Trending Topics

W. Va. correctional officers picket over staffing concerns

Local 420 of the American Federation of Government Employees picketed for 12 hours in front of the Federal Correctional Complex in Hazelton

By C1 Staff

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — A union representing prison workers picketed Monday to protest staffing shortages, mandated overtime and position transfers.

West Virginia Metro News reports that the Local 420 of the American Federation of Government Employees picketed for 12 hours in front of the Federal Correctional Complex in Hazelton.

“FCC Hazelton is severely understaffed, even by BOP standards. We are currently down approximately 52 officers from where the agency believes we should be,” Richard Heldreth, Local 420 vice president, said.

Heldreth also said that officers who are forced to work overtime to fill in those gaps “creates for more dangerous working conditions inside of a high security penitentiary.”

FCC Hazelton human resource representatives said they hosted a 2-day hiring event last week to specifically seek out more correctional officers, medical professionals and psychiatrists. Prison administrators predict hiring at least 30 correctional officers to fill “upcoming vacancies.”

Union concerns over reassigning non-custody staff members to cover shift shortages were addressed Friday when the prison warden reportedly agreed to cancel reassignments.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU