AFSCME Corrections Union Urges Abbott to Restore TDCJ Funding

AFSCME Texas Correctional Employees Council 907, the largest organization representing Texas Department of Criminal Justice employees, has issued the following statement in response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to transfer money from TDCJ to launch an Election Audit Division in the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.

The Governor has again borrowed funding from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice — this time, $4 million for election integrity.  

The Texas Correctional Employees Council, which represents the hard working Texas Department of Criminal Justice Employees, calls on Gov. Abbott and the Legislature to replace the funding as soon as possible as they have done before.  TDCJ is grossly underfunded to begin with, and to take the chance of losing $4 million is irresponsible. The Governor should focus his attention on providing more funding to TDCJ instead of borrowing from it. 

Texas Correctional workers have been overlooked for pay raises, have lost retirement benefits for future hires, and are working almost 8,000 officers short statewide, while TDCJ facilities remain a COVID hot spot.  The Governor and Legislature should make higher pay and better working conditions a priority instead of robbing Peter to pay Paul.