Dozens of state prison correctional officers rallied Friday in Fort Madison to blame budget cutting for increased violence inside the Iowa State Penitentiary. The union says two prison staffers were assaulted in the last three weeks. AFSCME President Danny Homan says they plan to rally at other prison locations in the coming weeks.(Randy Dircks(SourceMedia Group News)

FORT MADISON — “Enough is enough” was the theme Friday as members of the American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) complained that state correctional officials are ignoring a legislative directive to add more prison staff.
Several dozen people rallied outside the gates of the Iowa State Penitentiary at Fort Madison, claiming state prisons are becoming even more dangerous places to work.
Danny Homan, president of the AFSCME in Iowa, said on Oct. 5 a Fort Madison inmate beat a recreational staff officer who had no backup nearby. Two weeks before that, he said, an inmate choked a prison nurse until another inmate went for help.
Terri Mayer said all those who work at the Fort Madison facility are feeling the pressure.
“I worry every day. There were a couple of nights I didn’t sleep well just thinking about what my role’s going to be and that’s a scary thought,” Mayer said.
Leo Gansen, a senior correctional officer at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, echoed her thoughts.
“We’re in one of those situations where you get a little bit nervous — there’s no staff there to protect you,” Gansen said.
Union leaders said the number of staffers watching inmates has dropped by more than 100 in recent years because of constant budget cutting. They also said $25 million allocated by state lawmakers was supposed to add 20 positions at Anamosa and 20 at Clarinda, but the Iowa Department of Corrections has hired only one or two people.
The union also claims the state is not filling positions when correctional workers leave.
Homan said short staff was a primary reason two convicted murderers broke out of the prison at Fort Madison six years ago.
“That wasn’t because employees didn’t do their job. That’s because there wasn’t enough staff,” Homan said.
Tim Albrecht, a spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad, took issue with the union’s claims Friday. Albrecht said the pay raises correctional workers got from Gov. Chet Culver just before Culver left office will cost the state $30 million over the next two years.
He added those pay raises swallowed up money without leaving any to increase prison staff.
“Now after years of reckless and irresponsible budgeting by Gov. Culver, and millions in unsustainable pay raises, Danny Homan wants to grandstand and take political cheap shots,” Albrecht said.
Union leaders vowed to hold more rallies at correctional centers across the state in the near future, possibly in Anamosa.