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Corrections staff urge council to extend $5,000 retention bonus to jail employees; speakers describe staffing crisis
Summary
Corrections staff and union leaders urged the Pierce County Council to provide a $5,000 retention bonus for jail corrections employees similar to one approved for street deputies, citing high overtime, low staffing, training gaps and morale problems.
Multiple speakers at the council’s community forum asked the Pierce County Council to consider extending a $5,000 retention bonus to corrections staff similar to a bonus the council approved earlier for street deputies.
Shan Linavango, president of the Corrections Guild at the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, said corrections staff lose employees to other agencies that offer higher pay and better benefits, leaving the jail understaffed and morale low. She asked the council to "consider giving corrections a $5,000 retention bonus like they approved for the street deputies."
Howard Warren, who spoke in support, said the jail operated with over 80,000 overtime hours this year and that the new jail is at about one-third staffed because of shortages. Erica Thompson, a 31-year jail employee, described repeated on-the-job injuries and difficult working conditions and urged the council to remember corrections staff when discussing retention measures.
Speakers asked the council to treat jail staffing as a priority and noted training gaps and the operational impact of chronic understaffing. Council members acknowledged the comments and directed speakers to staff and written-comment channels for follow-up.
