I finally went back and reread my column that ran in Civil Beat this week (“Union Says Suspensions Shouldn’t Stop Prison Guard Promotions“), along with the 15 comments that have been posted.

As is often the case, after several days it is suddenly clear to me what I should have said. In this case, how I should have wrapped up the column in an overall conclusion.

I now think the conclusion should have read something like this.

“On its face, it should be perfectly clear that the merit principle is consistent with the Department of Public Safety’s policy of eliminating candidates for promotion within Hawaii’s prison system whose employment history includes a recent suspension for violating standards of conduct, contrary to UPW’s position. It’s only the long and continuing history of poor management and inept personnel practices that makes the UPW’s attempt to excuse these disciplinary blemishes at all plausible.”