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| Oklahoma Prison Workers Protest Worker Furlough Plan |
| By KOCO |
| Published: 10/10/2002 |
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About 200 angry correctional officers rallied in the rain at the state Capitol on Tuesday to protest the state's plans to furlough them for 23 days to ease a budget deficit. Carrying signs and umbrellas, the protesters marched outside the Capitol's east doors, wearing T-shirts that read, 'We work the toughest beat in the state.' They chanted 'no furloughs' and 'furlough Frank,' in reference to Gov. Frank Keating. They said it was unfair to balance the Department of Corrections Budget by cutting their paychecks and called for a special session to stop the furloughs, scheduled to start Nov. 1. The furloughs will affect 4,850 workers throughout the prison system. They were ordered to help make up for prison budget cuts of $30 million that are tied to declining tax collections. 'I pay taxes myself,' said Lt. Damon Mabry of the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center. 'Just because we work for the state doesn't make us responsible for the shortfall or for making up the shortfall.' Mabry and Lt. Johnny Turner of the Joseph Harp Correctional Center said furloughs threaten the safety of the public, as well as corrections officers. They said prisons already are short of officers and many are seeking work elsewhere because of the furlough plan. Several officers said they already have trouble taking care of their families on their regular pay and that losing 23 days of work will be a burden they cannot shoulder. 'My kids will get this sign for Christmas,' read a placard carried by one officer. Lance Corcoram, executive vice president of the California Correctional and Peace Officers Association, spoke at the rally, saying the Oklahoma furlough was being watched by correctional officers across the nation. 'This is about a nationwide battle for respect for this profession,' Corcoram said. He said a furlough plan of Oklahoma's magnitude was 'unheard of' across the nation. |
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