We want to share with you some important, troubling news. A group calling itself the “Freedom Foundation” has submitted a public records request to the DOC, asking to obtain your name, email, and date of birth. We believe that their effort to obtain your personal information is a violation of the law and could jeopardize your safety. 

We are pursuing legal and legislative means to protect your privacy. This week Teamsters 117 filed a lawsuit against the State and DOC seeking an injunction prohibiting the DOC from releasing your personal information to the Freedom Foundation.  You can read more about the lawsuit here.

Why is the Freedom Foundation intruding on your privacy? 

The Freedom Foundation wants to contact and pressure you to abandon your union membership. They are opposed to what we can accomplish together—raising standards across the DOC, pushing for improvements in our jobs, and making life better for our families and our communities. 

How do we protect ourselves? 

We protect ourselves by committing to each other to build and maintain a strong union. We must warn our co-workers that the Freedom Foundation might be contacting them, and that the best way to improve our jobs and get a strong contract is through our unity and having each other’s backs. 

We will be mailing a letter to all Teamsters at DOC with more information about this issue. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either one of us. Together, we can improve our jobs and our lives. 

Respectfully Yours,

John Scearcy
Secretary-Treasurer

Michelle Woodrow
President and Director of Corrections & Law Enforcement