BRUCETON MILLS, W.Va (WDTV) – Retention pay has been reduced or cut for correctional officers at federal prisons, which could bring more staffing problems and exacerbate poor working conditions, according to the American Federation of Government Employees.
Sources told 5 News Thursday night that all individual retention has been reduced by 50 percent, all regional office retention has been eliminated and all recruitment incentives have been cancelled.
FCC Hazelton, which is located in Preston County and known as one of the deadliest prisons in the country, will feel the effects of this, along with other federal prisons in the state, officials said.
The AFGE says the move is a financial blow but also a hit to morale. They believe it will make the staffing crisis worse and force many employees to continue working more overtime to fill in the gaps.
“Correctional officers and staff have one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in the federal government. They are also tremendously underpaid – which is why the Bureau of Prisons has had to offer this additional pay to recruit and retain qualified employees,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. “Cutting their salaries makes zero sense – especially now, as they are being required to take on the added responsibility of housing undocumented immigrants detained by the Department of Homeland Security. I call on the Trump administration to reverse this foolhardy decision and to work with Congress to provide BOP with the funding it needs to keep our prisons staffed and our workers there safe.”
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