In the News

U.S. Bureau of Prisons workers in Terre Haute are pleased to have received paychecks last week — their first in more than a month — and are grateful for community support during the government shutdown.

But their checks didn't cover all the wages they were due and the more than 700 employees don't know when they'll receive back pay for working during the longest shutdown in history. They are also concerned about what might happen when current stop-gap funding runs out in less than two weeks.

“The main problem they've had is they didn't know how far they had to stretch their money,” Matt Williams, president of the Federal Correctional Complex Terre Haute Employee Club, said.

“If they had $100 in their wallet they didn't know if they had to make it last one week or two months and that's kind of where they're at right now,” said Williams, a Parke County resident.

Many workers are married with children and/or are expecting children and some are single-income families, noted Jodi Williams, Matt's wife and the club's vice president of activities.

“All the unknown was adding so much stress to an already stressful job,” she said.

Matt Williams, who works in the complex' warehouse, began his 20-year career as a correctional officer while Jodi Williams, a trust fund staffer, has worked there 14 years.

Times are especially stressful for younger families with children, they said, emphasizing that the club strives to help those with the greatest need.

As the shutdown dragged on, eventually lasting 35 days, Wabash Valley residents and retired prison workers from throughout the country gave money and gift cards for gas and groceries. Donations helped the club set up a food pantry for prison workers. Banks, utilities and other businesses also worked with employees who were unable to pay bills on time, waiving late fees and arranging deferred payments.

The Williamses called the outpouring of support “overwhelming.”

Many people don't understand the jobs prison workers do and “sometimes a lot of staff feel forgotten,” added Matt Williams. “The penitentiary is tucked away and nobody has to see us. It's nice to see the community come together and get behind us.

Cackleberries restaurant in Terre Haute was the first business to get involved by providing meals for the morning watch staff, Matt Williams said. Other businesses and the Wabash Valley YMCA also pitched in and “really made a difference,” added Jodi Williams.

The club has a food pantry for employees, thanks to donations from the community, including students of West Vigo Middle School teacher Melanie Beaver.

“From the get-go, we've been trying to find the families in extreme need,” said Matt Williams.

Prison workers cannot take second jobs during shutdowns because of the irregular, often extended, shifts they have to work, the couple noted.

As they monitor developments, or lack of developments, in Washington, “I imagine a lot of government workers feel like pawns,” Matt Williams said. “It doesn't feel real good to mess with our livelihood for political issues.”

Whether Republican or Democrat, for a border wall or not, “we just want everybody to work together to come to an agreement and we need to keep getting paid,” said Jodi Williams. “That's only fair.”

Calling workers at the Terre Haute Correctional Complex a family, she said the facility was not affected as much as some other federal operations by employees calling in sick or otherwise not reporting for work.

While it was a “really hard 35 days, it honestly brought a lot of people closer – everybody helped each other out as much as everyone could,” she added.

Because of continued uncertainty, employees are not spending as much from their recent paychecks as they might otherwise have — “which is sad,” she said.

In a statement praising “the incredible Hoosiers that work at the Federal Correctional Complex,” Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Newburgh, continued to support Trump's call for barriers at the border, if not an actual wall, in an offer that would grant temporary legal status to certain persons in the country illegally.

“Democrats in the House of Representatives ... now have just two weeks to come to the table with Republicans in Congress to put together a compromise that can pass the Senate and that President Trump will sign into law,” Bucshon said.

Indiana's GOP senators expressed similar, if less specific, sentiments.

“President Trump made a deal in good faith to reopen the government and it's now up to the Democrats to work with him to address the humanitarian and security crisis on our southern border,” said a statement from freshman Mike Braun.

Jay Kenworthy, state communications director for Sen. Todd Young, said Young “has supported several measures to ensure federal employees impacted by the partial shutdown receive the pay they deserve. No one wants another shutdown, and Senator Young is hopeful that Democrats will come to the table to reach a final agreement that keeps the government open, secures the border, and protects our national security.”

Dave Taylor
The Tribune-Star