For more than a decade, NAPE/AFSCME member Joyce Siddall has been a shop operator at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution working with those in state custody to learn skills and work towards rehabilitation.
“I enjoy what I do. We have a good crew. My favorite part is seeing our workers progress. They come in, learn how to build furniture, and take pride in the work they do,” Joyce said. “It’s a job that I get up every day excited to work because I really do enjoy it.”
Joyce previously worked in a similar position for two decades manufacturing pharmaceutical supplies. “It was blueprints, and sixteen machines running and ensuring quality control,” Joyce said. “But I was ready for a change.” Joyce takes great pride in her work for the state.
Joyce was very surprised when she received an unsatisfactory performance evaluation. She reached out to her union representative to see what could be done about the situation. Joyce’s union representative quickly identified a contract violation regarding Joyce’s SMART goals, which caused her evaluation to be unsatisfactory.
Joyce and her union rep filed a grievance to enforce her rights under our contract and ensure she received the salary increase she worked hard for and deserved. Together they prevailed!
If you find yourself in a similar situation, make sure to contact your union representative. “Don’t be afraid to tell your story,” Joyce said. “The union is there for you.”