By Mike Ward
Statesman
Texas — The union that represents correctional officers in Texas’ massive prison system called Wednesday for lawmakers to give guards a whopping 14-percent raise, citing the growing oil boom that could make current staffing shortages even worse.
Lance Lowry, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees affiliate that represents some of the 25,000 prison officers, said Texas’ prison system remains “dangerously understaffed” despite signing bonuses and other incentives offered in the past year, as hundreds of guards have left to take higher-paying oilfield jobs in South and West Texas.
Noting that the oil boom is now moving into East Texas where 18 of the state’s 111 prisons are located, Lowry predicted even more prison employees will begin leaving — unless the Legislature increases their paychecks.
Full story: Prison union calls for 14-percent raises for guards