During the 35 days the government was operating under a partial shutdown, 800,000 Non-essential federal workers were furloughed or had to work with no pay. I spoke to a C.O. and he told me this "well, this is what I signed up for, I have a job to do so I do it". Fortunately for him, legislation was passed that would grant him and the other unpaid workers back pay. "They gon’ bundle all the money up into one big ol’ pot then tax it all to hell, it ain’t gon’ be much after those bastards get done with it but it's gon’ be something."
On January 23rd, the warden ordered all of the inmates back to their assigned housing units to attend a Town Hall meeting. The meeting was facilitated by the Unit Team. A Unit Team is made up of a Case Manager, who handles the details of every inmate’s case, transfers etc. The Unit Counsellor, who deals with family visitation forms, and the Unit Manager, who makes sure the Unit is running smooth.
After the Unit Team restores order on the wing so the meeting can begin, our Unit Counsellor read us a memo: "Starting effectively on Saturday, we will be operating under a modified operational status." "What the hell does that mean?" an inmate yelled. "That means your ass will be locked down on Saturday and then the B side will be locked down on Sunday, visitation will be cancelled but we will be giving you 30 additional phone minutes to offset the loss of visitation. Any SERIOUS questions?"
A tumult of random conversations and complaints broke out on the unit. One of the homies we named Two Times (because he always goes up twice at the dietary) raised his hand. "I'm just saying though, how they feeding us?" The sound of 120 inmates laughing rumbled the housing unit. "You will be having what's on the menu, any other serious questions?" I raised my hand. "Yeah, I got one, why?" "Because staff is calling in sick and we just don't have enough staff to assure the safe running of the institution. Listen guys, many prisons are on full lockdown, we fought for you guys to stay out this is the best we can do."
The next day, two bills failed in D.C. that would have re-opened the government.
It pained me to see these brave hardworking people having to work for no pay. I imagine that most of them have families that they have to provide for. I once overheard an inmate taunt a C.O. for having to work for no pay. The inmate’s life in prison was not drastically changed due to the shutdown, but I heard many rumors that most of the C.O.'s who live miles from the prison could not afford the gas to get to work.
On January 8th, I got paid $304.00, a fortune considering the circumstances from both sides of the Shield and fence. "I ain’t no pawn to be pushed around in this power game those Politicians in D.C. playing," a C.O. told me. I feel you Big Man I said. Other than that, I explained to the inmates that would listen the importance of not giving the C.O.'s a hard time. "You would want him on your side if somebody hop on your ass with a knife, or when you expecting some pictures of that girl, so relax .
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