Gretchen Teske
Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, Ill.
THOMSON, Ill. — The American Federation of Government Employees is urging the Bureau of Prisons to reverse its decision to eliminate retention pay for correctional officers and staff at FCI Thomson in Illinois at the end of this month.
The president of AFL-CIO, the country’s largest federation of unions, is also urging the bonuses be kept.
BOP’s regional office announced the 25% retention pay employees have received since early 2022 will be discontinued at the end of the year. The local union has been sounding the alarm for months and the national organizations are now weighing in as well.
In a press release sent Friday, AFGE National President Everett Kelley denounced BOP’s planned actions, saying the bureau’s decision to even consider removing the retention bonuses was inconceivable given the problems that exist in the agency.
“Our BOP members risk their lives every day to safeguard our communities from the dangerous criminals in federal prisons. They worked heroically throughout the pandemic, putting our safety above concerns with their own health and that of their families,” he said. “They do a difficult and dangerous job, and BOP thanks them with what amounts to a 25% cut in compensation just after Christmas. This decision must be rescinded immediately.”
In a show of support, AFL-CIO President Elizabeth Shuler wrote a letter to US Attorney General Merrick Garland. The Bureau of Prisons is part of the Department of Justice, which Garland heads.
Shuler said due to Thomson’s remote location, cost of living and low morale create a challenge for retaining staff at Thomson.
“If the retention pay is not restored, there is likely to be an immediate loss of current personnel and difficulty with recruitment and retention going forward,” she said.
Shuler and Kelley both said nearly 150 members of the Thomson staff have indicated in writing they will leave as a result of losing this pay. Shuler urged Garland to “step in and assure that this untimely and potentially dangerous decision is retracted”
Jon Zumkehr, president of the AFGE Local 4070 which represents Thomson, is especially concerned about losing so many staff members. The prison has 400 employees and is understaffed by 71, he said in Friday’s press release.
“We need to keep the retention pay in place and establish a positive rapport and morale with employees while we work through the changes of the new mission at Thomson. While many facilities have been riddled with staffing issues, Thomson’s concerns could be minimized by keeping the retention in place for all the staff there,” he said.
The fight to keep retention pay has been ongoing for months. Rumors swirled earlier this year with the official decision coming from the BOP the week before Christmas. The retention bonuses come out to about $16,000 annually.
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