“INMATES EAT STEAK; WHILE PRISON GUARDS GO WITHOUT PAY”

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL FOR AREA GOVERNMENT WORKERS; PARTIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AFFECTS LOCAL ECONOMY

JANUARY 15, 2019 – written by WADE QUEEN

‘THE GRAY STEEL DOORS HOTEL’: THE U.S. PENITENTIARY, BIG SANDY, IN MARTIN COUNTY.

MIDDLEFORK, KY. — Tuesday, January 15, 2019, is now day 26 of the partial U.S. government shutdown, and is now the longest government shutdown ever.

And sticking to his ideology, President Donald Trump says the government shutdown will continue for ‘as long as it takes’.

Around 800-thousand federal workers are still working without pay or furloughed since late December 2018.

Some of those federal workers are right here in Eastern Kentucky.

The United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy, near Inez, in Martin County is home to more than 1,200 inmates.

Right now, around 400 employees at the prison are not getting paid.

Employees at the Big Sandy penitentiary are reporting tensions are high.

“Huge blow in terms of morale. People are worried, people live paycheck to paycheck,” pointed out Prison Union official, Jerry Jackson Jr. told WYMT earlier this month.

Jerry Jackson is an Education Specialist. He says he is a single parent and the uncertainty is rough.

The partial government shutdown means no one at the federal level will be paid until the shutdown is lifted. 

“When you miss that first paycheck, it’s going to get scary,” Mr. Jackson said.

Jerry Jackson Jr. and his prison co-worker Bryan Anderson, believe many people do not realize the effect the shutdown has on the surrounding community.

“You know, our people spend out money where they live. Rent, buying homes, grocery stores, you name it. It’s a big driver of the economy in this area,” said Mr. Anderson.
The government shutdown is forcing hundreds of thousands of federal workers to stay home or work without pay.

“Well, we all have to report to our jobs every day and perform the same functions, but we don’t know when we’re getting paid,” Bryan Anderson explained.

“The government shutdown not only just affects those in Congress, those in Washington D.C., but it affects people right here at home,” said Jerry Jackson.

Choosing between the things which mean the most to your family can be difficult.

For now, Jerry Jackson Jr.. says all they can do is work, and hope for the best.

“That speaks volumes on the dedication and service that the correctional officers and workers at Big Sandy has for this country,” explained Jackson.

Meanwhile, all 1,200 inmates at the Big Sandy federal prison, and especially at all the US federal prison facilities across the country are still being taken care, at taxpayer money expense, including not only getting 3 top quality meals a day, but over the past Christmas Day and New Years day holidays, most federal prisoners getting essentially near gourmet special meals for the holidays, ranging from steak, chicken meals, some whom of which got entire Cornish hens, and shrimp, along with other top of the line foods items that he prisoners for the holidays.

So far, as of now, officials at the United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy, have not officially said anything about the current status of the state of affairs at the penitentiary, and in addition they are not able to make a comment at this time.

Just google: INMATES EAT STEAKS, as see what the results reveals.