Correctional officers at Federal Correctional Institution Englewood in Colorado staged a protest last week to put a spotlight on the low pay and chronic understaffing that poses a risk to officers and inmates alike.
FCI Englewood has been authorized to have 270 positions, but only about 220 have been filled. Staffing shortages have resulted in more than 500 occurrences of forced overtime since the beginning of the year. This additional 8-hour shift often happens with little to no notice, forcing employees who have family events planned or need to pick up a child from school to scramble to change plans at the last minute. If workers refuse, they can be disciplined, a viscous cycle caused by years of chronic understaffing.
Located about 15 miles from Denver, the federal prison has not been able to attract and retain staff due to the low pay, high cost of living, and a very competitive local job market.
Understaffing and inability to recruit and retain workers have already led to situations where workers’ lives are in danger.
“The BOP can and must do better for our staff. We have had staff fall asleep driving home after forced overtime and get in car wrecks. We have had staff sleeping in their cars because they cannot afford Denver rental rates,” said AFGE Local 709 President James Simmerman. “This is totally unacceptable, and the director of the BOP should be ashamed for not doing things in her power to help our staff here. This culture of treating our staff as expendable while claiming we are the biggest resource and how important we are is a slap in the face of all our hardworking men and women.”
Due to the nature of the job and the chronic understaffing, Simmerman fears that it is only a matter of time until they have more serious officer assaults. The prison also needs more officers to help prevent the smuggling of deadly drugs, including fentanyl, from getting into the facility which poses a danger to not only staff but inmates as well.
Less than a decade ago, the prison had over 330 authorized positions, Simmerman said. Its mission has not changed, but employees are asked to do their jobs with less and less staff.
“We call on Director Peters to implement a 25% staff retention bonus for all staff at FCI Englewood and to request a special pay rate for the facility from OPM,” the local president added.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley issued a statement calling on the BOP and relevant authorities to address the issues at FCI Englewood and approve a 25% retention incentive for all staff at the facility.
“Today’s rally is not just a call for improved conditions at FCI Englewood but a reminder of our union's commitment to the safety and security of our members,” Kelley said. “The fight for fair pay, safe working conditions, reasonable work hours, and proper staffing levels is a fight for the dignity and respect every worker deserves. Our members deserve a workplace that is safe, well-managed, and staffed appropriately.”
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