John Zumkehr, president of Local 40-70 at the prison, says the increase is for something called "locality pay," an adjustment for differing local costs around the country.
"It's going to be around a 1.8 per cent increase in pay for us, but I mean the Chicago locality pay is going to be a 14 per cent increase in pay. So that's what we're fighting for but we have to get this step first."
He says the 1.8 per cent increase, amounting to about 1,500 dollars a year, will help current employees, and new hires, pay for housing, child care, and other expenses.
The Bureau of Prison has had a difficult time hiring, and keeping guards and other workers at Thomson.
"We've been doing everything we can, going to job fairs, and to virtual job fairs. And that's where the recruitment bonuses will come in because if staff come on, their first year there during their training, they'll get a 25 per cent recruitment bonus which is about 12,000 dollars depending on what position they take."
Zumkehr says the prison has hired 115 officers this year, and is now at an 84 per cent staffing level. But he says they're still short about 75 correctional officers to guard the inmates at Thomson.