Illinois Corrections===more problems

[Iowa #1603]

From the Quad City Times, Davenport, Ia

Prison workers hired for Thomson headed elsewhere / QCTimes.com

Prison workers hired for Thomson headed elsewhere


SPRINGFIELD — All the newly hired guards assigned to work at Thomson Correctional Center after Pontiac prison closes have been temporarily assigned while courts review the situation.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s planned closure of Pontiac Correctional Center would have paved the way for Thomson to open at the end of the year.

But a pending lawsuit is keeping that transfer from happening. So 208 guards hired to work at Thomson’s maximum security unit will be reassigned to work at other prisons by next week.

“It makes the best sense for the agency,” said Department of Corrections spokesman Derek Schnapp.

On Monday of each week, workers will be transported by the state from Thomson to another prison site. They’ll stay in hotels or in dorm-style rooms on the prison grounds until Friday of each week, when they’ll be taken back to Thomson.

Those re-assigned will go to Stateville, Dwight, Dixon Lincoln or Logan prisons.

Schnapp said that while the hotels will cost the state, the added staff will help address overtime costs at other locations.

The union that represents the workers argues that when the state says the transfers will help ease overtime woes, they’re admitting those prisons need more staff to begin with.

“We’ve been saying for five years at least that this staff is needed,” said Anders Lindall, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union.

Under their union contract, workers can only be temporarily reassigned for six weeks.

Meanwhile, at Thomson’s minimum security unit, the investigation into a recent problem with the building

continues.

[BlackJack]

Everything is uncertain here. Our gov. has been arrested, no one knows whats going to happen with Pontiac, Thomson is falling apart, and if Pontiac doesn't close, then what? Do they set the target back on Stateville or another institution?

On top of that, what's been printed in the above article, our Lt.'s & Maj.'s don't want to admit to for some reason. As for OT, it's still available whether we have Thomson people there or not. They only work certain shifts and Tue. - Thur. Mon. and Fri. are travel days.

[Iowa #1603]

Originally Posted by BlackJack

Everything is uncertain here. Our gov. has been arrested,

Yea---------saw that...........

Originally Posted by BlackJack

, Thomson is falling apart,

whats the story with Thomson falling apart-----------I missed the day they had tours when it first was finished, but it looks like good solid construction from the road.
I am only about 60 miles away.....and get over to Clinton/Fulton quite often

Originally Posted by BlackJack

On top of that, what's been printed in the above article, our Lt.'s & Maj.'s don't want to admit to for some reason. As for OT, it's still available whether we have Thomson people there or not. They only work certain shifts and Tue. - Thur. Mon. and Fri. are travel days.

Hmmmmmmmmm the rookies getting Sat/Sun off right off the bat------bet that is going down well-----NOT. then you add they really don't work Monday and Friday to..............where do I sign up

[LBM2004]

I'd wait and see what happens. Nothing in this state is ever forsure. Sounds like some more stupid sh*t to me. The states nitorious for decisions that make no sense. If they really do have all these extra CO's for Thomson thin out the prisons that are over capacity by moving the inmates to Thomson and put the CO's to work there. Give us CO's so we aren't understaffed right along with Statesville, Hillsboro, Vandalia, etc. and don't close any prisons cause we need them. Oh yeah and thin out some of the overcrowding in Cook County jail to Thomson...there the prisons full the CO's have their jobs where they were hired to be and maybe things are a little less dangerous thru out the state.

[BlackJack]

Originally Posted by Iowa #1603

Yea---------saw that...........



whats the story with Thomson falling apart-----------I missed the day they had tours when it first was finished, but it looks like good solid construction from the road.
I am only about 60 miles away.....and get over to Clinton/Fulton quite often



Hmmmmmmmmm the rookies getting Sat/Sun off right off the bat------bet that is going down well-----NOT. then you add they really don't work Monday and Friday to..............where do I sign up

There's a few in my class who still have Sat/Sun. off on second shift, but people are asking. The few that had day shift have already been bumped.

The roof on Thomson's MSU fell apart, and I've heard there have been some other minor issues.

[LBM2004]

Have any of you heard anything about Graham? I got a call today from a guard in Vandalia asking me if I'd heard anything about Graham closing. A friend of his applied for a teaching position over there and was told by someone that the position was on hold because they are unsure of thier future at this point. I'm thinking that he might have misunderstood and that the future of the teaching position is undetermined at this point. I can't imagine them closing Graham, my wife said she toured it as a child so it can't be that old.