President K S “Bob” Galhotra spoke to a meeting of the Finance Committee of the Cook County Board at the Skokie Courthouse on October 30, 2007. He made three points on behalf of our members. First, he thanked the board for and increase in the number of APDs in next years budget but told the board that the budget was meaningless unless the office was actually allowed to hire the attorneys the budget sets out. He pointed out to the gathered commissioners that the office has not been allowed to hire any currently budgeted lawyers for many months and the office is short many lawyers as a result. He asked for “Parity in Hiring”, making a reference to the meetings held earlier this year in January when ASAs asked for Parity for Prosecutors. Several commissioners seemed surprised to learn of this de facto hiring freeze. Second, Galhotra told the board members of his concern about the spread of MRSA (staph) infections at the jail and the risk our members face as a result in the cutbacks of medical staff at Cermack Hospital. Finally the President told the board that staff cutbacks at the jail has led to members being denied jail visits to clients because of staff shortages. Galhotra’s presentation was met by applause by many present at the meeting.
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