Teamsters Denounce Florida Legislature Vote To Privatize State Prisons

(WASHINGTON) – The Florida legislature passed the General Appropriations Act for 2011-2012 late Friday evening pushing through language within the bill that will allow the state to privatize prisons in Region 4 of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) system. Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign this attack on FDOC officers into law.

With the passage of this bill, correctional officers at facilities in 18 counties in the state will face an uncertain future as their livelihoods and families’ future will be sold to the lowest bidder.

“This legislation is an attack on dedicated public employees in the state of Florida,” said Ken Wood, International Vice President and President of Teamsters Joint Council 75. “By voting to privatize a significant number of state prisons, these elected representatives will add more people to the unemployment rolls, create significant disruption to many families and adversely impact economic recovery in the southern part of the state.”

More than 4,300 correctional officers will be impacted by the move to privatize prisons in Region 4.

“In these challenging economic times, Florida’s elected representatives should be working to create good jobs, not eliminate them. Politicians in Tallahassee need to protect their constituents, including the 20,000 officers employed by the FDOC, not side with the for-profit corporations that seek to make money by filling prison cells to the max. The Teamsters will continue to work together with FDOC officers to fight this privatization plan,” Wood said.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.