May 4, 2025
AFSCME President Lee Saunders has issued a statement in recognition of National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, which takes place from May 4 through May 10. Saunders remarked on the vital role correctional officers and employees play in maintaining community safety. According to Saunders, “one officer can be responsible for hundreds of incarcerated individuals in a single shift.” He highlighted the strain imposed by staffing shortages, mandatory overtime, and hazardous working conditions.
Saunders also addressed proposed changes by billionaires and corporate CEOs to privatize correctional facilities. He expressed concerns that this move would “put officers’ lives at risk while stripping away their voice on the job” and that it would prioritize profits over safety. Saunders described an executive order he claims would divert federal funds to private prisons while cutting necessary support for state facilities.
Saunders concluded his message by calling for support from Congress. “Tell Congress to support our correctional officers with better pay, safer working conditions, and getting them the backup they deserve,” he urged, emphasizing a commitment to defending the rights of correctional officers in both negotiations and legislative processes.
