Prison workers allege intimidation

Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002 | 10:52 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An organization of state workers is alleging that employees of the state Department of Corrections are being punished for speaking their mind about conditions in the state prison system.

Scott MacKenzie, executive director of the State of Nevada Employees Association, said it will file a lawsuit Thursday in federal court against the department and the state Attorney General's Office for violations of free speech.

The civil suit will allege association employees have been denied the right to freely associate, the right to advocate for benefits and the right to make comments on public concern.

But Solicitor General Tony Clark said nobody's rights have been violated. The department of corrections has been meeting with these employees to solve problems.

"Nobody has been singled out for punishment because they are a member of SNEA," said Clark.

Clark said both the Department of Corrections and the attorney general's office "vehemently deny" anyone's rights have been violated."

Don Helling, acting assistant director of the corrections department, said it would wait to see the specifics of the suit before commenting.

"We do not deny rights to any employee," Helling said.

Some workers at the High Desert State Prison say it is the state employees association that is abusing workers.

Correctional Officer Bill Kuloloia said the organization has spread lies about the security and safety of workers at the prison. And if the workers complain, they are told to shut up, said Kuloloia, a member of the employees association.

But MacKenzie said that association members have been placed on investigative suspension and have received letters of reprimand for exercising their rights.

For instance, he said, Sam Covelli, president of the association and an employee at High Desert, has been singled out for investigation. He said the corrections department sought to pressure one of Covelli's subordinates to file a complaint against him.

"All this harassment is because they voice disagreement with the director of corrections," MacKenzie said.

Corrections Director Jackie Crawford could not be reached for comment.

MacKenzie said it was time for the department to work with employees on solving the problems. He accused Crawford of appointing James Schomig as warden at High Desert to break the union.

There have been complaints about job assignments and other disagreements after the prison was forced to cut its budget to help take care of the shortfall in tax revenue for state government.

Kuloloia said Crawford held a meeting at High Desert and said that there were not safety or security issues. She said a contract to house Wyoming prisoners in Nevada will save jobs for prison staff who had been subject to cuts.

Everything Crawford said was in disagreement with the employees association. And Kuloloia said many believed Crawford. He said both Crawford and Schomig have an open-door policy for employees to voice concerns.

Kuloloia said he is the point man for numerous officers at High Desert who are dissatisfied with SNEA. But he said he's afraid to resign from the organization because he fears retaliation.

He said the vehicles of employees who are not association members are damaged. He said he's already been targeted for speaking out against the union. He was reassigned to an unfavorable post by a superior who is a member of SNEA, he said.