The American Federation of Government Employees, along with local labor leaders, released a statement Thursday urging the Bureau of Prisons not to cut Thomson's retention bonus.
Losing the pay incentive would mean a 25% pay cut for the workers. The Local 4070 chapter of the union said that would "endanger prison workers, inmates and the communities surrounding the prison."
Local 4070 president Jon Zumkehr said in the release that over one-third of Thomson staff said they would leave if the bonus is cut.
It was put in place in early 2022 to address staffing shortages. The federal prison was converted to a low security prison earlier this year after an investigation last year by NPR and The Marshall Project.
