Franklin County Jail Faces Staffing Shortages Amidst Ongoing Labor Negotiations

Franklin County is grappling with significant staffing challenges at its county jail, prompting the implementation of temporary measures to alleviate strain on existing personnel. The situation, which has led to increased reliance on overtime for correctional officers, is the subject of ongoing negotiations between county leadership and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). These discussions aim to address high turnover rates and improve working conditions for jail staff, impacting the operational capacity of the facility.

The Franklin County Jail currently employs 52 full-time and two part-time correctional officers, with an additional two full-time officers scheduled to join on October 23rd. Despite these additions, the staff numbers are insufficient to operate the facility without considerable strain, necessitating significant overtime to cover vacant positions. County officials have made extensive efforts to recruit and retain correctional officers, interviewing over 500 individuals since January 2022 and hiring nearly 140, including almost 50 in the current year alone. However, high turnover continues to be a persistent issue, with feedback from departing employees frequently citing scheduling as the primary reason for resignation.

To confront these persistent staffing difficulties, Franklin County leadership has been engaged in protracted negotiations with AFSCME since late 2024. These talks have involved multiple offers and counteroffers, with the head of the state Bureau of Mediation occasionally participating. The county has put forth a proposal that aims to directly address the main factors identified in exit interviews: unpredictable schedules and a lack of guaranteed weekends off. This proposal includes a fixed 12-hour work schedule designed to improve work-life balance, guarantee a three-day weekend every other week, and increase officers’ annual days off from 104 to 182, representing a 75% increase. Under this proposed schedule, officers would have seven days off in a 14-day pay period, equating to approximately 49.8% of the year off, a figure comparable to the extended summer breaks afforded to teachers.

In addition to scheduling improvements, the county’s proposal includes an 8% salary increase for correctional officers, which it states is the maximum sustainable adjustment that can be made at this time. This represents the largest single-time wage adjustment the county has ever offered to a group of employees. While exit interviews have not consistently pointed to salary as a primary driver for departures, the county acknowledges the need for compensation adjustments.

In contrast, the AFSCME proposal includes a different 12-hour scheduling model and seeks an average salary increase of 15.5% for officers. The county has expressed reservations about the long-term viability of AFSCME’s proposed schedule but has agreed to consider a trial period for this model in exchange for a trial of the county’s preferred schedule. AFSCME has reportedly opposed considering a shift from its proposed schedule to the county’s model. Furthermore, the county maintains that the requested 15.5% salary increase significantly exceeds its budgetary capacity.

Negotiations encountered a significant hurdle in early September when the county requested that AFSCME present its latest proposal to union members for a vote. AFSCME declined this request, effectively halting mid-contract negotiations. The county anticipates that these discussions may remain stalled until at least the first quarter of the new year, before talks can realistically resume.

Given the current impasse and the absence of an immediate resolution, Franklin County is pursuing temporary measures in collaboration with jail staff and the Franklin County Prison Board. One such measure involves reviewing select groups of inmates for temporary relocation to facilities in neighboring counties. This approach is intended to make the inmate population more manageable for the existing staffing levels, potentially eliminating the need for at least one post per shift. Such a reduction in operational requirements would allow current staff to cover other units more effectively and provide officers with more time off, thereby easing the strain on personnel. The Franklin County Prison Board has endorsed Warden Heather Franzoni’s decision to reduce the jail’s inmate population, expressing full support for her and her staff as they implement these interim solutions.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Franklin County.

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