Afscme Local 391

Thank you to all working behind the walls today. Your hard work and sacrifice is appreciated. Happy Father’s Day!

Brothers and Sisters,

As we conclude Correctional Officers and Employees Week, AFSCME Council 4 wants to, once again, take this moment to proudly recognize and honor the extraordinary men and women who serve Connecticut’s correctional system with courage, professionalism, and unwavering dedication. While National Correctional Officers and Employees Week may be coming to a close, 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚, 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒏𝒐 𝒆𝒏𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒍 4’𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓.

You walk into one of the most demanding and dangerous environments in public service, standing guard behind the wall as the front lines of Connecticut's correctional system. You maintain safety, order, and security in conditions that the public can never truly understand—chronic staffing shortages, rising violence, mandatory overtime, and the constant pressure that comes with maintaining order and protecting one another in an environment defined by unpredictability. Yet despite these challenges, you continue to stand your post with strength, discipline, and resilience—standing guard so that we can all rest easy in our homes at night. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲.

The work you do is not simply a job, it is a profound act of public service and sacrifice. You are the last line of defense against society’s worst evil. You miss holidays and time with family, carry immense mental and physical burdens, and put your safety on the line every single day to keep our facilities secure and our communities safe. The public may not always see the weight of that responsibility, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕.

What defines correction professionals is not only the dangers you face, but the bond you share with one another. In difficult moments, it is your unity, your solidarity, and your commitment to your fellow officers that carry you through. That solidarity is the foundation of our union, and it is the reason we will continue fighting relentlessly for the staffing, protections, respect, and dignity that Connecticut’s correction officers and employees have earned.

Please know that your work matters, your sacrifices are recognized, and your voices are heard. We are proud to stand with you, ensuring that your dedication is met with the respect, resources, and dignity you have earned.

This week, we honor not just what you do, but who you are… and, while this week may be coming to an end, our gratitude and respect for your service does not end with it. AFSCME Council 4 stands proudly beside you today and every day.

Stay safe, stay strong, and stay united.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.

In Solidarity,

AFSCME Council 4

Brothers and Sisters of AFSCME Local 391,

I am humbled, grateful, and honored by the trust you have placed in me to continue serving as your President. This election was not easy. It was hard fought, emotional, and at times deeply challenging, but through it all, one thing remained clear, the members of Local 391 care passionately about this union and the future of our profession.

To every member who supported me, volunteered, encouraged our team, shared our message, and believed in our vision, thank you. Your faith and confidence mean more than words can express. I do not take this victory lightly, and I promise you that I will continue to fight every single day for the men and women of Local 391 with the same determination, passion, and commitment that brought us to this moment.

I also want to recognize and thank those who ran in this election but were not successful. Running for leadership is not easy. It requires sacrifice, dedication, and a willingness to step forward for the membership. Regardless of the outcome, every individual who participated in this process demonstrated a commitment to Local 391, and for that they deserve respect and appreciation.

Now the campaign is over, and the real work begins.

Moving forward, my focus will remain exactly where it belongs, on strengthening our union, protecting our contractual rights and benefits, improving safety within our facilities, and continuing the fight for the working men and women who put their lives on the line every day inside Connecticut’s correctional system. We will continue fighting to preserve the benefits we have earned, defend our rights under our contract, and push for the safer working conditions our members deserve.

But just as importantly, we must rebuild and strengthen unity within this union. We may not have all agreed during this election, but at the end of the day, we are all brothers and sisters of Local 391. Division only weakens us. Unity makes us stronger. Together, we can accomplish far more than we ever could apart.

The challenges ahead are real, staffing shortages, dangerous working conditions, attacks on our profession, and continued pressure on the rights and benefits of correctional professionals. But I can promise you this, as long as I have the honor of serving as your President, Local 391 will never stop fighting.

We will stand together.We will protect one another.And we will continue moving this union forward.

Thank you again for your trust, your support, and your belief in our vision for the future of Local 391.

Humbly, respectfully and in Solidarity,

Robert O. Beamon
President
AFSCME Local 391

So there has been some confusion and false information about how Local 391s vacancies are filled. This is straight out of the election manual. It should clear up any confusion.

Brothers and Sisters,

During this Correctional Professionals Week, we pause to recognize something that too often goes unseen by the public, but never goes unfelt by those who live it every day, the unwavering commitment, sacrifice, and professionalism of Connecticut’s correctional workforce.

Every day, you walk into an environment that demands vigilance, strength, and resilience. You work behind the wall, in conditions that most will never fully understand, facing chronic staffing shortages, rising safety concerns, and the constant pressure that comes with maintaining order in a system under strain. Yet despite it all, you show up. You stand your post. You protect one another. And you carry out your duties with a level of discipline and courage that defines what it truly means to be a correctional professional.

This profession is not just a job, it is a calling rooted in service. It is missed holidays with family, long hours under difficult conditions, and the mental and physical toll that comes with the responsibility you carry. It is the quiet strength you show when things get tough, and the unbreakable bond you share with the men and women standing beside you. That bond, our unity, is what keeps our facilities running and our communities safe.

Let me be clear, the work you do matters. Your sacrifices matter. And your voices matter.

As President of Local 391, I am proud to stand with you, to fight for you, and to ensure that your dedication is not only recognized, but respected and supported with the resources, protections, and dignity you have earned.

This week is about honoring you, not just for what you do, but for who you are.

Stay strong, stay united, and never forget, there is no stronger force than correctional professionals who stand together.

In Solidarity,
Robert O. Beamon
President, AFSCME Local 391