEUnion
Connect with KOSE members
and state employees through
facebook: www.koseunion.org/fb

KOSE Staff
Jane Carter Executive Director Phone: 785-354-1174 jcarter@afscme.org
Bruce Hylman Labor Relations Specialist Phone: 317-938-8085 bhylman@koseunion.org
Amalia Graham Office Manager Phone: 785-354-1174 agraham@koseunion.org
Gus Froemke Communications Specialist Phone: 785-354-1174 gus@koseunion.org
Jay Warring Lead Organizer, Statewide Phone: 913-636-1457 jay.warring@koseunion.org
Matt Hall Organizer, Eastern North Central Phone: 612-804-5557 mhall@koseunion.org
Darnell Johnson Organizer, South West Central Phone: 316-941-3600 d.johnson@koseunion.org