The union representing state employees on Tuesday demanded better conditions and higher staff counts for Gov. Wes Moore’s executive agencies — particularly the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, DPSCS.
Members of the Maryland chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFSCME, are holding the Moore administration’s feet to the fire, alleging that assaults among correctional officers are on the rise and inadequate changes have been implemented since the on-duty homicide of a parole and probation agent in May.
“We demand and must have a comprehensive staffing plan with a timeline, a commitment to recruit, hire and retain qualified staff for each and every agency, but, in particular, [the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services],” Patrick Moran, the president of AFSCME Maryland, said at a news conference in Cumberland.
“We’ve gotten so much talk and words. It’s time for that to end. Our folks are not using words and talking — they’re coming in and doing the damn job every single day, every single shift, every single week.”