The National Council of Prison Locals 33 recently filed a lawsuit challenging Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director William K. Marshall’s termination of the collective bargaining agreement covering 30,000 BOP federal correctional workers across the country represented by the union.
“Those who work in the Bureau of Prisons face some of the most dangerous environments and understaffed workplaces in the federal government,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “Their union contract has provided employees a voice at work to ensure critical protections, including safeguards against unsafe working conditions, unfair discipline, and staffing shortages that put both workers and the public at risk.”
AFGE asserts that Director Marshall’s decision to rip up the negotiated contract for over 30,000 federal correctional workers across the country is not only a disservice to workers; but also, a dangerous action that should alarm everyone. Union contracts hold both employees and management accountable and foster communication and cooperation between management and rank-and-file employees to address and resolve workplace issues and improve the delivery of services.
“I applaud the National Council of Prison Locals for challenging the illegal termination of its contract and am confident that justice will prevail in the end,” said Kelley.
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