WASHINGTON, CA (MPG) - American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley issued on Dec. 5 the following statement in response to the planned closure of seven Bureau of Prisons facilities:

“This announcement jeopardizes the continued employment of 400 federal employees just weeks before the holidays. While the agency says it will attempt to place employees in other jobs, the reality is that most Bureau of Prisons facilities are in isolated locations far from each other, so many if not most employees affected will face disruptive relocations to remain employed.

“And with the looming possibility of further cuts to the federal workforce through hiring freezes and forced relocations, retaining work at agencies outside the Bureau of Prisons will be difficult if not impossible. 

“The closure of these facilities and likely loss of so many skilled and dedicated workers will exacerbate the existing staffing crisis within the Bureau of Prisons, making our prisons less safe for staff, inmates, and the surrounding communities.” 

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing more than 800,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center.