February 27, 2024

Duckworth Meets with AFGE Local 4070 President to Discuss Staffing at Thomson Prison

 

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with AFGE Local 4070 President Jonathan Zumkehr to discuss staffing, hiring and retention efforts at Federal Correctional Institution Thomson. FCI Thomson is a low-security federal prison located in Thomson, Illinois.

“It is critical that FCI Thomson has the resources it needs to fulfill its mission, and that includes being able to support a strong and stable workforce,” said Duckworth. “Jon and I had a productive conversation about ongoing staffing and retention efforts at Thomson, and I’ll continue to work closely with the Illinois delegation to push the Bureau of Prisons and Office of Personnel Management to address ongoing concerns.”

In 2021, Duckworth, along with Judiciary Chair Senator Durbin (D-IL) and former U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), secured a retention pay bonus for law enforcement officers at Thomson. Last month, Duckworth and Durbin sent a letter to Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Peters to request that BOP reinstates and maintains Thomson’s 25 percent incentive bonus.

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