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| New jail plagued by 'blue flu,' say county officials |
| By WABC |
| Published: 04/12/2004 |
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There is an apparent blue flu sweeping the Essex County (N.J.) Corrections Department. So now officers are being told to show up for work or they may not be allowed to continue to work. Symptoms of the blue flu started showing up late last month, after Essex County laid off more than 100 corrections officers when they moved inmates from an older facility to a new one. Now the Essex County attorney tells WABC so many corrections officers are calling in sick, they've had to suspend the jail's visiting hours, and they can't even get the inmates to their court dates on time. More than 2,000 inmates have been moved into Essex County's new $400-million jail. About 150 corrections officers did not make the move -- they were laid off. According to Frank Giantomasi, Essex County Attorney, "With the efficiencies of combining the two jails into one mega-structure, we don't have as many post positions to man." On Sunday, 35 of the officers were hired back. Union officials say the move is a signal that Essex County understaffed the new jail. But county officials say they have no choice, after they say an outbreak of 'blue flu' kept a quarter of the workforce home. "The levels of absenteeism, and the levels of what we call A-W-O-L, are extraordinary. On one shift for example, we experience this weekend 27 men out," Giantomasi said. To prevent the 'flu' from spreading, Essex County will require the officers to bring in doctor's notes, internal affairs will visit sick officers homes, and county doctors will begin examining officers to determine if they are truly ill. Union officials have denied that this absenteeism is part of any organized protest. But this morning county officials said that corrections officers who stay home when they're not really sick, could face suspension or evening firing. |
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