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HOGAN ADMINISTRATION SAYS STAFFING IS A PRIORITY BUT RECRUITMENT IS A CHALLENGE. REPORTER: THE UNION CLAIMS STATE VACANCIES ARE COSTING TAXPAYERS $100 MILLION IN OVERTIME EACH YEAR. THE HOGAN ADMINISTRATION SAYS THIS IS NOT A CASE OF UNWILLING TO HIRE. SOME OF THE JOBS ARE A CHALLENGE TO FILL. EXHIBIT A. MASSIVE VACANCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND JUVENILE SERVICES. STATE EMPLOYEES TELLING A JOINT COMMITTEE ABOUT THE DANGERS THEY ENCOUNTER. >> OTHER INJURIES THAT I HAVE SUSTAINED HAVE INCLUDED AN AMPUTATED FINGER, AT LEAST SIX CONCUSSIONS. I’VE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD THAT REQUIRES TO SEE A TRAUMA THERAPIST, AND I’M ALSO BEING TREATED FOR DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. REPORTER: AFSCME COUNCIL THREE IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE A STAFFING CRISIS THROUGHOUT ALL STATE AGENCIES. THE UNION BLAMES GOVERNOR HOGAN, QUESTIONING HIS BUDGET PRIORITIES. >> A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT. IT’S WHAT YOU SEE AS MORALLY PROPER AND IMPORTANT TO YOU. AND OBVIOUSLY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS BUDGET AND HIS BUDGET PROPOSALS HAS LACKED ANY SORT OF MORALS IN TERMS OF THE CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING THROWN INTO. REPORTER: TODAY, THE STATE BUDGET SECRETARY DAVID BRINKLEY TOLD THE JOINT COMMITTEE, IT IS NOT A BUDGET ISSUE, BUT RATHER A RECRUITMENT CHALLENGE. AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT WIDESPREAD. >> WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY THE ADEQUACY OF STAFFING STATE FACILITIES AND THE OVERALL WELLBEING OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CHALLENGES ARE NOT SYSTEMIC, BUT THEY ARE LIMITED TO SPECIFIC JOB CLASSIFICATIONS. REPORTER: A DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES STUDY FINDS 2631 VACANCIES STATEWIDE. CORRECTIONS, STATE POLICE, AND DNR WITH THE MOST. HOGAN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING DECISIVE STEPS WITH FAVORABLE RESULTS. >> TO DATE, THE DEPARTMENT HAS HIRED MORE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS THAN IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS INCREASED THE BASELINE SALARY FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS BY NEARLY 10%. REPORTER: THE UNION IS URGING LEGISLATORS TO USE THEIR OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY TO PUSH THE ADMINISTRATION TO BUDGET FOR AND HIRE MORE PE

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Maryland's largest union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, raised the alarm Monday about a staffing crisis across state agencies. It claims vacancies are making the work environment dangerous for employees and the public. Gov. Larry Hogan's administration contends staffing is a priority, but recruitment is a challenge. The union claims state vacancies are costing tax payers $100 million in overtime each year. The Hogan administration said this is not a case of unwillingness to hire, rather some of the jobs are a challenge to fill.One example is the massive vacancies in the Department of Corrections and Juvenile Services. State employees told a joint committee about the dangers they encounter. "Other injuries that I have sustained have included an amputated finger, at least six concussions. I've been diagnosed with PTSD that requires to see a trauma therapist, and I'm also being treated for depression and anxiety," said Jeremy Jeffers, resident advisor Victor Cullen Department of Juvenile Services. AFSCME Council 3 is concerned about what it considers to be a staffing crisis throughout all state agencies. The union blames Hogan, questioning his budget priorities."A budget is a moral document. It's what you see as morally proper and important to you. And obviously the governor in his budget and his budget proposals has lacked any sort of morals in terms of conditions that people are being thrown into," Patrick Moran, president of AFSCME 3, said.On Tuesday, Budget Secretary David Brinkley told the joint committee it is not a budget issue, but rather a recruitment challenge and the problem is not widespread. "We take very seriously the adequacy of staffing state facilities and the overall well-being of all of our employees," Brinkley said. "Recruitment and retention challenges are not systemic, but they are limited to specific job classifications."A Department of Legislative Services study found there are 2,631 vacancies statewide -- corrections department, state police and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources with the most. Hogan administration officials said they have been taking decisive steps with favorable results."To date, the department has hired more correctional officers than in the past three years. This administration has increased the baseline salary for correctional officers by nearly 10%," Robert Green, of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said. The union is urging legislators to use their oversight authority to push the administration to budget for and hire more people.