GATESVILLE -
The American Federation of State and Municipal Employees Union wants correctional officers to receive a 14% pay increase.
Right now, the state senate is recommending a 10% pay increase. That number can go up or down, and must go through the house before being approved.
Many correctional officers fear for their lives everyday. At an AFSCME town hall meeting tonight, the officers told News Channel 25 that they get treated worse than the inmates.
News Channel 25 was able to get ahold of four days worth of incident reports on what these officers go through everyday.
One incident report states, "An inmate threw an unknown liquid substance at another inmate and spit in the officer's face."
On another day, "Two inmates were arguing and started to fight. The officer told them to stop, they refused and he was forced to use pepper spray on them."
In just one day, 78 incidents similar to these or worse were reported. The employees union is set on helping these correctional officers receive the pay and safety they want.
"The officers are discouraged, they find retaliation on the units, danger in the units, they want pay raises," said L.A. Olsen, Political Action Director for AFSCME/CEC7. "They don't get paid for it, but they are dedicated people, they're professional."
Texas ranks 47th in the U.S. in terms of pay. The union argue the current pay is not enough to keep employees working at the prisons.
Across the state, at least 500 correctional officers quit per month. Many of those prisons are already operating at dangerously low staffing rates.
On March 21st, all correctional officers are encouraged to go to Austin for lobby day, and talk to state lawmakers about this issue.
Fore more information, visit www.CEC7.org
