Workers union says Heineman has failed at BSDC

If the union wouldn't messed with it all staff would of got a raise. But as it is I do not due to I am in hte top of the pay brakcet and so there for I do not get a cost of living raise and a anniversary raise. So the union is not ther for the people either as far as I am concerned. We can pay over time for people to come and work from another institution, mileage, motel room, probably meals allowance but I can't have a raise. Insurance goes up no extra money to compensate me either.

I got to agree with the union rep on this. BSDC knows that you have to have the emploees in order to run right. They seem to think they can terminate, suspend, and even extend probation at a drop of a hat. Who now in their right mind wants to work at the place that has a reputation like it has? I had many, many people that worked under me from 72-99 and very few were ever terminated or suspended. Now it seems that if you look wrong they can do this and that does not create a very good working enviorment when you go to work and worry about things like this 24/7. Yes there are times that you have to do it but not as much as it is done now. Who interviews these people and who evaluates them now. It seems to me that if they would do it right they would not have all those bad apples and should show way more support to there good ones. I never had any problem as they do now. Yes the place that really needs to be overhauled is H.R. We had only 1 personal head when I was there and now how many do they have? HaHa to many is that answer. What do they do for there good employees, not much is what I am hearing and that is just plain wrong. Yes LU employees do deserve better wages and even better in the benefit area to such as health insurance. I know that the state of Nebraska could do a lot better in this area. I think they should do a lot more for there most valuable assets which is the staff. Yes LU staff put up with more than anyone could imagine and do deserve a lot more support than they recieve now. BSDC admin. needs to wake up and see these things before it is way to late. Who knows maybe it is already to late!!

Marvin's complaints are valid but are a long-time in coming. The state has been violating at least the spirit of the Union contract for several years by using mandatory overtime for routine staffing of BSDC. The mandatory overtime problem has been plaguing BSDC for nearly five years and has gotten noticeably worse over the past two. We were promised help almost two years ago after the first audit and got very little. Staffing has been at the root of the problems at BSDC, but it has not been given the emphasis it deserved at a time not long ago when action might have produced results. Good experienced staff have been forced to leave by the repeated last minute double shift "freezing" needed just to keep things going at a minimal level. The state has failed, but the union has also failed in its requirement to put the proper pressure on management to do something at a time when the problem was just developing. Now, I am afraid it is a little too late.

I sure hope this stops the mantorey overtime there is parents out there that can spend time with there kids cause they have to stay people have familys and how long is this going to help until the feds are happy then it will go back to shorting staff

As a former employee my problem was never the individuals served. I loved my job! What made me leave after 6+ years of employment with BSDC was the way I was treated from Unit Managers, and HR, and upper management period! I always said there were to many chiefs and not enough indians! Also it is totally unfair that you have to compete for time off with what 300 or more Direct Care staff for vacation. Also the days off were terrible! Who wants to only have Tuesdays and Wed as their only days off in the week?? I think if each unit got to do their own scheduling it would eliminate call-ins, shortage of staff, and mandatory overtime. The biggest problem for the shortage of staff in my opinion is I have worked in the medical field for years and I felt like I had to constantly watch my back. I want a good reference when I quit and I'm sure it's hard to get a job in Direct Care for those who have been suspended throughout their tenure at BSDC. Good luck to the remaining DIRECT CARE STAFF and to the individuals served. I hope all goes well.

OK so you've sat in the same job for so long that you are at the absolute maximum of the pay range for that position, yet you're bitching because you didn't get another automatic percentage increase this year? This is at the same time that others have been there five years or more and are still at base salary because there have been no inrange movements for that entire time period? If you want more money take your 30 years experience and take on a more challenging job that's just a little higher up the ladder so you're no longer at the top pay for that job description.