MONROE — While the economy is slowing down and other government agencies have put a freeze on hiring, the Monroe prison complex is adding correctional officers and is advertising for more.
Since January, the prison has brought on about 70 correctional officers to fill vacancies — or about a tenth of the total number of officers at the prison.
“We are in pretty good shape,” said Scott Frakes, who became the superintendent of the state’s largest prison complex on July 1.
The extra bodies are needed because many officers at the prison are serving in military deployments abroad or have been placed on leave for medical or other issues. Union officials also argue that there’s high turnover at the prison because of pay and benefits.
Only about 20 of the new officers hold permanent positions, Frakes said. The others were hired as temporary workers to fill long-term vacancies.
The temps could be moved into permanent positions as other vacancies come up.
“We invest a lot to train them,” Frakes said. “I want to keep them.”
Earlier this year, workers had to put in many mandatory overtime hours to offset a staff shortage, state officials said. The complex also had to shift experienced and skilled officers to the maximum security unit with 200 beds that opened in late 2007 to take in the most violent offenders.
The slow economy may be sending more applicants for correctional jobs, Frakes said. That correctional officers got a raise last year makes recruiting a little easier for the complex. Now, beginning correctional officers start about $39,000 annually, not including overtime.
The raise was a step forward, but correctional officers at state prisons are still making less money compared with their counterparts in local agencies such as Snohomish County, said Michael Beranbaum, director of the corrections and law enforcement division for Team Star 117. The Tukwila-based union represents about 6,000 employees who work for the state Department of Corrections.
The union is now trying to persuade the state to get another raise for prison workers, said Leonard Smith, director of organizing for the union.
“We are negotiating for more money and better working conditions,” Smith said.
The Monroe prison complex employs about 1,200 people, making it the biggest employer in Monroe. About 730 of the employees are correctional officers.
“They spend money in town,” said Neil Watkins, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. “That helps our economy. It’s a key element in our economy.”
It’s good that the complex has added correctional officers, said Monroe City Councilman Mitch Ruth, who used to work at the complex. But the question is whether it can keep those new hires for several years.
“The retention rate of staff is low,” Ruth said. “The reason is that pay is low. Working conditions in a prison are not that desirable.”
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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